European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 30, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse The Sta Sand ripes v vol. 51, no. 286 35c saturday january 30,1993 b ubhbs5kbsh 8693 a Linton eases ban on Gays full reversal ordered 15 Sailor Keith Mel hold gestures during a rally thursday night after a judge ruled that the military s ban on Gays is unconstitutional. Washington a president Clinton Friday made the first move to lift a 50-Ycar ban on homosexuals in the military acting on a Campaign pledge that sparked intense controversy in Congress and the Pentagon As Well. Clinton directed that an executive order reversing the ban be prepared by july 15. In the meantime he said military recruiters would Stop asking applicants about their sexual orientation. He also suspended discharge of homosexuals from the military solely because of their sexual orientation until he has reviewed the current policy. Clinton s actions seemed a careful Compromise designed to defuse a volatile situation in Congress where majority democrats arc anxious to work with the new president even if they disagree with him on the Issue of homosexuals in the military. At the same time they set the stage for nationally televised hearings on the subject and a possible showdown in Congress in six months when the ban would formally take effect. Democratic sen. Sam Nunn Congress leading voice on de Cllnton Imd / 1 or it sense said he remained opposed to lifting the ban even though he praised the presidents announcement. From the republicans came criticism. Senate gop Leader Dob Dole said the president had a decided to ignore the overwhelming majority of the american people military experts veterans groups and the advice of Senate republicans and Many in a Bow to opposition from the military and key democrats in Congress Clinton conceded his plan was not everything he originally had hoped for. But he said a i think this is a dramatic step Forward. Normally in the history of civil rights advancements presidents have not been in the forefront a in his remarks a his first question and answer session with reporters since taking office a Clinton acknowledged that the controversy had seemed to crowd out other issues of a a centrals importance to americans such As health and economic policy. But he was firm in his determination. A the Issue is whether men and women who can and have served with real distinction should be excluded from military service solely on the basis of their status. A and i believe they should not a he said. Asked whether he intended to formally lift the ban at that time Clinton hedged slightly. He said that was his intention noted the Strong feelings of those who oppose him and added a i done to see Clinton on Page 2 croatian dam begins leaking after fleeing serbs set off blasts Perucca dam Croatia a water spouted from the base of a huge and strategic hydroelectric dam Friday after serbian forces fleeing a croatian onslaught blasted three craters in the Structure. Croatian authorities were preparing to evacuate As Many As 20,000 people who live downriver from the earthen dam which is a crucial source of electricity for Dalmatia the coastal Region of Croatia. The croatian presidency appealed for Calm. It said experts at the site believed there was a a realistic danger that the dam could Cave in but did not talk of imminent collapse. Serbian fighters had laced the dam with As Many As 10,000 mines after capturing it in the 1991 civil War which ended a year ago with a cease fire. . Peacekeepers had taken control of the am in september but they did nut defuse All the mines. The troops now have been driven from the area by the fighting. The croatian government launched an offensive last week to retake the one third of croatian territory still in serbian hands. Ing All peacekeepers from Croatia. That could cause the War to spread throughout the Balkans. The British broadcasting corp. Friday quoted croatian authorities As saying that retreating serbs had set off explosives at each end and the base of the 190-foot-tall, 550-foot-Long dam. Two craters apparently left by Retreat see dam on Page 2 Celebration Marks end of of ties to Berlin by Ron Jensen Nurnberg Burch. Berlin a the knot that tethered this City to the . Air Force was ceremonially untied Friday the colors of the 7350th air base group were cased and the unique relationship Between City and military was celebrated in a 50-minute ceremony viewed by More than 600 people at Tempelhof a. A since the first c-47 landed in Tempelhof in 1945, the lives of Tempelhof airmen and the people of Berlin have been linked a said Gen. Robert c. Oaks commander of . Air forces in Europe. Despite the ceremony which was attended by dignitaries of the German and Berlin governments As Well As British French German and russian military officials the air Force will not leave the base until june. A 30-person contingent will remain even then to train German air traffic controllers. Airmen interviewed before the ceremony think the link Oaks mentioned should continue. A i feel sad about having to leave Here a said staff sgt. Tony Wood chief of communications Security for the 7350th. A i feel the americans should stay until the political situation in Europe is completely stable not just superficially Wood has been in Berlin for 18 months Long enough to form an opinion about the departure of the air Force and across town the army which is scheduled to leave by the end of 1994. A a it a scary because this is going to be one of the most important cities in Europe a he said adding that America should not lose its foothold in Berlin. Techs to. Christopher Farr who is in charge of administration for the 7350th comm so also wants to stay. A think they should keep the base open. Berlin is a Nice place a said the two year resident. A a in be been stationed All Over Europe and the Orient. This is the sea Berlin on Pago 3
