European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 15, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday May 15, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 5house panel oks defense spending Bill by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington a a key House committee approved its version of the fiscal 1993 defense authorization Bill wednesday without making the kind of wholesale changes in Force Structure that some Pentagon officials had feared. The $274.4 billion Bill Calls for about $7 billion less than president Bush requested but most of the cuts Are earmarked for areas such As supplies operations and maintenance rather than personnel. In recent months lawmakers had considered deepening Pentagon personnel reductions that Are planned through fiscal 1995, particularly in Europe. But the continued sluggish Economy led Many to Back Down from that idea to avoid higher unemployment at Home. A a it a fairly obvious that the Only Way to get a substantial peace dividend is to add to the unemployment figures by putting thousands of service members and civilians out of work sort of a classic Case of cutting off your nose to spite your face a one committee staffer said. The Bill meets the administrations request on Active duty personnel Levels to the letter authorizing an end strength of 1,766,500. That is 100,400 less than the authorization for the current fiscal year. But the Bill would reject the defense departments proposed cuts in National guard and reserves particularly in the army National guard where the Pentagon wanted to Cut 48,100 troops. The House Bill would allow a reduction of about 11,200. The Issue of National guard and Reserve personnel has become politically sensitive As constituents have pressured lawmakers to avoid closing local armoires. Pentagon officials have argued that cuts in the Active Force without corresponding reductions in the reserves and guard would Lead to an imbalanced Force. The Bill also maintains a Pentagon request for funds to pay for a 3.7 percent pay raise effective Jan. 1, and Calls for an Extension of the temporary lodging entitlement from four Days to 10 for troops returning from overseas. The lodging proposal had been considered by Pentagon officials when they Drew up the fiscal 1993 budget request but was dropped because of its Cost. The committee also reconciled differences in the military a separation pay plans the voluntary separation incentive and the special separation Benefit. The sub a Lump sum incentive has associated benefits such As extended medical care commissary and Exchange privileges and employment assistance. The committees Bill would make the same benefits a part of the Vii an annual payment incentive. The Bill also directs the Pentagon to implement a gender Neutral system for assigning Pilot training graduates to combat aircraft cockpits. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney has resisted Calls for changes in the assignment of women to combat aircraft until a panel studying the Issue completes its work late this year. In terms of hardware the Bill would Cut funding for the f-22 advanced tactical fighter the c-17 transport and a new version of the Fa-18 fighter. The Bill would preserve the administrations request for funds to build four b-2 bombers beyond the 16 already authorized although it would require the Pentagon to prove that the plane has overcome reported stealth problems. The Bill authorizes $4.3 billion for the strategic defense initiative $1.1 billion less than the Pentagon had requested but More than the committee had authorized for fiscal 1992. The Bill achieves much of its $7 billion in reductions through cuts in funding for certain kinds of supplies and spare parts that lawmakers say the services already have in abundance. Lawmakers said Only one fourth of the administrations $86 billion operations and maintenance request could be directly attributed to Force readiness while the major portion of the rest a simply supports a cold War sized management and acquisition  the Bill cuts $2 billion from a secondary inventories a of items such As spare parts fuel clothing and medical supplies. The Bill cuts another $2 billion in overhead Ana infrastructure spending including Headquarters staff consultants and office space. The House committee Bill i just the first major step in the defense budget process. The Senate armed services committee will fashion its version of the defense authorization Bill after which the two committees will meet to reconcile differences. The same procedure will take place with the House and Senate appropriations committees which allocate the Money for programs and weapons authorized by the armed services committees. N the stars and striphs10 years ago May 15,1982 a sound recordings made when president Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 a do not support a conclusion that there was a second gunman a said a National Academy of sciences report.20 years ago _ May 15,1972 a after years of trying air Force pilots knocked out the vital Thanh Hoa a dragon s jaw Bridge South of Hanoi and it should have Quot an immediate effect on fighting in the South Quot Pentagon sources said.30 years ago May 15,1962-theunited states continued its a a precautionary buildup to protect Laos in spite of reports that communist military activity in the country had ground to a halt.40 years ago May 15,1952 a Secretary of state Dean g. Acheson said the United states is determined to maintain the position of the Western Powers in Berlin and to protect the Western zones of Germany. Firms sold technology to Iran