European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 10, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 a the stars and stripes sunday March 10, 1991 in the Gulf Kelly takes Fame with Grain of Salt by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau a Washington a his face has become known to millions of americans reporters Are clamouring to interview him Art cd he is already in heavy demand on the lecture circuit i but army it. Gen. Thomas Kelly who represented the defense department at most of the daily Pentagon. News briefings during the six weeks of operation desert storm said his new found Fame still Hasni to really sunk in. A the experience was a thrill but it gets taken out of context because television is such a powerful medium a says Kelly who retired Friday As director of operations for the joint staff after 34 years in uniform. When the television lights dimmed and Kelly returned to his real workspace deep in the National military come Center a it brought me Back to Earth in a hurry a he said. A i done to really have any feeling of celebrity a although in be noticed my relatives Are calling me a lot More  that dry sense of humor lightened the often tense mood in the briefings where cantankerous Pentagon reporters would grouse about the dearth of information coming out of military channels. Kelly said he and his staff worked hard to prepare for the daily clash with the Media which usually began at 3 . Much of the preparation time was spent deciding what subjects could and could not be discussed. A that was the most important part of the Job and its one reason i did it myself a he said. A if someone was going to be nailed for blurting something out i wanted it to be me and not one of the folks who works  Kelly who holds a degree in journalism and has several family members with newspaper experience deftly handled his task using a Plain spoken approach punctuated by one liners 1 if he did t know an answer he admitted it and promised to get one and if he  answer a ques lion he explained Why. Even so he was not above a bit of manipulation. A if a reporter starts Borg a on something you done to want to Deal with you just Call on some other Guy a he said with a laugh. Kelly showed patience m dealing with some questions unsophisticated enough to spawn a parody on a saturday night live Quot in which mock reporters asked a when exactly Avill the ground offensive begin and where exactly will it occur a a at some briefings that skit did no to seem like a parody Kelly said. A toward the end just before the ground War a Guy asked Avold you please explain the scheme of Man Euver a and i just said to myself a holy cow. Some people got into the business who did no to really have a background for  Kelly said he has received hundreds of letters from to viewers across the country a virtually 100 percent of them Quot critical of the reporters covering the briefing. A the american people Don t understand the hurly Burly process of a news briefing a he said. A that does no to bother me. I know that show you get a Story. There a always going to be this Quot he said for Riding his hands into fists and butting his Knuckles together a beit. Gen. Thomas Kelly who retired Friday gets a personal Farewell from president Bush in the Oval office. 1 Don t really have any. Feeling of celebrity although i be noticed my relatives Are calling me a lot More often a it. Gen. Thomas Kelly tween the institution and the Media but that a not an unhealthy . One Issue that seemed particularly irksome to reporters was the assessment of bomb damage caused by the air War against Iraq and Kelly now admits that the Pentagon was probably Overly cautious in these assess ments. A \ a a  a if you make a conservative estimate and you turn out successful that s Fine a he said. A if you make a grand estimate and you Don t turn out successful that a a disaster. We went through the Light at the end of the Tunnel years in Vietnam when we said things looked pretty Good but nothing was happening. We wanted to be sure we did no to have that  another consideration was Saddam Hussein himself. A the Best information he was getting on his War was probably off can so we did no to want to be too forthcoming a he said. If Kelly did no to exactly make Many friends in the Media he likes to think he at least established a reputation Tor honesty a measure of the respect Kelly earned from the Pentagon reporters could be drawn irom his last briefing Day March 4, when he closed with a few spontaneous remarks. A i d just like to say that believe it or not in be enjoyed this Little interlude Quot Kelly told the reporters. A free press a is a crucial element of our democracy a he said. Quot if anybody needs a contrast All they have to do is look at the country that did no to have a free press and see what happened there. A deep Down you re a Good Bunch although that does t often come to the surface. In be enjoyed working with you. Good Luck and god bless . The reporters gave him a standing ovation. Savage Art of Media Washington since their business is orchestrating the Savage Art of War its not surprising that High ranking military officials tend to be brusque no nonsense people. It. Gen. Tom Kelly generally fits that Mold. But As designated Point Man for operation desert storm Media briefings he also proved to be Quick with a quip. Much to the Delight of the usually surly and cynical Pentagon reporters. The following is a Kelly Sampler taken from transcripts of the Pentagon briefings. In Many cases he elaborated on the answer after his initial response. Q can you give us some idea of How the tomahawks Are doing Kelly they re doing very Well q could you be More specific Kelly exceptionally Well. A q can you Tell us about reports that you re now going after the Republican guard More energetically Kelly yes. O can you elaborate Kelly Well try to Hammer them As hard As we can. Q yesterday iraqis who were taken As pos said they had t had water but they were More or less clean shaven. If they had enough to shave the had enough to drink and they re lying. Kelly they might have had electric razors. Q it has been reported that b-52s were used  scud site Isnit this like killing a Fly with a sledgehammer. A. Personal opinion is that its a delightful Way to kill a Fly. O what a the mood in the Pentagon command Center. Kelly Calm and professional. Q without saving exactly where our troops Are is it still possible for the Republican Cliuard  up North Kelly All things Are possible. Some Are More difficult than others. 0 have we completed the encirclement of Southern Iraq Kelly that a what i did no to say when i answered you the first time. 0 there Are reports that some of Saddam s top military aides have been executed. Do you have any information on that. _ Kelly i have none. Its a closed society. Bat i d say that being a general in his army is not a growth Industry right now. 1 d also say that being Saddam Hussein is not a growth Industry right now. Chuck Vinch