European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 15, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday May 15, 1991 the stars and stripes Denis Horgan Page ,13 commentary military did Well in War a even better now yellow is Fine but maybe we should be considering yet another ribbon to hang out in tribute to americans sol diets and the Job they did very very Well indeed. The performance of the . Military in Iraq is precisely the kind of thing to make you feel Good about our people in uniform and How Well they handle their a Tough assignments no not the crushing of Saddam Hussein a armies or the skill and professionalism applied to wondrous technology to inflict destruction on the iraqi military machine. There is Little shortage of Praise for that nor should there be. Instead there should be no shortfall of respect for How Well our soldiers Are now carrying out the critical duty of bringing care and shelter food and Medicine order and Hope to the poor kurdish refugees existing in such terrible conditions in the mountains of Northern Iraq. _ this is a Campaign operation provide Comfort a waged in forbidding circumstances in grim Corners of hostile landscapes amid risk and menace. It is being conducted within the complexities i a. A. A a. Of International political imperatives under Clouds of recrimination and fault finding against a deadline that if missed could very Well bring More pain and death to those battered souls least Able to resist  time we get to see the Battle and should he uplifted by the experience. Unlike its violent predecessor with which it is so inextricably entwined this is an Effort of mercy rather than Power. Not smart bombs but smart people arc what is on display. It is not the fire flight of seeing cye rockets but pallets of food bundles of tenting and blankets that constitute the principal weaponry. And administering this Effort with All the skill they applied to the mayhem of War arc our sons and daughters. We should be proud of them. The kurd took to the roads to avoid Saddam a murderous vengeance. They fled their Homes and cities choosing the uncertainty of exile Over the certainty of brutality. They fled by the millions fled to inhospitable Rock piles where they suf a Ter in terrible numbers from wounds illnesses and exhaustion ground Down by fear malnutrition and exposure to the harsh human and natural environment. In time too Long a time by some reckoning we sent the troops to help. Reporters and television Are there so in recent Days we have been Able to Sec what can be done when the system of spirit sets out to accomplish something. They bring food and clothing. Finding the chaos of panic they bring order and process so that hese emergency supplies May be distributed fairly. They bring shelter and sanitation techniques piping for clean water building materials knowledge. They provide medical assistance and make it possible for others to do so As Well. Muscling aside the iraqis they bring Security and Protection a Tor the kurd considerations As vital As the tents and medicines. Their machines this time Are helicopters and aircraft distributing not death but life. By the feeble St standards there is Little Glamour to this assignment. No parades arc Likely no medals. By the noblest standards there is worthiness in abundance. And one senses watching accounts of their service that they appreciate that. Listening a it them describe their Mission in the gripping televised reports there is no Warrior talk a Little bravado. Better one hears human beings talking about the needs of other human beings. There is the frustration that the need exists but there is poignant sympathy for those in such distress. There is anxiety at the scope of the Challenge but overwhelmingly there is unalloyed caring. Little jargon intrudes. We hear hardened soldiers talking about a a kids and Quot people a not about a collateral so or  we see Young soldiers dedicating their strength to a gently helping frail strangers applying their training resources and efficiency to make life better for people in agony. So much of this and so much obvious humanity coming through. As proud As anyone might be at the sweeping Success of our military prowess in Battle we can find cause for even truer satisfaction in watching it being applied to less destructive ends. We do War Well but there Are things we do even better. A a a a. C Tho Hartford courant James j. Kilpatric revival of education to be evangelistic task Lamar Alexander the new Secretary of Duea Tion does no to look much like an evangelist a he looks More like a Tennis coach a but its the evangelists role that he a taken on. He is about to hit the sawdust Trail in support of the Bush strategy for improving Public education. A this is the old time religion and Alexander is Well equipped to preach it. As governor of Tennessee he took on the teachers Union and won some hard fought reforms. Now his task is to convert the whole country to the sound doctrine of fundamental educational values x a a a a a a a a a a v x a Alexander has settled into his new quarters on Maryland Avenue and put his own stamp upon the decor. He is the Only member of the Cabinet with three rustic rocking chairs in his office. Last week he settled into one of the rockers invited a guest to take another and began his Sermon. The presidents program he insists is not a a a program in the usual sense of the word. It has certain specific Aims a formidably ambitious Aims a but the president makes no detailed recommendations for meeting them. This policy is deliberate. Bush wants educational reforms but he wants state and local governments working in conjunction with the private sector to fashion their own reforms. They must a break the Mold of Long established but unsuccessful practices. Well says the visitor what a new about that people have been preaching educational reforms since the Day that professor Mcguffey published his first Eclectic readers in 1836. How is the presidents crusade different. V a a v a. X a a a Alexander rises to the bait the Active involvement of a president he says is different. The fixing of world class standards in five Core subjects is different. National achievement tests Are different. The Prospect of a new generation of schools is exciting. The visitor is curious when the Secretary Speaks of a a new generation of schools a exactly what does the gentleman have in mind no says the Secretary he can to say exactly what he has in mind for then it would be his. Program or the presidents program and its not going to work that Way. The general plan Calls for 535 exemplary new schools one for each of 435 congressional districts plus two for each state. These schools wont necessarily be new in the sense of bricks and mortar they will be new in the sense of ideas. If the plan succeeds these a new schools will make a leap from candles to Oil lamps or in a better image from buggies to air planes. A everything is on the table a says Alexander. The number of school Days the hours of instruction the ratio of teachers to pupils the use of new tools of classroom teaching a All these w ill be up a he fett t Khz Njg Luda amp nyc  �?~2 Idi sect i for examination. As a first step Alexander will urge each Community to take a fresh look at the educational needs of its children. Beyond certain fundamental goals in common children have different needs. The needs of the poor differ from those of the Middle class. Not every child requires College preparation. Old questions demand new answers what should we teach  standards must All teaching be done by professionally certified teachers. The president s goals for 2 100 Are ambitious goals. By the  this decade 90 percent of High school students should graduate. Every youngster must acquire competence in English mathematics science history and geography. Bush wants . Students to be a first in the world in science and math. By 2000 every adult american will be literate and every school will be free of drugs and violence. This is a tall order but like every Good evangelist Alexander is optimistic. Will Industry contribute 5200 million toward the Radical new schools of course says Alexander. No problem. Will the powerful teachers unions cooperate with Radical reforms at the state and Loca Levels will the people pay the additional taxes that May be required a Alexander sits Forward in his rocking chair. The american people he says fervently Are ready to embrace a strategy that will Lead to markedly better schools. Teachers and principals will Welcome the invitation to excellence. A a there is a new understanding he believes of the dangers that lie ahead. Where there is no vision the people perish a and without a Well educated populace the United states will not be Able to compete successfully in the next Century. Well says the visitor let us say amen to All that. Ambitious goals Merit wholehearted response. Bring on the president s Bill and let the revival begin. 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