European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 1, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Overview _ �1 a year of dram world events Security was tight in Firth Germany and throughout Europe during the persian Gulf War. From Page i 100,000 Allied air sorties Saddam s ragged troops deserted in droves. One pathetic handful even tried to surrender to a television news Crew. . Armoured forces did Square off against iraqis elite Republican guard but american tactics and technology were never in doubt. Triumph five months in the making took us hours. The Mother of All wars Cost the lives of 148 . Combat troops and $60 billion but Kuwait was free. Trashed and looted and choked with the smoke of 700 Oil fires perhaps but free the greatest single tragedy for . Troops was the loss of 28 americans to a scud missile on the final Day of the War. In addition at least 30 coalition troops suffered that enigmatic death called Friendly fire. If desert storm helped cleanse the National soul of the sins of Vietnam it also proved that the Reagan defense buildup had not been squandered billions. In the process it made George Bush the most popular president in . History albeit briefly and created household words of names like Schwarzkopf and Kelly. By the time it was Over millions of americans could Point out Riyadh on a map and can on the dial. The flush however was not Long on the desert Rose. Urged on by comments from president Bush kurdish rebels found the will if not the Way to take on Saddam s Battle scarred but still potent forces. More than 1.5 million kurd chewed up by helicopter gunships and the remnants of the Republican guard fled North suffering new casualties from dysentery starvation and the cold. The .-led Relief Effort would take another three months. More troubling. Operation provide Comfort would raise serious questions about the . Decision not to drive on Baghdad in the waning Days of desert storm. In Europe thousands of . Soldiers came Back to the business of packing up and heading Home As part of a five year 150,000-Lroop draw Down. A shortage of German moving companies however created a shipping backlog that took months to clean up. Two dozen american service members from Europe on an off duty tour of Moscow had ringside seats for the August coup against president Mikhail Gorbachev. While Gorbachev s government would emerge intact it would ultimately fall prey to the surging popularity of russian Leader Boris Yeltsin by years end the soviet republics had declared Independence and Yeltsin was Busy hammering together the Commonwealth of Independent states. Gorbachev finding no room at the c is resigned on Christmas Day. The United slates decision to ship food to the defunct Union angered some citizens in recession plagued America where Bush s popularity like Industrial output had plunged hoping to capitalize on Bush a flagging support political pundit Pat Buchanan announced a Long shot bid for president with the message a America  a month earlier former Kun flux klan Leader David Duke won nearly 40 percent of the vote for Louisiana governor with a Campaign that said More or less Quot Whites  Duke look the loss in stride by announcing a run for the presidency joining Paul Tsongas Douglas Wilder Bob Kerrey and Jerry Brown among other hopefuls. In keeping with Long standing tradition new York gov. Mario Cuomo toyed with the idea of entering the fray then announced he would not run. A surge in nationalism also became evident in Germany where the Bills had come due on unification the Gulf War and sending soviet troops Home. By fall Neo nazi demonstrations were a weekly affair in former East Germany. Nationalism also surged in Yugoslavia where croatian and slovenian separatists battled the serbian led Federal army. Among the casualties the historic seaport City of Dubrovnik. Arthur Fletcher chairman of the . Commission on civil rights dropped his own bomb following a visit to military communities in Europe. Fletcher said head uncovered 33 documented cases of discrimination by the army and asked his commission to investigate. That led the army to order a Hasty look at equal Opportunity programs in Europe results of which have never been made Public. Confirmation hearings for Clarence Thomas nomination to the supreme court became the television event of the year following allegations of sexual misconduct from former co worker Anita Hill. After three Days of tawdry televised testimony Thomas was approved by a vote of 52 to 48. No. 2 on the tube was the rape trial of William Smith Nephew of sen. Edward Kennedy. Smith was acquitted after the plaintiffs Case self destructed before millions of viewers. Motorist Rodney King became a video Star of sorts when a resident filmed him being beaten by los Angeles police officers. Civil rights groups demanded the resignation of . Police chief Daryl Gates but he was still at the Helm a and writing his biography a at years end. There was a Glimmer of Hope in the Middle East As arabs and israelis Sal Down to talks in Madrid and later Washington. There were similar glimmers in South Africa w Here apartheid was dismantled and Cambodia where a peace settlement ended 2 1 years of Slaughter shiite kidnappers unexpectedly released american hostages Thomas Sutherland Joseph c Scippio Alann Steen Terry Waite and. Finally Terry Anderson w to had spent nearly seven years in Captivity. Several of the freed hostages publicly questioned Waite s role in the Reagan arms for hostages dealing but the anglican Church envoy denied any connection with Reagan stealth staffer Oliver North. Police arrested a Milwaukee Man. Jeffrey Dahmjr in connection with the grisly murders and dismemberment of 17 people. In England two men ended a decade of debate by admitting they a lubricated the mysterious rings appearing in farm Fields. In sports Minnesota won the world series one of the Best Ever in seven games Over the Atlanta braves. Atlanta a Tomahawk chop Drew complaints from some indians but not All one tribe made a mint Selling foam rubber War hatchets at Fulton county stadium. Bobby Bonilla jumped ship for nearly $30 million Roger Clemens won his third by Young award and Desmond Howard surprised no one by nailing Down the Heisman. But the biggest sports Story was magic Johnson a retirement from basketball after testing positive for the aids virus. The ,  guard quickly volunteered to be a spokesman for aids research and education. The spread of the disease marked its 10th anniversary in 1991. Kimberly Bergalis a 23-year-old Florida woman who caught aids from hot a dentist died in december. Other victims during the year included Freddie Mercury from the glitter band Queen television s Amanda Blake actor Brad Davis and Stock car racer Tim Richmond. On a happier note returning Gulf War vets started their own baby Boom dubbed operation desert Stork. By Winter pregnancy rates at forts Bragg and Hood among others had tripled. In the world of entertainment Michael Jackson grabbed his Crotch a  limes in his Long awaited music video dangerous released in late november. Sales were initially brisk then plummeted. Garth Brooks vaulted to the top of most of the charts while rap continued to dominate what used to be called pop. Milli Vanilli was reduced to lip synching television commercials. Elizabeth Taylor married for the eighth time on this Outing to a former construction worker. Peewee Herman was arrested. Kevin Costner America s favorite actor of the moment starred in Robin Hood and in Oliver stones controversial assassination film Juk. Jodie Foster who should be americans favorite actress starred in the acclaimed silence of the lambs then directed and starred in Little Man tote. Robin Williams teamed w ill Jeff Bridges for i be Fisher King with Robert Deniro for awakenings and with Dustin Hoffman in Hook. Not bad for a Guy from Ork. Finally Arnold a Wazenegger was Back in terminator 2, the quintessential barbarian flick. And As Arnold himself puts it Quot Hasta la Vista. Baby a Page 2 the stars and stripes wednesday thursday january 1/2, 1992