European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 17, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday february 17. 1991 the stars and stripes Page 5war in the Gulf ,wsn<v.�sias\v\sv,vn\vv.sn%swnsvn\v.vn\vv. It. A saudi mail volume overwhelming Washington Dpi Aai Duge of Good intentions is winging its Way to saudi Arabia in the form of packages to . Service personnel. But in this Case too much of a Good thing is bad. The . Central come extended its request Friday that families and trends of desert storm service personnel voluntarily limit personal mail to first class letters and audio cassettes. Packages Are not getting to the troops or Are getting there on a delayed basis because of troop movements and because of the sheer volume of mail. The military postal service Agency is handling 325.000 pounds of mail to saudi a Arabia daily. The Peak was 617,000 pounds of mail a Day around Christmas said air Force maj. Mark Rader Public affairs  of the military postal service Agency. Before the iraqi invasion of Kuwait about 2,000 pounds  was sent to the. Area Rader said. A we went from 11 Post offices in the Region to 202 now Quot he said. Two key a actors Are affecting mail service to the Gulf. A the transportation and Supply lines that Are used to carry that mail a trucks and planes Are also being used to carry combat related equipment and supplies Quot Rader said a the mail is competing with it other equally important resources Zhav in that limited  the other reason lie said is that troops have been on the move. A a email has to catch up with them. Just like in the United states when you move and Send in a. Change of address card the same thing happens except that in this  takes More time Quot lie said. Numerous complaints have been levelled about slow mail service to loved ones in the desert with some thinking there is no reason for their particular delay. June Guido of Talla Lassee fla., who is on contract with Florida state University to handle desert storm counselling programs said her husband stationed in Naples Italy has not received a letter she sent weeks ago. A she said some people Are beginning to Teel a resentful Quot that their letters air riot getting through yet childrens letters to a any service member Quot seem to be to Kling their w a to the desert. V a Rader responded that All military mail no matter what the destination is processed in the United states. It is then sent out and sorted by priority a with a letter addressed to a specific person delivered before one addressed to a a Serviceman in saudi Arabia Quot a once it arrives at its destination a Reagan admits he pulled Boner in arming Iraq Provo Utah apr former president Reagan said Friday that his administration May have a committed a Boner by strengthening Saddam Hussein a military machine during its eight year War with Iran. But Reagan speaking to a crowd of 10,000 at Brigham Young University said supporting Iraq against Iran seemed the proper course at the time. A �?o1 have to say we committed a Boner with regard to Iraq and our close Friendship with Iraq a said Reagan invited. To the mormon run school by its president Rex e. Lee a w to was . Solicitor general from 1981 to 1985. Reagan 80, said that after seeing evidence that Saddam had used Poison Gas on kurdish tribesmen in Iraq he began to realize that he was a potential threat to peace a what can you say to an Independent country Way off in the Middle East i think we took action not to continue with supporting them a Reagan said. Prior to Reagan a remarks on the Middle East the crowd erupted in bods As two men holding a Banner Reading a Why did you Arm Iraq Quot were escorted out of the Marriott Cen Terby University Security officers. The men were above and behind the former president who did not see the Banner and appeared to be perplexed by the crowd s outburst. Lee quickly jumped up to explain. Reagan did not address the incident. School spokesman Paul Richards said the two protesters were not Brigham Young students and were not charged they were escorted off the Campus. Reagan said the u a presence in the persian Gulf is an example of the country a remaining True to our idea is.�?�. A v a a Quot a. A Center of a the storm two cadets at Valley forge military Academy in Wayne pa., Dave Gigliotti left of Flemington n.j., and Ronnie Corey of Tifton Gay a hold a photo of Gen. Ii. Norman Schwarzkopf Niew commander of . Forces in the persian Gulf during a a support the storm rally at the school. Schwarzkopf played football and was valedictorian of the class of 1952 at the school. Students autographed the picture which will he sent to Schwarzkopf. Sands of time americans still Back War Effort despite civilian dead polls shown the stars and stripes new York apr the Gulf wars wide support among americans did no to falter after the Public saw civilian carnage in Baghdad polls show. But escalation in the face of iraqis withdrawal offer could undercut president Bush. A what he has is a very thigh level of very thin support a Northwestern University professor Benjamin Page said Friday. Two polls conducted thursday night for Usa today and for the Washington Post and Abc news showed that about 80 percent americans continue to support the War with Iraq. The Abc Post poll released saturday found that 92 percent had heard or read about iraqis claim that Hun Aldreds of civilians died in a . Air raid on Baghdad on wednesday. Most of the random Sample of 772 americans in the Abc Post poll held Saddam Hussein responsible for the deaths. Two thirds said the United states was doing enough to avoid civilian deaths and 81 percent accepted the . Explanation that the site was a legitimate military target. J a. Meanwhile a poll taken by the new York times and lbs found americans split 50 percent to 43 percent for attacking All military targets including those in heavily populated areas where civilians May be killed. About half the respondents were interviewed before a the bodies of Iraq women and children were shown on television. While the american Public May accept Bush Stu Tifi cations for the civilian deaths and the rejection of Saddam a conditional offer Friday to withdraw from Kuwait Page said both could erode International support for the War. A i see the cease fire proposal As presenting major problems for Bush Oyer the next couple of weeks a said Page who studies Public opinion and american politics. He suggested foreign diplomatic initiatives could make terms for the cease fire better bit by bit causing a a lot of pressure to do something other than just bomb away.�?�. The times poll found 79 percent wanted the United states to continue concentrating on Aerial bombing in the coming weeks rather than launching a ground War. Feb. 17, 1951 a Secretary of state Dean Acheson said he expects Western Europe to double its defense forces in the next year and expressed the Hope that Spain Turkey and Greece can be linked to the Atlantic Community s Mutual defense plans. 30 years ago today ,. Feb. 17, 1961 a Secretary of state Dean Rusk reaffirmed that the reunification of Germany remains a fundamental aim of . Foreign policy. S20 years ago today. Feb. 17, 1971 a . Authorities imposed a Midnight curfew on thousands of . Military personnel in Turkey and posted armed guards at . Military installations. The moves followed the kidnapping of and american airman by seven turks who authorities believe Are radicals seeking the ouster of . Forces from turkey10 years ago today feb. 17, 1981 a the army asked the Reagar administration to  from the freeze on Federal hiring so that More than 30,000 civilian workers can be added to the army a labor Force during the next 18 months