European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 15, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday july 15, 1994 commentary the stars and stripes Page 13 in looking for someone to head . Military operations in the Pacific one could hardly have found an officer More qualified than adm. Stanley r. Arthur who until recently was the nominee for the  seeking an example of How. Far Pentagon leadership has fallen and How the Issue of sexual harassment has descended into ugly mccarthyism one could hardly find a More telling Case than Arthurs. He is a hero of two wars a a Pilot who earned an extraordinary 11 distinguished flying crosses while flying More than 500 combat missions in Vietnam then commanded the Allied naval Armada in the Gulf. His Pentagon experience is exemplary including High level budget planning nearly three years As chief of the Navy a logistics system and two years As vice chief of naval operations. After Arthur was nominated for the Pacific command sen. David Durenberger r-minn.,. Indicated that he would raise questions about the treatment of a constituent a female officer who claimed that the Navy treated her unfairly when she failed flight training after accusing an instructor of sexual harassment. Arthurs Only role in the Case was that of final reviewing officer. He approved findings that although the woman it . Rebecca Hansen had been harassed a the Navy had already disciplined an instructor a she failed to qualify As a Pilot because of a poor flight record. The inspectors general of the Navy and the de Mike Boorda that his nomination should be withdrawn because an a anticipated delay in Senate confirmation Quot would not permit a a prompt Relief for adm. Charles Larson the current commander in the Pacific. The Navy a explanation was disingenuous at a Best. A \ a Larson a new assignment is not time sensitive in fact it awaits Senate action. It has been widely reported that Boorda was less concerned about a delay in Arthurs confirmation than about becoming ensnared in another sexual harassment scandal. Even Durenberger a key staff assistant said that he was a a flabbergasted by the decision at the end of Arthurs 37-year career. More important this episode raises serious questions about Boorda a fitness to be chief of naval operations and demonstrated the Clinton administrations Lack of regard for military leaders. Boorda has gained a reputation for political expediency. In 19s2, when he was chief of James Webb sense department agreed with this ending. Navy Secretary John Dalton approved a recommendation that the Navy prepare to discharge her. Key senators told the Pentagon that Arthur would be approved for his new command but that because of do Renber Geff so a hold his confirmation might be delayed. Then on june 24 the Navy said in a statement that Arthur a agrees with chief of naval operations adm. F personnel he summarily re sieved one of the Navy a brightest Young admirals Jack Snyder after the initial revelations about the Tail Hook scandal. Snyder who had gone beyond what was required in his efforts to assist the key female witness and urge an investigation was not even allowed to defend his actions. A r this abandonment of a deserving officer in the face of a political attack did not Hurt Boorda a chances for advancement which May Well have encouraged his shoddy treatment of Arthur. Boorda disregarded Dalton a recommendation to Dis charge Hansen and went to great lakes 111.,-to meet with her. She presented him with 10 demands including that the Navy rewrite her fitness reports using words of her choosing. Also that they Send her to Law school at the Navy a expense and then assign her to work As a lawyer handling women a issues and have the Navy Secretary officially apologize to her. According to the new York times Boorda responded by offering her a Job on his personal staff. She did not accept it. Under any Standard of leadership Boorda a conduct is seriously deficient on several grounds disloyalty to deserving subordinates faulty judgment usurping the authority of the Secretary of the Navy. Which leads us to the Clinton administrations handling of this event. Once his nomination went Forward Arthur was the presidents candidate it was not within Boorda a jurisdiction to withdraw. Yet after the withdrawal we heard no word from either the Secretary of the Navy or the president and defense Secretary William Perry said he had decided not to intervene. On july a the administration announced that vice adm. Richard c. Macke a capable but far less experienced officer who had been slated to replace Arthur would be nominated to the Pacific command. Thus a three Star officer is to be placed in the Navy a most prestigious four Star Billet partly because his paperwork was already in the White House. The casual Way in which the administration has dealt with command replacement for a theater where War could be imminent indicates either naivete or arrogance and it is a grim Omen for the future of the . Military when competent warriors Are sent Home by political admirals. The writer was assistant Secretary of defense and Secretary of the Navy in he Reagan administration. A contributed this comment to the new York times Andrew j. Glass a week of presidential travel in Europe seemingly did Little to burnish Bill Clinton a dim foreign policy image. Nevertheless it left him. With a full plate of both Domestic and foreign problems that will require his full attention in Washington. Up close and personal Clinton acts As a president should. Trouble is that the White House often oversell what the president is Able to do. And when others Tail to cooperate As happened during the Naples Summit last weekend Clinton can be made to look both weak and foolish. That was not the Case however on tuesday As he Rode by in an open military car reviewing the . Army a Berlin brigade on a broiling Tarmac. He looked every bit like a commander in chief As he said Farewell to the brigade which is leaving Berlin in a few weeks. Essentially the . Soldiers and their British French and russian counterparts Are going Home because the cold War is Over that things have changed dramatically in Central Europe was the Basic Point Clinton sought to make earlier in the Day As he and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl walked through the historic Brandenburg Gate along with their wives Hillary and Hannelore. A berliners you have won your Long struggle a Clinton told about 100,000 people standing on what was once East German soil. A you have proved that no Wall can forever contain the mighty Power of  but if the new world with which Clin ton now must Deal no longer poses the threat of a superpower showdown with the russians it still As he has found Mains unstable and dangerous. Thus the haitian move to expel International human rights observers has raised the Chance of an Early armed . Showdown with the military dictators who Rule that impoverished Caribbean Island country. Haiti a action Clinton said in Berlin a certainly validates the position we be taken so far that that san option we  Rule  a we have got to bring an end to this a Clinton told reporters after meeting with officials from Germany and the european Union. Meantime in North Korea the sudden death of dictator Kim ii Sung and the ascent of his son Kim Jong 11, As the new Leader left what had been an improving climate Back in limbo. A a we re concerned about what might happen obviously a Clinton said. A decision on North koreans future leadership is a for them to make and their future is in their hands a he added. In another sense Clinton a own future remains in his hands As Well. If the Hai Tian and North korean Flash Points Are resolved in ways that reflect favourably on Clinton a leadership then his presidency will be strengthened. And if before the november elections he is Able of steer a Broad health care Reform plan through a divided Congress the second half of his term will begin on a note of accomplishment. At one Point when Clinton thought the press was at a Safe remove he paused to Chat and shake hands with the Low level White House staffers who handle the Complex and secure Coram a cations that support such outsize presidential trips. For those moments Clinton behaved As just another Guy joking and mingling with the technicians As if he had now Euto go and nothing else to do. J if personality drove popularity at that moment Clinton looked like a sure Winner. But As the president has Learned the hard Way there is a lot More to his Job than being Nice to his backstage helpers. To succeed he must also learn How to play Well on a much larger Public stage. C Cox news service the opinions expressed in the columns and cartoons on this Page represent those or the authors and Are in no Way to be considered As representing the views of the stars and stripes or the United states government