European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 13, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday August 13, 1993 the stars and stripes Page 3 Gen. Shall named joint chiefs Leader from Page 1 period of  a the end of the cold War has created Many opportunities for our Security and Many new threats that Lurk among the worlds continuing dangers. General shall is the right Man to Lead our forces in this challenging Era a Clinton said. Shalikashvil chosen Over Many More senior candidates a Little Over a year ago As the top . Military commander in Europe will begin a renewable two year term As chairman oct. 1 if As expected he is confirmed by the Senate. His nomination came As something of a Surprise inside the Pentagon where he was generally considered a Longshot. Marine corps Gen. Joseph p. Hoar chief of the . Central come adm. Charles r. Larson chief of the Pacific come and Gen. Merrill a. A a Tony me Peak air Force chief of staff were most often mentioned As the front runners. The appointment May have even shocked Shalikashvil who officials say May not have Learned of Clinton a intention until monday or  i Tell you it Wasny to very Long before the press conference announcing the decision a said one official. Shalikashvil told the stars and stripes in Early july that head a respectfully decline the Post if offered. He added however that one never knows a what happens to someone when the president makes such a request. One nato official said the explanation of what happened was simple Shalikashvil the Soldier a serves and the ultimate commander in chief is the president. It just goes to underscore you can to say a not to the commander in  retired army Gen. John r. Galvin Shalika Shvili a predecessor As supreme Allied commander Europe said he too Hadnot expected the 57-year-old officer to be tabbed for the Job. / a i was surprised a decision was made to pull him out so soon a Galvin said from the . Military Academy at West Point where he is a guest professor. A i recognize that a shall is absolutely the Best person for the Job but i was surprised also because two out of the last three chairmen have been from the  t an informal tradition of rotating the Post among the services put the air orce in line for the position which has been held by army and Navy personnel for the past dozen years. But in a Short briefing following the White House announcement defense Secretary Les Aspin said the rotation tradition did not Factor in Clinton s decision it s not much of a tradition a Aspin said noting that there were three successive pcs chairmen from the army in the 1960s and two air Force chairmen in the 1970s. 1 Shalikashvil was born in Warsaw Poland. A _ he is the grandson of a general in the army of the russian Czar and the son of a army officer in the Republic of Georgia who fought the annexation of his Homeland by the soviets in the 1920s. In 1944, when he was eight Shalika Shvili a family fled West to Germany in a railway cattle car one step ahead of the advancing soviet army. A the came to the United states at the Gen. John Malchasa David Shalikashvil Date and place of Burih june 27,1936 Warsaw Poland. Educational degrees Bradley University Bachelor s degree in mechanical engineering 1958george Washington University master s degree in International relations 1970. Foreign language German polish. Married to the former Joan e. Zimpleman son Brant. Some highlights of his military career August 1956 to october 1958. Basic training at fort Leonard Wood. To. February 1965. Began first european tour at the 32nd arty brigade in Darmstadt Germany. August 1989 to August 1991. Deputy commander . Army Europe and 7th army. August 1991 to june 1992. Assistant to Gen. Colin l. Powell chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. Since june 1992. Supreme Allied commander. Europe Sac Eurand commander in chief . European come. Age of 16, settled in Peoria Iii and source us army Learned English from John Wayne movies so he could take a full course Load from his first Day in school a Clinton said. A now i intend to nominate him to the highest military office in our land. Only in  Galvin said Shalika Shvili a background and Broad experience in Europe and in Washington where he worked As Powell a assistant before coming to nato make him a uniquely fitted to face the Post Gold War challenges. Shalikashvil takes Over the . Military As it is undergoing massive change in virtually every aspect As . Policy makers struggle to come to terms with a world no longer dominated by the East West division that marked the cold War. Shalikashvil will work with Aspin to tackle fundamental questions of Force Structure and development of follow on weapons systems to take the military into the 21st Century. Hell also help determine the . Military a role in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations such As Somalia where tensions Are escalating following the deaths of four . Soldiers sunday. Shalikashvil thanked Clinton for his a Trust and Confidence a and said he appreciated the Opportunity to serve in a position of such High responsibility As a Way to repay the country that has Given so much to him. Shalikashvil told reporters that he is a a comfortable with Clinton a recent policy decisions on Gays in the military. Shalikashvil also showed that he is fast on his feet and possesses one of the prime prerequisites for the pcs chairman a Job a a diplomats touch. Hit with a question regarding his feelings on women in the military Shalik Ash Vili quipped a i feel great about women in the military.�?