European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 4, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday May 4, 19ftt the stars and stripes a Page 5 Navy drops charges for 2 accused of planning Mutiny by the los Angeles times san Diego a the Navy thursday abruptly dropped All charges against two sailors accused of plotting to take Over the san Diego la cd aircraft Carrier Ranger to Aid Iraq during the Gulf War officials said the decision vindicates the two sailors. Airman apprentice Abdul Shaheed 22, and Seaman apprentice James l. Moss 21, both muslims thei lawyers said. A this was an overreaction from All sources a said it. Victor Bernson jr., Shaheedi a Navy appointed attorney in a Telephone interview from the Philippines. A there was substantial evidence that both Shaheed and Moss were merely peaceful muslims. They never supported Saddam Hussein in any Way. There was also substantial evidence that the governments key witnesses May have been less than  the move to drop the charges followed a three week investigation aboard the Ranger As it steams Home from the Gulf. During the weeks aboard the Carrier defense attorneys interviewed More than 50 Crew members who supported Shaheed and Moss. A we had people by. The dozens wanting to line up and talk to us said it. Brendan Ward. Moss attorivevj1, who returned with. Bernson on wednesday to to ctr  in Tow Philippines. �?o1 Here was never aug evid new a this Way ice store was concocted by one  Shaheed and Moss were ordered in april to stand trial next week for alleged offences that occurred Jan. 17 in the persian Gulf the night that Allied forces began bombing Iraq. The two were initially charged with a urging disloyalty Mutiny or refusal of duty Quot and were accused of plotting to Kidnap the carriers skipper sabotage the ships catapult launch and engineering systems. Navy officials however never made Clear How the two would Hae accomplished such a feat. After the Gulf War the charges were reduced to making disloyal statements a violation punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison Shaheed and Moss countered that the key witness against them. Airman apprentice Gregory Jones had fabricated his tale of sabotage and Mutiny. Marines ordered to review Case san Francisco up a a Federal judge thursday ordered the Marine corps to reconsider conscientious objector status for reservist Erik Larsen who was charged with desertion for failing to fight during the persion Gulf War. Quot the decision however fell Short of the request by Larsen a attorney Robert Rivkin that . District judge Vaughn Walker declare Larsen a conscientious  Marine corps denied Larsen a conscientious objectors application in november with a finding that his request was based on political and not religious grounds. Walker simply ruled that the Marine commandant failed to fully explain the reasons for the denial of Larsen a request and ordered a new Marine corps hearing within 60 Days and a decision in 120 Days Larsen 23, of Hayward calif., faces a potential death sentence if he is convicted of a separate Marine corps charge of desertion in a time of War for his failure to report Tor duty when Iris Reserve unit was activated. Larsen assigned As a missile radar Mechanic asserted during an anti War rally in August outside chevrons Headquarters in san Francisco that he would refuse to fight for a big Oil and refuse orders sending him to saudi Arabia. Walker suggested that the Marine hearing officer ask Larsen to explain his volunteering to serve extra duty at Dugway proving ground in Utah in july 1990, just one month before he sought conscientious objector status. Walker rejected Larsen a request to. Be returned to the san Francisco Bay area from Camp Lejeune n.c., where he is currently being held. Larsen who joined the marines in 1986 at the age of 19, was attached to the 4th Light anti aircraft missile in in Hayward. The unit was sent to Yuma ariz., but never transferred to the persian Gulf. Hanging on a window Washer Charles Cane dangles from a safety rope after High winds lipped a scaffolding platform that he and another Washer were working on thursday at the Pittsburgh National Bank building in Pittsburgh. Both were rescued and neither Man was seriously injured. In the stars and stripes 10 years ago May 5, 1981 a seven salvadorans were killed when a bomb apparently intended for soldiers blew up in a vehicle carrying civilians about 30 Miles North of san Salvador Al Salvador s capital 20 year Sago May 5,1971 a the Akron Beacon journal won a pulitzer prize for local reporting for its coverage of the killing of four students at Kent state University and Paul Zindel won a prize in drama for his off Broadway show a the effect of Gamma rays on men in the Moon marigolds a 30 years ago May 5,1961 a it what was said to be a major legislative Victory for president Kennedy both houses of Congress passed a Bill immediately raising the minimum wage from $1. To $1.15 and to $1.25 in two years. 40 years ago May 5,1951 a rep. . Armr Strong r-mo., said that during the last three years Britain had sent red China the materials necessary for constructing an atomic bomb and that the soviet Union was supervising the construction of an atomic bomb Plant in Northwestern China. Me corps termed to the persian Gull. A a. Bush blasts new Gulf crisis boo nit picking second guessing by new Oduy investigative reporter and assistant Man like Piranha fish on this kind o pc a a a a i Uig ,. .1 by new Day Washington a president Bush thursday denounced a new inside the administration account of the persian Gulf crisis As a unit picking analysis after _ the fact but he did not deny allegations that Gen Colin l. Powell had advised him against a War with Iraq. Bush did not answer directly when asked several times whether Powell the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff had urged a policy of a a containment and economic pressure on Iraq responding instead by noting a presidents need to receive candid private counsel from his top aides. A a but As far As Colin Powell goes he owes the commander in chief his advice a Bush told reporters in an Impromptu question and answer session in the Roosevelt room. A when the commander in chief makes a decision he salutes and marches to the order of the commander in chief a Bush said he had culled Powell thursday after news accounts were published of Bob Woodward a Book a the Quot  a i said a if you have any angst forget about it a a Bush said. A Powell said a i done to. 1 have none at  a the publication Friday of the 398-Page Book by Woodward a Washington Post Muesli alive reporter and  is posing political problems for the White House. After the euphoria of a Quick Victory in operation desert storm the administration is struggling to relieve the plight of kurdish refugees and to jump Start the peace process Between Israel and Arab nations. With iraqi president Saddam Hussein still in Power and Little Progress apparent in making the Region More stable some questions Are being revived about the Wisdom of the administrations Quick turn to military action after iraqis aug. 2 invasion of Kuwait. At the daily White House briefing spokesman Marlin Fitzwater sidestepped All questions about the Book saying he did not want to give reporters material for a Story. A a we re not going to gel. Involved in second guessing or reviewing the decision making process Quot Here a he said. A it . We won the . But a few hours later Bush responded with heat and pounded the table when asked about the Book during a picture taking session with agricultural leaders who were meeting with him to discuss the prospective free Trade pact with Mexico. A for those who Are not from Washington let me Tell you we feed endlessly a like Piranha fish a 011 this kind Linlor Matio nhe told them. A these Little kind of nit picking analyses after the fact the american people will look at it they la be interested but they Are going to rejoice in a Clear Victory and they deserve  he said without elaboration that some allegations in the Book were untrue and dismissed it As being based on a unnamed sources.�?�. He also said sonic of the books a quotes were. Put in the a Southof somebody when they weren to  a they Quot Are Quot not going to Divide us on this thing a lie  Powell he said a a lies a a generous and Superb commander and a great chairman of the joint chiefs and nobody a going to drive a wedge Between him and  Powell through a spokesman declined. To comment. According to a Washington Post sum Mary of the Book Powell is portrayed As being concerned about Bush a penchant for off the cuff decision making that sometimes took the general by Surprise. The Book says that after the 1988 election the general had turned Down Bush s offer to head the Cia in part because a the Felt uneasy about  who was about to become