European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 20, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Vol. 51, no. 276 35 wednesday january 20,1993 b d 8693 a new leaders face key by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington anyone who has served aboard an air Craft Carrier knows that bring ing such a Behemoth to a dead Stop in preparation for changing direction requires a lot of open water and a considerable amount of time. So it has been for the defense department under the Bush administration. While Bush launched the draw Down that has seen the military shrink by More than 300,000. Troops it is Only now three years after the fall of the Berlin Wall that the nation s leadership finally seems ready to plot a hew course for the armed forces. Unfortunately for president elect Clinton and his defens Secretary designate former House armed services committee chairman Les Aspin c analysis the  Pentagon has come to a halt in decidedly unfamiliar Waters just As they have taken command of the Bridge. With the familiar backdrop of the cold War gone the military is undergoing its most intensive re evaluation since world War ii in everything from weaponry to doctrine to personnel policy. It Likely will take a Good chunk of Clinton s initial term to see How the dust will Settle because there Are indications that the military a traditionally an organization slow to adapt to change a May offer stiff resistance on certain issues. V Many details of Clinton s initial defense blueprint will not be known until he sends his first formal budget to Congress which probably wont happen until late february or see leaders on Page 2iraq makes peace overtures from staff and wire reports Baghdad Iraq a Iraq in two peace offerings to the Clinton administration declared a cease fire tuesday and appealed to the president elect to halt bombing raids and begin talking after his inauguration As president. Saddam Hussein s government said its unilateral cease fire in the no Fly zones patrolled by Allied planes would take effect at 8 . Today 6 . Central european time. It appealed to Clinton who takes office today to halt the bombing raids. The step was taken a was a gesture of Good will toward the Clinton administration and through him the american people a an iraqi statement said. In Washington Pentagon spokesman Pete Williams said Quot it s a helpful sign if in fact Iraq will Stop threatening coalition aircraft. But the most important thing is what he Saddam really does the iraqi announcement came after a third consecutive Day of combat. Pentagon officials said . Warplanes attacked anti aircraft positions in Northern Iraq after missile radar a locked on some planes and artillery fired at others. Meanwhile an aircraft Carrier and two guided missile cruisers were in route to the Eastern Mediterranean sea Accord ing to a spokesman at . Naval forces Europe in London. The Carrier John f. Kennedy and the guided missile Cruiser Leyte Gulf left Naples Italy on sunday a Day and a half ahead of their planned departure according to Navy it. Ike Skelton. Also steaming toward the area was the Belknap a guided missile Cruiser that lathe 6th Fleet Flag ship Quot Skelton said. It left port at Lisbon Portugal on monday two Days earlier than originally scheduled according to Skelton. The Carrier Kitty Hawk is already in. See peace on Page 2 Mogadishu Somalia a the first american combat troops to head Home from Somalia ended a bittersweet tour tuesday leaving a Lawless famine stricken land where their humanitarian Mission was often greeted by sniper fire. The 202 marines aboard the first chartered Jet to leave cheered loudly As attendants locked the door and pulled away the stairs. Minutes later they were in the air. A i feel Good to be going Home a said Lance Chi. Ii 20, of Lake Village ind. Inc David shrews Bui _ Shrewsbury echoed the feelings of his comrades that they had contributed much to a country in chaos. It. Col. Jim Walsh 46, of san Francisco commander of the 3rd in 9th Marine regt said a when we arrived this country was on its Back and since we be been Here we be gotten it Back up on its feet. It s a real pleasure to see Alt the food flowing in kids going Back to school the towns fairly stable  Walsh a battalion is the first combat unit to return Home from Somalia since the marines landed dec. 9, in All 850 marines from the battalion Are returning to Camp Pendleton Calif., Over the next few Days. Even As the battalion was leaving other marines providing Security for Relief workers came under sniper fire in scattered parts of the. Country . Military spokesmen said no casualties were reported. Since the marines landed to kick off operation restore Hope one Marine was killed and one Marine and one Navy corpsman were wounded. With the departure of the 3rd in 9th regt fewer than 9,000 marines remain among More than 25,000 . Troops. There Are also 11,000 troops from an International Force of 20 nations operating in Somalia. A i feel that we did a Good Job a said Lance Cpl. Shane Reaux 20, of Drath la. A pm not sure that the Mission is Complete. I Hope the people come out of  Somalia has lost 350,000 of its people to famine fighting and disease it the last year. An additional 2 see marines on Page 2 a Marine Waves his boarding pass at Mogadishu Airport tuesday As be and 201 other members of the 3rd in 9th regt file into a Jet bound for Camp Pendleton Calif. Other marines will follow them Home in coming weeks