European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 18, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Vol. 52, no. 244 500 saturday december 8,1993 d 8693 a members of the 2nd in 14th inf regt arrive at the Airport in Mogadishu Somalia on Friday for their trip Home. Combat unit leaves a from wire reports Mogadishu Somalia a the United states began pulling combat troops out of Somalia on Friday starting with the battalion that fought in the firelight that persuaded president Clinton to bring . Forces Home. In a Gray humid hangar at the Mogadishu Airport about 450 members of the . Army a 2nd in 14th inf regt lined up in full Battle dress for a Brief de of torture ceremony. They then boarded a Boeing 747 or the overnight flight to fort drum . A i have mixed feelings myself a said maj. Gen. Thomas m. Montgomery commander of . Forces in Somalia its hard when you come Here to feed people and you wind up fighting for your although some support units left thursday and the aircraft Carrier America left two weeks ago the 2nd in was the first combat unit among the More than 8,000 soldiers to leave. About 2,500 . Troops 30 percent of the total Force Are to depart before Christmas. Clinton ordered . Troops out by March 31 after an oct. 3 ambush of . Army rangers by somalian militiamen killed 18 americans and wounded 75 near the site of a downed . Helicopter. Three Hundred somalis were reported killed during the 12-hour firefight. The 2nd in moving through heavy gun and see combat on Page 2 supporters in Congress Hail Inman Washington a retired adm. Bobby Ray Inman is winning Waves of eager support on Capitol Hill As president Clinton a Choice to be his new defense Secretary. In announcing his selection to replace los Aspin who is leaving in january Clinton said thursday that he believed Inman was the right Leader to help the administration forge a consensus in Congress on National Security priorities. Quot he brings to this Job the kind of character All americans respect a Clinton said noting inmans upbringing As the son of a filling station owner in the Texas town of Rhonesboro. He graduated from High Scho Ofat age 15. Quot he Rose to distinction and Success on the basis of his brains his Talent and his hard work a Clinton said in a Inman Rose Garden appearance with an unsmiling Aspin at his Side. Inman who has held High level positions in defense and intelligence under Republican and democratic Pentagon transition see stories on Page 5 presidents would be the first civilian Pentagon chief in More than 40 years who previously had a full career in uniform. He said the Job a which he neither sought nor initially wanted a Quot wont be easy in a time when Many americans think defense spending is a poor investment one of his first problems if confirmed will be reconciling an estimated $50 billion Gap Between what the White House says the Pentagon can spend Over the next five years and what Aspin had said was needed for see Inman on Pago 2orlando hotel officials Register Gripe on arc by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington a the army a plan to lease a 288-room hotel on the Walt Disney world Complex in Orlando fla., is drawing fire from area hotel officials who say the project will cause their Low occupancy rates to drop further. Robert Hazard jr., chairman of Choice hotels International lambasted the army in a dec. 9 letter to president Clinton. A first came the $500 toilet seat then the $600 Hammer a Hazard wrote. Quot what is the army preparing for now opera Tion desert mouse a Choice hotels International is a hotel Chain with Headquarters in Silver Spring md., and a number of facilities in the Orlando area. The army announced in november that it had reached agreement with Disney officials to lease the Disney inn which has been renamed Quot shades of Green on Walt Disney world the army plans to open the hotels doors feb. 1. A this is outrageous a Hazard wrote. Quot does the acquisition of a resort hotel represent the Best use of scarce taxpayer dollars when there Are already 80,000 affordable hotel rooms in the Orlando marketplace 24,000 of which sit Idle on any Given night a Peter Isaacs who oversees All armed forces recreation Center hotels As director of hospitality for the army Community and family support Center said Hazard is misinformed. Isaacs said he has not received a copy of hazards letter but is familiar with its contents through news reports. Quot allegations that there will be any appropriated funds used for this project Are erroneous a Isaacs said. Quot it cannot in any Way shape or form be considered a liability to the taxpayers a the hotel will use Only no appropriated funds derived from profits on fees paid by Scricc members and their families to use military morale welfare and recreation facilities he said a Isaacs also questioned hazards claims that the facility will Cut into the local hotel business which has been declining for some time and is suffering from Thesee hotel on Page 2
