European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 19, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday september 19. 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 5af Secretary Calls b-2 troubles Normal Washington a air Force Secretary Donald b. Rice argued tuesday that the radar problems of the b-2 stealth bomber Are Normal and the f-117 stealth fighter had a much much worse problems during its development. Rice addressing the air Force association mounted a spirited defense of the Bat winged aircraft which has encountered much opposition in Congress because of the $865 million Price tag for each plane. The Pentagon wants to Purchase 75 planes. Rice emphasized some of the woes encountered by the f-117, whose development was hidden from Public View for years. It saw combat for the first time during the . Invasion of Panama in december 1989, and was used extensively during the persian Gulf War. While the f-117 s performance in the Gulf has been hailed As a Victory for the radar evading aircraft Pentagon officials have also touted the b-2 As an even higher state of that technology. A though the f-117 test program  be talked about at the time because stealth was revolutionary and shrouded in secrecy much much worse problems occurred in its development a Rice said. He said two f-117 prototypes had crashed the first production aircraft crashed and All flight testing had to be halted until a wiring problem was fixed. Rice also said the f-117 had radar evading test results that Quot revealed differences bet Wen projected and actual performance. These were fixed too Quot Quot the Al 17s successes in the skies Over Baghdad Iraq would never have happened had the stealth program been stopped at that Point. Rice said adding Quot similarly the b-2 is too vital to be set Back by a Normal event of flight  the Secretary has been on Capitol Hill repeatedly since reports surfaced that the b-2 failed to perform As hoped during a test of its radar evading capabilities in july. On monday a key Senate supporter of the program. Sen j. James Lixon d net. Called the development a Quot serious  Lixon made the comment after meeting with Rice Lixon. Chairman of the Senate armed services strategic forces subcommittee said he remained undecided whether to continue supporting the Bush administrations request for Money to but four More b-2s in 1992. The House and Senate Are about to work on a Compromise Bill author aug defense spending for the budget Vear beginning get. I. The House version of the defense Bill provides no Money for new b-2s. The Senate Bill authorizes buying four for about 57.2 billion. Gates admits he was wrong on analysis of soviet intentions Washington apr Robert Gates under intense Senate questioning of his qualifications to head the Cia conceded tuesday that in his analysis of the soviet Union he had focused on the Kremlin a threat to the outside world and not the a a unthinkable changes percolating among the people. On the second Day of his confirmation hearings before the Senate intelligence committee Gates also came in for renewed grilling from democrats critical of his actions at the time of the 1985-86 diversion of Money from iranian arms sales to the Contra rebels in Nicaragua. However Many of the panel s 15 members appeared to have been disarmed by Gates admission of fault a both on matters of analysis and in repeatedly saying on monday and tuesday that he should have been More vigorous in probing the Early indications of the Iran Contra affair. A what has happened happened. And you admitted you made mistakes and i Admire that a said sen. Dennis Deconcini a Ariz. On the soviet Union Gates conceded his record was imperfect. For instance he said he had publicly disagreed with a Cia analysis that the soviets would undertake unilateral cuts in their defense spending. Quot i was wrong Quot he said. Gales also told the committee that if confirmed he would bring to the presidents attention any sign of wrongdoing such As that which occurred in the Iran Contra affair. White House strategists initially concerned about Gates prospects of confirmation because of renewed allegations about a Cia cover up in the affair said chances of approval were looking Good. In a remark that might prove troublesome for him inside the Agency if confirmed Gates said he had Learned Over the years that while some branches of the Cia cause controversy Quot the Clandestine service is the Only one that can cause  Gates made Clear he was no fan of secret paramilitary operations of the kind used in the past by the Cia to Aid anti soviet guerrillas. A they have repeatedly embroiled the Agency in controversy and difficulty Quot he said. If confirmed Gates said he would reject such operations unless they enjoyed Broad support within the congressional intelligence committees and the administration. Sen. Bill Bradley Leftd-n.j., and sen. David l. Boren d>okla., at the confirmation hearings tuesday. In the stars and stripes 10years ago sept. 19,1901 a the soviet Union angry at Poland s communist leaders for failing to crack Down on Solidarity despite repeated warnings told Poland to Quot immediately take determined and Radical action against the Independent labor group.20 years ago sept. 19,1971 a the Day after Egypt shot Down an israeli transport plane Over the occupied Sinai desert the two countries traded missile fire across the Suez canal. 