European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 11, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday february 11, 1991the stars and stripes a a Page 7 War in the Gulf Hill briefings add Little to news reports by the new York times Washington they gather two or three times a week in guarded rooms to hear the latest Pentagon account of How the War against Iraq is going. But members of Congress generally think they do not know much More about the War than do careful followers of newspapers or television. At those closed door briefings they get More details than reporters do at news briefings. They get a Chance to ask their own questions. But As sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaum r-kan., put it in a typical appraisal a i done to know that we be Learned a lot More than we would have by watching the Pentagon briefings on the  still she is not dissatisfied saying the briefings gave her insights into the a general thrust of the War she might have missed without them. Rep. Ray Thornton d-ark., said the value to him was that from the Start the tone of the briefings a kept us from being swept up in the  s a similar argument for their value came from rep. Sherwood a . He said it had been important for him to hear from the Pentagon stricter on Jan. 17, the Day after the War began that a we re. In no hurry to Complete the air Campaign and Rush into a ground . Quot but sen. Tom Daschle d-s.d., who called the briefings of Only a marginal use Quot said their tone had changed. A there was this Clear euphoria the first couple of Days the exotic picture of missiles that would do everything but Stop at a red Light Quot he said. A now a much More somber serious tone Quot a for some lawmakers the value seems so limited that they have stopped going. Rep. Louise m. Slaughter. D-n.y., said a i Don t go Back because at the last one i went Toi they told us to keep everything to ourselves and that night i saw the same thing on  the value to some lawmakers May not lie Only in a greater understanding of the War but in the material they can use in a press release Back Home. Rep. David r. Obey d-wis., complained a an awful lot of the questions seemed to be asked to get an answer like a yes Sirree that weapons system produced in your District is doing  the Cable news network s immediacy hangs heavily Over the late afternoon meetings in the vast House armed services committee room in the Rayburn building and in a fourth floor room on the Senate S.D. of the Capitol. Obey said that when one representative asked about a downed transport plane and was told that the information was classified several other members shouted that they had just seen the news reported on can.  that there Are modest differences Between the information that the lawmakers get and what they learn by watching a Pentagon briefing. Thornton said Congress got a a Little More information in Fine detail but not substantially  rep. William a Thomas r-calif., said the differences Between information provided to the press and information Given to Congress were not of critical importance even though lawmakers get to see More photographs than reporters do. A it does t help you make decisions a he said. Quot its just  sen. Alfonse m. Do Amato r-n.y., who said he thought the briefings Quot have been As Good As they can get a acknowledged he sometimes did not get All the information he sought. But he said Quot understand sometimes they just Don t have  a s % on the move a scores of support vehicles from the 1st army div move across the saudi desert during a Battle exercise. Troops Are moving into position along the saudi Border with Iraq and Kuwait in preparation fora possible ground offensive against Iraq which has an estimated half a million troops in Southern Iraq and occupied Kuwait. Set up office in desert with . Marines in northeastern saudi Arabia up the fighting Isnit even a month old but some Legal eagles have Hung their Shingle on a Sand Hill in the Middle of the desert War. The sign reads Law offices of Leas Simon Berlage and Fisher. Leas is Marine it. Col. Bob Leas. He and his fellow Leatherneck lawyers normally give Legal advice to the commanding general and his staff. But this is War and soldiers a like a lot of other people a find they occasionally need a Legal hand. Leas and his san bound Law firm make out wills straighten out family support snags and creditor problems Back Home and review matters involving any military infractions. Leas said that layering in this War is markedly different from what he would have faced in Vietnam. A unlike Vietnam the persian Gulf War is virtually alcohol free. Saudi Arabia prohibits alcohol in Accord with islamic Law. A thank god a Leas said. No booze Means Quot fewer disciplinary actions than i expected to see far fewer courts martial than there had been Back there in Vietnam a he said. Quot Back in the states wed have a lot of courts martial for assaults a Leas said. This Legal set up in the dunes Isnit corporate Law. No fancy digs Here Replete with Marble and brass , Gold lettering on Glass panes mahogany doors and pinstriped partners wearing Gucci loafers. _. Quite the contrary. The offices of Leas Simon Are Down a flight of Steps built of sandbags that Lead into an excavation h feet deep 25 feet wide and 40 feet Long. Under the peaked roof of his Green Canvas office an x wish a mustachioed Leas sits behind a Steamer trunk his desk. Y sitting beside him Art two 5-foot stacks of opened crates turned on their sides that hold Law books hauled 8,000 Miles to the desert Encampment. The Law thu Mai got a computer too. A the Only feature that could be considered ornate is the sign. It is fastened to 2-by-4s and driven into the ground in front of a hug Sand Hill a or berm As a Marine would Call it. A we thought we d add a Little class a Leas said