European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 23, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes . Thursday december 23,1993 of satellite to carry Sand sources say by the los Angeles times los Angeles a in what has been a lightly kept secret the air Force is preparing to launch 2,000 pounds of Sand into orbit on a Mil stat communications satellite to replace the weight from an electronic system that was never completed sources say. The $15 billion satellite program designed to be the Pentagon a main communications link during a global nuclear War is coming under increasing scrutiny both because of its High Cost and limited usefulness in the aftermath of the cold War. V the Rand corp. Issued a report tuesday saying the air Force should consider cancelling the Mil Star saving taxpayers $5 billion for four future Mil Star satellites and about $1.5 billion for the Titan in launch rockets Over the next four years. An air Force official said the Sand encased in aluminium was installed As dead weight to replace electronic gear that was plagued by technical problems. The disclosure was corroborated by another official. Neither official agreed to be identified by name.,. The High Cost of space launches usually requires that every ounces of payload be carefully controlled. The launch of a ton 01 dead weight a about the weight of a Small car would be unprecedented the air Force official and other experts said. The Mil Star is to be launched aboard a $350 million Titan in rocket which can carry 10,000 pounds into High Earth orbit. That Means it would Cost taxpayers about $70 million to Send the Sand into space said John Pike a space expert at the federation of american scientists. A a ton of Sand is the silliest thing i have Ever heard of a Pike said. A lord knows there arc All kinds of scientific instruments in laboratories around the country wailing for a ride into space a. The ballast was required because every satellite must be precisely balanced in orbit and when the equipment was removed something of equal mass had to be Susti in the stars and stripes10 years ago dec 23,1903 a defense Secretary Caspar w. Weinberger said 15 nations had rejected . Appeals to join the Lebanon peacekeeping Force adding that Quot we May have run out of Quot countries to ask for assistance.20 years ago dec. 23,1973 a a bitter and divided Congress adj red for its Winter Holiday recess after falling to pass emergency Energy legislation.30 year Sago dec. 23,1963 a stymied by an amendment involving the Sale of wheat to communist bloc nations House leaders failed again to get the $3.8 billion foreign Aid appropriations Bill passed. .40 years ago dec. 23,1953 a Secretary of state John Foster Dulles said that 1954, burdened by such problems As atomic discussions with the soviets would be a year Quot for great decisions Quot and declared that Quot our Hopes Are  �?T50 wars ago dec. 23,1943 a Large formations of . Both air Force heavy bombers struck new blows against Adolf hitter s heavy Industry arid shipbuilding in a growing offensive estimated to have unloaded 6,000 tons of bombs Over Germany and France in three Days. L world War ii so years ago today dec. 23 .19 4 >3 american bombers begin operating against the japanese rom Munda Airfield in new Georgia in the Solomons. Chinese troops newly under  command Battle japanese forces in the Hula Wing Valley of Northern Burma. On Italy s Eastern front British troops capture Arielli while a bitter Battle continues in the port of Ortona. Source 2194 Days of War w. H. Smith publishers inc world almanac Bock of would War in. Bison books corp., 1991 anew Law requires a to treat Gulf War vets for mystery illnesses Washington apr president Clinton signed legislation to require the veterans affairs department to treat persian Gulf War veterans for diseases that May have resulted from exposure to toxic substances a Over the past 2vi years persian Gulf veterans have experienced a wide Range of health care problems that have eluded diagnosis and cure a Clinton said in a statement tuesday one Day after he signed the Bill. He said the veterans symptoms include fatigue painful Muscles and joints bleeding Gums rashes Short term memory toss and hair loss. Quot with this legislation the a will have the authority to provide to these veterans both inpatient and outpatient care on a priority basis a Clinton said. Quot thus we can help make certain that these veterans health care needs Are met As fully As possible while important research into their problems goes  possible chemical and biological contamination during the Gulf War has become an Issue because of the thousands of veterans suffering from debilitating and undiagnosed illnesses that have come to be known As persian Gulf  fire fumes pesticides and other environmental hazards have been raised As possible causes. The Pentagon says it has been unable to pinpoint a single reason for the illnesses and has emphasized that there were no known incidents of chemical agent exposures or detections during the War. Nonetheless czech and French officials have said their forces selected Low Levels of chemical warfare agents during the 1991 War. A the legislation signed by Clinton also allows the a to reimburse the veterans for any copayment they have made to the a for care necessary because of their service in the persian Gulf. In addition it extends authority to the a a to furnish Vietnam veterans with care that May he related to their exposure to the herbicide agent Orange a to provide women veterans with sexual trauma counselling. A and to furnish veterans who participated in nuclear weapons tests or the occupation of Hiroshima or Nagasaki in Japan after world War ii with care that May be related to their exposure to  disgusted by theft of gifts for homeless kids by the new York times new Oak a the theft of about 1,000 gifts that were to be Given to homeless children in new York City sickened even Veteran social workers who thought they had seen it Aliquot horrible does not begin to describe it a said Marcia Stevenson assistant commissioner of Itte family services division of the City a department of homeless services. Quot its disgusting and there Are probably other words that Are not printable that would describe the whole act of  the toys had been collected by the . Marine Reserve businesses individuals and employees of homeless services. They were stored in a Large room in a depression Era building in lower Manhattan called the Catherine Street family respite Center about 5,000 children live in 11 shelters like it throughout new York City. To enter the building people must pass through Metal detectors. Somehow the thieves managed us breach Security Between saturday and monday mornings and haul away l,0t.k unwrapped gifts including Walkman electronic games and other toys. They left behind 1,000 w rapped gifts possibly because they could not quickly determine their value Stevenson said. Quot possibly they had a Vail a a police detective said a it looks like they came through a window but we re not even sure of  Tut cd Mil Star experts said. Rand which was asked by the air Force to study the Issue earlier this year asserted that the future Mil stars May be unaffordable and of limited use in conventional vhf los a a the think tank based in Santa Monica Calif., recommended that the two Mil Star satellites already built be launched but that future ones be reconsidered Rand officials said an alternative to the Mil Star system could be built for half the Cost. The m instar system is being developed and built by California aerospace contractors led by Lockheed Hughes aircraft and try. But much about the program remains highly classified including the number of employees who work on it said Lockheed spokesman Eric Critis Critis criticized the Rand report As information that Quot has been stated time and Lime again Over the last several years. What the Rand report does no to state is that the administration conducted a Bottom up review in september and found there is still a need for the  Richard Allen Davis left and his Public defender Barry Collins appear in court tuesday in Santa Rosa Calif. Davis pleaded innocent in the kidnapping and murder or Polly Klaas 12.suspect in death of California girl pleads innocent Santa Rosa Calif a the Man accused of kidnapping and murdering 12-year-old Polly Klaas pleaded innocent tuesday. Richard Allen Davis appeared in Sonoma county municipal court to answer to eight felony counts. Authorities found Polly s body dec. 4 in a wooded area off Highway 101 near clo Verdale. Judge Robert Dale set a Jan. 21 court Date to schedule a preliminary hearing. Davis 39, showed no emotion As roughly 50 reporters and other spectators looked on. If convicted he could face the death penalty. Polly a abduction touched off a worldwide search that ended after Davis arrest nov 30. Davis who has two previous kidnapping convictions provided information that led authorities to Polly s body in a Thicket according to the Fri. /