European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 4 the stars and Stripe wednesday february 20,1991 h0088hwioou�?w desert dispatch Ian s it Ron Jensen another s Way of life from the moment the first american troops landed in the desert photographers have enjoyed capturing the incongruities. Cameras have recorded images of camels the ancient ship of the desert set against a backdrop of tanks the new vehicle of Choice in the Sand. Every newspaper in America has carried photos of saudi men dressed in floor length Robes and Hutra headgear exchanging stares with soldiers in desert camouflage uniforms. Have stressed an obvious fact this Are separated by More than a few these images have country and America thousand Miles there Are of course similarities. This is a modern bustling society of automobiles and computers and airports a country very comfortable in the Western world. Our nations have been friends since King Abdul Aziz consolidated the nation in 1932. Yet those photographs have struck an important chord that americans should hear if we intend to become an influential Force in this part of the world. America is the worlds greatest Experiment in govern mint of the people by the people and for the people. Saudi Arabia remains a kingdom. Americans Law tolerates Freedom of religion a which has produced a nation Rich in theologies from the accepted to the absurd. A islam is no Only the religion Here but the Law itself. The Koran is the islamic version of both christianity a Bible and the american Constitution. A Beer is not a thirst quencher but the a Mother of All a miniskirt is not a fashion statement but a sacrilege. I spent an evening recently with three saudis who fear that the image of their nation that will return with our military is one of intolerance arrogance and backwardness. They understand the reasons acknowledging that their countrymen have done Little to make the americans feel Welcome. But they also regret the inability of americans to understand their Point of View. They wish they had an Opportunity to explain in person the ways of saudi Arabia in Hopes that it would change american perceptions of the saudi people. Their explanations Are Good ones. These Are educated professional men who have lived a the United states although briefly. But their explanations come wrapped in islamic Reli Gion and culture. To appreciate their analysis of Why saudis seemingly turn up their noses at americans one must understand the ground in which these ideas arc rooted. Americans support of Israel is a major Factor. Israel is considered a trusted and valuable ally by the United states. One saudi told me that Israel has no right to even one Square meter of its land. A they tried to explain the saudi outrage at seeing americans female soldiers in to shirts. This they said is a violation of a fundamental islamic Tenet. What would be the parallel analogy in our culture one saudi likened the american dismissal of islamic Law Here to a request that America suspend the Bill of rights for a visiting saudi. Here the analogy Bill of lights would allow a saudi visiting America to practice his religion and culture without interference. If America s military Effort leads to a Long term presence in this part of the world americans would be Wise to try to walk in the sandals of the Arab world for a while. But if saudis expect americans to understand their Way of life they too should understand that telling an american he cannot drink a Beer or she cannot Wear a to shirt is As offensive to those americans As those actions Are to the saudis. The share arid stripes War in the Gulf Monument to recognize armoured forces in Gulf fort myer a. Up a armoured forces in the persian Gulf War will be recognized in a Monument scheduled for dedication on veterans Day officials said monday. A a. A a a a a a Quot. A a a the . Armoured forces Monument committee announced that the Monument will1 recognize Gulf forces trom the army and . Marine corps. The Monument was approved by Congress and former president Reagan in november 1986. The committee has five years or until this november to finish it. The approved site for the armoured forces Monument is on memorial drive also known As the a the Avenue of heroes a adjacent to the Entrance of Arlington National cemetery. There it could be viewed by the More than 2 million citizens who visit the nation s Capitol each year. The Monument committee issued an appeals for contributions for the memorial. Col. A a Duke Wolf ret., executive director of the a Mored forces Monument committee said it still needs $200,000 to Complete the memorial. A up to this Point our fund raising efforts have been geared toward veterans and their widows and we be successfully raised $200,000 through these efforts. Tiv we re broadening our Appeal to include the general Public to help us in raising the additional funds a Wolf said. He said the committee needs the Money by june 30. 1991, to Complete the project by the deadline. 1 designed by architect Harold Schaller the Monument will feature a 10-foot-tall, Oval shaped Wall depicting the role of the . Armoured forces in five wars a world War i world War ii Korea Vietnam and the persian Gulf. A the Black Granite Wall is designed to chronicle the history of the five wars with Campaign maps a narrative description of the armoured forces role and unit designations of the forces involved. A push in the desert Medio Pool Chi Start a push in the. William Robinette of Racine wis., gives a push f 1 to Lance Chi. Henry Parker of Clinton n.c., at a r saudi arabian desert outpost. Bot i Are motorcycle couriers for the marines. A a a a a a a a a. A a a a a. A a a a a a a a. Any service member ends up to be father of letter writer a a. By Frank Evans a special to the stars and stripes Western Saud Arabia an a any service member letter trom a College student wound up in the hands of the writers father at an air base in saudi Arabia the letter written by Matt Brechwald a was included in a Box of correspondence sent off by the air Force Roth unit at notre Dame University where the Young Brech Wald is a first year student. The Box was delivered to or. Alvin Collar a colonel working at a base where col. Jim Brechwald is also assigned As an Al 11 Pilot. T opened the package. And started to read one of the letters a Cotlar said. A i was really impressed with the sensitive attitude of the Young Quot Man who wrote it. He began by saying that he knew the Reader was homesick and that he was writing to a psych you a Matt Brechwald went on to say that his father was in saudi arabians a Pilot and that he knew what the separation Felt like from the other Side. It wont see him for some time but i know he a Over there for a Good reason a the letter said. When Cotlar looked at the name again he realized the Quot letter was from Brecon Valjas son and passed the letter on w Hen the Pilot returned from a combat Mission. A i was impressed that Matt was trying to motivate or a psych up the service member by thievery positive words yet concerned words a the fighter bomber Pilot said. A Matt s letter was indicative of the support from America the Serm remember needs to be truly effective in performing his duty in Jim Brechwald serves As the Deputy commander of the 48th tac fighter Wing from Raf Lakenheath England. A Al called my wife Jeannie and Matt and told them that l had received his letter a the Pilot said. A i made them aware that the chances of this happening w Ere very Small since our air base was almost 8,000 Miles from the notre Dame Campus and because of the extremely Large amount of mail sent to a any service member and the Large Nunt Bero bases in the Middle a almost 30 million pounds of mail have been delivered to service members in the Middle East since the Gulf conflict Bega Ngn August. For his part Brechwald is making sure nothing happens to the special letter he received by Chance. Until the War is Over the Al 11 Pilot is keeping it tucked in his shirt pocket. Quot neatly folded next to his heart. Arabia 8 a a so n3vy commander assigned to the Central come in saudi
