European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 05, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday november 5, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 3european army proposal creates stir Western defense officials Ponder corps Impact on nato by Susanne m. Schafer a military writer Washington the French and German proposal to forge 50,000 troops into a european army has military officers on both sides of the Atlantic scratching their Heads in confusion. At first glance the proposal appears to meet More political than purely military needs said senior military officers from the United states and Europe. The proposal created a major stir when it was announced during a meeting of defense ministers from the 42-year-old North Atlantic treaty organization in Italy last month. Defense Secretary  Cheney voiced immediate concerns that a whatever forces Are assigned to this new entity should not be subtracted from those forces assigned to  British officials called the idea a dangerous a while others worried it might become a threat to a continued . Military presence on the european continent. A what is the Mission for this Force a asked one High ranking european officer who asked not to be named. A the germans Are not allowed by their Constitution to Send troops outside of nato and the French Are not part of nato. So what will this Force do conduct humanitarian missions a what is the Mission for this Force the germans Are not allowed by their Constitution to Send troops outside of nato and the French Are not part of nato. So what will this Force do conduct humanitarian missions Quot a a High ranking european officer one senior Pentagon official said Washington has since been assured by the germans that no weakening of nato is intended and that any forces committed to the German French Force would remain under nato jurisdiction. To military leaders these Are some of the questions a the Issue of a command and control a or who is in charge of the corps a a French or a German military officer and what is the relationship to each nations civilian leadership would a command Post rotate Between nations a who is the political master of such a Force As described by German and French officials the corps w Ould transform the nine nation Western european Union into a defense organization of themm a my a gone european Community. Will there be a Liaison tie with nato a what equipment would the Force use since France is formally outside natos military Structure its arms do not match up with those used by nato forces in particular the germans. A does this mean that Germany will have to Purchase new weaponry which Means the forces wont be compatible with nato or will the French be Able to Purchase compatible systems this could create some problems for . Weapons sales and exports of technical goods since some weapons Are sold under restrictions for nato use Only. A is the Force a ground Force will it have an air Force As operation desert storm demonstrated an effective fighting Force  not rely on ground troops alone but makes use of forces from the land air and sea. A if the Force is used for missions outside the nato Arena How will it get there few military organizations carry the vast capabilities that . Forces have to transport thousands of troops and take supplies to them in the Field Over the Long term. A would the United states a or other Allied nations a be called on to lend a hand should the Force experience difficulties a will it be armed with conventional weaponry Only the French have an Independent nuclear Force whereas the germans do not. If the commander of the Force is German would he have the ability to deploy French nuclear weapons a what doctrine will the Force use the nato forces deployed to the persian Gulf used the so called airland Battle doctrine which goes beyond Battlefield tactics to organize the Overall conduct of a War. A and where will the funds for the Force come from most european nations arc feeling budget constraints just like the United states and Are loathe to dig into their pockets for any new military expenditures. Capitol Christmas free to have Southwest flavor Albuquerque . A new Mexico will contribute a live Blue Spruce that will be this years . Capitol Christmas tree and it will be Hung with southwestern style decorations and Chili Pepper shaped lights. Indian dancers and mariachi music will provide the entertainment and new Mexico a traditional Holiday luminaries a candles placed in Brown bags weighted with Sand a will provide a glow at the dec. 11 tree lighting ceremony in Washington. The tree later will be planted in Washington. Federal forests take turns providing the Capitol Christmas tree and the Carson National Forest near Taos was selected to Supply this years. It initially was supposed to be a Cut tree. But the Forest service argued that 1991, the 100th anniversary of the National Forest system would be a great year for a living Christmas tree to Light up the nations Capitol. Capitol landscape architect Paul pin Cus said this will be the first living Capitol Christmas tree from a National Forest. A tree that did not come from a National Forest was planted at the Capitol in 1961 and was used for a few years before it died he said. For several years after that  made a Holiday tree by putting together Cut Pines a like tinker toys a he said. In new Mexico a Bank has pledged $10,000 to a get the tree to d.c.,�?� and Forest spokesman Gary Schiff said volunteers Are trying to raise $30,000 More. Schoolchildren the elderly and boy scout troops have made decorations for it. The tree selected by Pincus is expected to be out of the ground wednesday and will be bless ctr at a Pueblo Indian ceremony. \ it will be trucked to Washington a a 2,000-mile, we Klong trip a on a specially designed 75 to 80-foot trailer. The tree haulers Hope to Stop in places such As Amarillo Texas Oklahoma City Little Rock Ark. And Knoxville Tenn. Nato won t uncork details on reported slogan contest landmark red and wite water towers emblazoned with the Campbell soup co. Logo collapse sunday during the demolition of the firms oldest Plant in Camden . Thousands of explosive charges reduced the 122-year-old Birthplace of condensed soup into a colossal pile of rubble. The Plant had been closed since 1990. Darmstadt Germany a amps reports that nato diplomats arc currently vying for the bottle of Champagne offered for the Best slogan for the organizations new strategy has been meet by a Wall of denials and ignorance in Brussels Belgium. A we can neither confirm nor deny that kind of Story although the sources would seem impeachable a said nato spokeswoman Stefanie Brooks. Brooks was mum on the Brand of Champagne the Winner would get. The British wire service Reuters and the daily Frankfurter Mundschau ran the Story on monday. According to the report nato is looking for a a a Snappy name for its new strategy that will make headlines. Tic contest Winner is to be announced at the nato Summit which begins in Rome on thursday. Titles submitted so far the report claimed Are a peace in Security and a stability through  a let me say this a said an american Diplomat in Brussels. A the Story is a to my mental exaggeration. A the truth is that there is a 20-Page strategy paper without a name which will be presented at the Rome Summit a the Diplomat said. A a there a no contest and this being nato there will be a Compromise on whatever its called. No one is losing any sleep about what it will be