Iraq Washington a american companies got government approval to sell technology with potential military use to Iran in recent years even though the state department steadily has labelled that nation a supporter of terrorism classified documents show. Ten of the companies also sold equipment to Iraq with . Permission according to documents and experts say the material ended up in iraqis nuclear and missile programs. Government and private experts said Iran is working hard to rebuild its military in Hopes of becoming the dominant Power in the persian Gulf Region. Honeywell inc. And Rockwell International corp. Are among the companies that legally sold $40 million in computers and other items with both civilian and military uses to Iraq and Iran. Some of the equipment was sold during the eight year Iran Iraq War which ended in August 1988. The technology was sold to Iran from late 1987 through september 1991, the period for which data Are available. Equipment was exported to Iraq from 1985 until the iraqi invasion of Kuwait insoles to Iran Here Are the top three companies that sold advanced technology to Iran. A Siemens corp., new York $21 million in computers communications equipment electronic seem Blieve integrated circuit and other items. A Honeywell inc., Minneapolis $10 million in computers. A Honeywell Bull inc., Billerica mass., $5,2 million in computers some for a National census project. A amps August 1990, when the Bush administration halted the sales. Government licenses granted by the Commerce department Are required to Export such dual use technology. Companies say they Are assured by foreign buyers that items wont be used for military purposes and they rely on the Commerce department to Check for problems. Some companies say they also do a lot of checking themselves. The Commerce department says the watchdog Burden is shared by the government and the companies. But critics said it allows dangerous High tech exports to be approved. A the government has the first responsibility and clearly the government has been somewhat remiss in exercising its responsibility a said Stephen Bryen a former defense official. Thirty four companies were identified last month As having sold advanced equipment to Iraq from 1985-90. The equipment went to Saddam Hussein a nuclear and missile programs before his troops invaded Kuwait in August 1990. Separate Commerce department documents showed that of the 34 companies 10 also exported similar gear to Iran. Those 10 companies received . Licenses to ship computers communications equipment navigational instruments and technical models to Iran from late 1987 through september 1991. Companies Selling equipment to both Iran and Iraq included Sackman associates $423,200 in sales to Iran Carl Zeiss inc., $85,000 Tek Troix inc., $63,835 Uniss corp., $13,900 and data Genera corp., $10,000. Subcommittee head questions Agency s need for list of Gays Worl d War 50 years ago today 15 may1.9 .4 .2 May the kerch Peninsula on the Southern soviet front Falls to Germany a 11th army costing the red army 150,000 soldiers in the Pacific Australia sends reinforcements to beef up the defences of port moresby new Guinea. The United states begins gasoline rationing in 17 states limiting Drivers of Quot nonessential vehicles to three Gallons a week. Source 2194 Days of War w. H Smith publishers inc. World almanac Book of world War ii Bison books corp. 19s1 a Washington a a House subcommittee chairman said wednesday he would ask Federal emergency management Agency officials to explain Why they forced an employee to produce a list of homosexual co workers. A it is an outrageous invasion of privacy a said rep. Barney Frank d-mass., one of two acknowledged homosexuals in Congress. Frank chairman of the House judiciary administrative Law subcommittee said he hoped to Convene a hearing next week to determine Why Fema officials forced Jerald Johnson who is Gay to identify fellow homosexuals in the Agency. Frank said he would demand that Fema destroy the list which Johnson 32, says he provided the Agency As a condition of winning approval to serve a special one month detail in Poland. In a statement Fema director Wallace e. Stickney said the list was Only sought by Security officials after Johnson a management analyst for Fema claimed that other Fema employees holding Security clearances were homosexual. The Agency a Security office was concerned that these employees had concealed their sexual orientation and were vulnerable to blackmail Stickney said. The director said that he has not seen the list which remains locked in a vault. Femat a request for he list a did not violate any Laws or regulation a Stickney said. A the facts show that homosexuals can be selected for very senior positions in our Agency a Stickney said. A they receive Security clearances As Well. Performance is what counts in Fema not sexual  Frank said that he wants to question Stickney about his attitudes on Security risks posed by  Bill a veto will stand Washington a the Senate failed wednesday to override president Bush a veto of a Bill to limit spending on congressional elections and substitute Public dollars for special interest Money. The 57-42 vote a Short of the two thirds majority needed to override Bush a veto of the Bill saturday a gave him his 28th straight Victory in veto showdowns with the democratic controlled Congress. The Bill would have Cut the role of special interest political action committees by half. It would have offered House candidates Between $200,000 and $250,000 in Federal Matching funds and Senate candidates Between $300,000 and $1.4 million