�. Asked if he would seek to bring Ukraine Russia and possibly the Eastern european countries into nato Shalikashvil prompted laughter and applause from his audience by replying a a in be been nominated for pcs chairman not president of the United  on a More serious note he said he Hopes nato could avoid using Force in the Balkans a but that is up to those factions engaged in that senseless  a i Hope we do not have to bomb a he said. A but no one should make a mistake. The resolve is there to do so should those who Are carrying on that struggle not s4s modify their  the Balkans crisis May give Shalikashvil his first Opportunity to differentiate himself from his former Boss. Powell has strongly espoused a doctrine of a decisive Force a which Calls for avoiding military intervention unless there Are clearly defined goals and High Odds of overwhelming . Victory. Shalikashvil is More open to committing . Forces but still insists on receiving Clear objectives from political leaders. In making one of the most important personnel selections of his Young presidency Clinton first and Foremost wanted a a Warrior a Aspin said. Clinton also wanted a a Wise adviser on the use of Force and someone who could manage the continued military downsizing and skilfully negotiate with . Allies on multilateral issues. Finally Clinton wanted someone who could be an effective advocate for troops. A John Shalikashvil is in a unique position to do that a Aspin said. A the started out As a private and made it All the Way o the  nominee gets thumbs up from by Rosemary Sawyer Brussels Bureau Brussels Belgium a if confirmed by the Senate . Army Gen. John m. Shalikashvil supreme Allied commander Europe will depart from nato for Washington by oct. 1, leaving behind an Alliance in a time of. It i _ _1 Mem Karen Olillia it null i it of for it we pm a Quot of 11 turbulence and staff members still learning How to pronounce his name. During Shalika Shvili a tenure As commander of Allied forces in Europe the Alliance had a a very very Good person the Best we had a said his predecessor retired Gen. John r. Galvin. A i think its Tough though to have to leave at the end of a year. Its Tough on nato to have to see such a Quick change but one never knows How that will All turn  president Clinton surprised Many nato officials by selecting Shalikashvil who since assuming his Allied Post in june 1992, has been involved in tasks such As planning for and carrying out military operations in former Yugoslavia fostering East West relationships with former Warsaw pact countries and revamping the Alliance to fit the Post cold War. Similarly As commander of the . European come the 57-year-old army general has been absorbed in overseeing u a. Troop withdrawals. Despite the inherent difficulties of changing leaders Many Allied officials View his impending shift As a Boon for the Alliance. A for me its a Clear rubber stamp of the . Willingness to remain in nato As the leading nation and to strengthen the strings Between the United states and Europe a said Amo Schaefer a German two Star officer who recently retired from the staff of supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. A taking into account his personality i think that would help nato tremendously that the chairman of the chiefs of staff is sitting there having the ear of the president As far As the relationship Between the United states and  in a statement the . Ambassador to nato Robin Hunter said Shalika Shvili a selection As successor to the polished and popular Gen. Colin l. Powell a is Good news for America for Europe and for the  one shape staff member noted pros and cons to the move Quot we barely got to know an individual whom we found to be highly effective and highly cooperative. But. They be picked a person of enormous background and experience in things european and who can to help but strengthen the euro Atlantic Alliance in that regard Quot Shalikashvil is the son of a georgian military officer who fled Poland at age 8 and moved to the United states eight years later. His ethnic background and fluency in German and polish made him a key Western representative in forging new ties with former East bloc officials. A the was an Ideal person for the position said one nato officer. A the s been Here at a time when the themes of cooperation and dialogue in the new nato strategy had to be Given substance by Sac eur. He has been very committed to that and very  Shalika Shvili a Elevation to the position As Clinton s top military adviser Likely will receive applause from proponents of a Strong continuing . Military presence in Europe. In hearings before Congress Shalikashvil has cautioned against cutting overseas forces too deep too fast in the interest of saving Money. Officials could not say thursday when Clinton was expected to nominate Shalika Shvili a successor a move that must be approved nato ambassadors. A a it a not As if he a about to take off Quot said one nato source. A but on the other hand of course there is urgency to nominate a successor because clearly this is a very important moment for  although talk of installing a european to the Post has surfaced in recent years Schaefer called Silex a move unlikely for now. Excepting France which is not part of natos Mili tary command and Britain which would gladly take the Job if asked a inn Nohrr a finn Wynum diet no Rte that Are no other nation would disagree that an american at this time is still a need a Strong need a said Schaefer who while at shape headed a study of How nato military Headquarters should be revamped following the end of the cold War. What could come into question with this next appointment however is whether another army general is Best suited to fill the Post Given that the present threat is no longer land operations and could involve joint warfare heavily dependent on air Power with the exception of air Force Gen. Lauris Norstad who filled the position from 1956 to 1962, army generals have held the Job of supreme Allied commander Europe. But its not a requirement that the person at the top Wear an army uniform. A it s More Likely if another service is to come it would be the air Force a Schaefer said noting that the German and British officers directly under the supreme Allied commander Are army officers. A Clinton might also choose an air Force general in lieu of a Navy Admiral because the supreme Allied commander Europe a naval counterpart Allied commander Atlantic is a . Admiral. A i done to know whether older customs will be broken or not a Galvin said. A really after All what should govern is to put the Best people in the Best