European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 9, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Germany edition stripes vol. 50 no. 26 thursday May 9,1991 b authorized unofficial publication for the us armed forces 35c d 8693 cease fire baffle called War s biggest by Patrick j. Sloyan new Day Washington a two Days after president Bush ordered a cease fire for operation desert storm . Army tanks helicopters and artillery destroyed one of iraqis surviving Republican guard divisions in what american military officials now say was the biggest clash of the persian Gulf wars ground Campaign. The Battle occurred March 2 after soldiers from the 7,000-member iraqi Force fired at a patrol of the 24th inf div Mech. During a four hour assault just West of Basra the 24th, known As the Victory division blasted 247 iraqi tanks and armoured fighting vehicles and set ablaze 500 military transports a including towed artillery and a dozen transports carrying Frog Battlefield rockets a according to . Commanders. A we really waxed them a a said one desert storm commander who asked not to be identified. More than 3,000 iraqi troops were captured in the Battle which the military referred to at the time As one in a series of a Small although the number of iraqi troops killed is still unknown new Day has obtained army footage of the fight showing scores of iraqi president Saddam Hussein s elite soldiers apparently wounded or killed As Apache helicopters raked the Republican guard Hammurabi division with laser guided a hellfire missiles. A a say hello to Allah a one american was recorded As saying moments before a a hellfire obliterated one of it see Battle on Page 10u.s. Plane fired on Over Iraq from staff and wire reports in Ciurlik a Turkey a . Navy warplane twice came under antiaircraft artillery fire tuesday night while flying Over Northern Iraq . Officials said wednesday. Meanwhile defense Secretary Dick Cheney on wednesday took his pitch for an expanded . Role in persian Gulf Security to leaders of four arabian Penin see related stories on Page 3 Sula nations that helped .-led forces defeat Iraq. After a breakfast meeting in a Seaside hotel in Abu Dahabi with defense officials of the United Arab emirates Cheney flew Northwest to the tiny Sheik Dom of Qatar and then to Muscat Oman near the Southern end of the Gulf of Oman. He then flew Back North to Bahrain the operations base for a . Navy Fleet. Speaking to reporters As they flew up the coast to Qatar Cheney said he discussed a in general terms future Security arrangements for the Gulf. He declined to be specific. A defense official travelling with Cheney speaking on condition he not be identified said there had been four previous such incidents involving Allied aircraft encountering iraqi ground fire. The official said the incidents were not pursued with the iraqis because the precise source of the attacks was unclear. In the attack tuesday night the a-6 bomber was not damaged and the Pilot see plane on Page 10 waiting for orders to take control of Dozhuk Northern Iraq soldiers pass the time under the stars and stripes that they director Webster plans to retire Washington apr president Bush announced wednesday that William Webster is retiring As director of the Central intelligence Agency praising Webster for proving a the value of an intelligence organization that is professionally directed.�?�. Webster served As Fri director before taking the see Story on Bush a health Page 2 Cia Post following the swashbuckling tenure of Iran Contra figure William Casey. Bush just returned from an initial test for his hyperactive thyroid summoned reporters to the White House briefing room for the Surprise breakfast hour announcement and a wide ranging news conference. The president did not announce a successor and did not say when websters retirement would take effect. He was asked about Robert Gates Deputy National Security adviser and a longtime Cia official and described him As a a worthy Gates who had been Casey a assistant was former president Reagan a first Choice to succeed him but withdrew after questions arose about his role in preparing the directors testimony on the Iran Contra affair. Sen. William Cohen a Maine vice chairman of the Senate intelligence committee said a i would recommend someone like Bob Gates for the Job. Another possible successor is former Cia official James. Lilley a confidant of Bush a who is Leav Webster. Ing his Post Friday As ambassador to China. On other matters Bush said there was a reason to be optimistic about quiet diplomacy under Way in the Middle East. And he had Strong Praise for soviet president Mikhail s. Gorbachev a this on a Day Bush when was meeting with leaders of the breakaway minded Baltic republics. A when you look at the accomplishments of Mikhail Gorbachev they Are enormous am not about to forget history. And what he did in terms of Eastern Europe what he a done in terms of perestroika and Glas nost has my Secretary of state James a. Baker Iii and soviet Force Gnu minister Alexander Bessmer Nyoh lire starting new diplomatic forays into the Region this week and Bush said a a there a a lot going on and i want to stay involved the president defended himself in Tough terms against allegations that he took part in an illegal 1980 Effort Between Iran and the Reagan Campaign to prolong the Captivity of american hostages and damage the candidacy of Jimmy Carter. A the allegations about me Are grossly untrue factually incorrect boldfaced lies a he said. A to assign a motive to a person that he would want to keep an see Webster on page�?T10