30years ago sept. 19,1961 a . Secretary general Dag Hammarskjold was killed when his plane crashed near Mufu lira on the Northern Rhodesia Congo Border. A survivor said Hammarskjold asked the Pilot to change course just before the scheduled Landing. 40years ago sept. 19, 1951 a sen. Brien Mcmahon d-conn., declared that there is a virtually no limit to the number of atomic bombs the United states can produce and called for the creation of an a atomic army atomic Navy and atomic air Force Quot to replace conventional defences. Bush neglects Home front poll says Washington a two thirds of those questioned in a poll released tuesday Many of them republicans said president Bush is not spending enough time on Domestic problems. The Abc news poll of 1,233 adults nationwide found that 66 percent believe Bush a spends too much time on foreign problems and not enough on problems in this  another 30 percent said Bush spends a about the right amount of time on both foreign problems and problems in this  two percent said he spends too much time on Domestic problems. Democrats Are making Bush a do Bush Mystic record the Central theme of the coming presidential election claiming he is preoccupied with International affairs and has neglected the Home front. More than three quarters of democrats in the Survey said Bush was spending too much time on overseas problems. Fifty one percent of republicans agreed As did 68 percent of independents. The concern about Bush a Overall Domestic performance was greater than specific criticism about his handling of the Economy which was a concern to 53 percent of those polled. The poll also indicates democrats have an Uphill race for the White House. A Strong majority of the Public 73 percent continues to approve of the Way Bush is handling foreign affairs and his Overall Job approval rating was 69 percent. The poll also showed that democratic presidential prospects Are seriously lacking in  and National support this Early in the race for 1992. When read a list of names and asked whom they would vote Lor in a primary 4 percent of democrats said a no  Jerry Brown former California governor came in second with 24 percent of democrats saying they would vote for him in a primary. Brown ran for president in 1976 and 1980. The Only other Democrat who got into double digits was Virginia gov. L. Douglas Wilder who was supported by 13 percent of democrats. He has formally declared his candidacy. Other democrats support Levels in the presidential race Arkansas gov. Bill Clinton 7 percent Nebraska sen. Boh Kerrey 4 percent former Massachusetts sen. Paul Tsongas 4 percent and Iowa sen. Tom Harkin 3 percent. Tsongas and Markin have officially entered the Campaign. The Abc poll was conducted sept. 1315. Navy seeks smaller revamp of Carrier Kennedy Washington a the Navy has asked Congress for permission to scale Down a planned overhaul of the 24-year-old aircraft Carrier John f. Kennedy the Pentagon announced tuesday. The Navy s $400 million proposal would extend the life of the Carrier for about five years and would take one year to two years to Complete at the Philadelphia naval shipyard Pentagon spokesman Pete Williams said. The work would begin in 1993, if Congress approves the plan. It would not delay the expected closure of the huge shipyard scheduled Lor 1997, Williams said. The Navy has sought congressional approval for the new proposal in Light of the fact that Congress has approved budget language that would permit Only a far More extensive remodelling of the Carrier Williams said. The More extensive work would extend the life of the warship by 15 to 20 years and would Cost twice As much Williams said. The Navy has decided to opt Lor if less extensive overhaul because it has it tar mind that it does not need to Kee the Carrier As Long As expected. I lie sen ice plans to pare its Carrier meet torn i to 12, Williams said. Williams said he did not know Man details no the remodelling or whether would allow the warship to pros id berths Lor women. Congress recently approved use i women m the Navy to Fly combat or sit is