European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 26, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 18 letters to the editor Friday August 26,1994 the european edition col Steven s. Hoffman Usan commander publisher Bernard a. Zovistoski editor news and editorial Deborah a Bihar news editor Bill Walker european editor Bob Wicker sports editor George Manet City editor to write us unit 29480 Apoate 09211 Orost Facell 1437 64278 Darmstadt Germany news Tel fax 06155-601416 to Call us dial 06155-601 plus Extension or Dan 348-8 plus Extension As follows news ext. 237,255. 282, 226,326. Sports ext. 225, 269, 263, 332, 321, 221. Features ext. 230, 245, 341. Letters to editor ext. 208,400. Education Jimi Jones ext. 226. Business news ext. 326. 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United kingdom Cirencester civilian 0285-713-637, Dan 247-4445. Advertising display Germany 06155-601247 or 601309. Dan 348 8247. Classified Germany 06155-601349, Dan 348-8349. Advertising Tel fax 06155-601412 please Recycle this newspaper is an authorized unofficial publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of the Star and stripes do not necessarily reflect the official views of. Or endorsement by. The . Government the department of defense or the . European command. The appearance of advertising in this publication including inserts or supplements does not constitute endorse ment by the department of defense or the stars an stripes of the products or services advertised. . Goods recyclable i am writing in response to standardize recycling june 27. Currently the goods bought in american stores even those without a Green Dot can be recycled in the German system. This includes Metal Glass plastic packaging and paper cardboard. Recycling containers on a military installation or in government housing Are normally the same containers As those used on the German Economy so look around your local housing area. Recycling containers Are normally  these containers for All recyclable materials no matter where the items Are purchased. Lisa  Germany bum Deal with vow a couple of months ago there was Aletter from owners of a Nissan. They had trouble getting repairs Donjon their car because of a recall. We have had similar problems with  heard about a recall and went to the army and air Force Exchange service where we were told they did not do recall work. We then went to a German service Center and were told that they Only do re Call work if the item recalled actually Breaks Down. Given the fact that the re Call was on the Brake system we did not care to wait to see if it broke. We wrote Volkswagen in March and have never heard Back. Fortunately the Dealership from which we purchased the automobile sent us a copy of the recall along with instruction son now to Check for the problem. It was simple enough that we were Able to Takecare of it ourselves. I wonder what would have happened to us and our car had it not been a simple  will not Purchase a Volkswagen again and we will do what we can to let others. Know that this is the treatment customers receive. ,. Gretchen King Bamberg Germany bless you Stop crying concerning the letter civilian is. Mili tary aug. 15i remind the military Sec Tor that civilians pay those meager Sala Ries educate your children make and pay for the tools of your Trade Supply the men and women who Wear the uniform of the military and last but not least put up with your whining and complaining of your poor lot. We can t retire after 20 years of service and we do not have eternal dental an medical care. Free. So please spare me the tears. As i see it you do very , god bless you for keeping Ameri Ca Strong. Richard h. Frese Vaihinger Germany editor s note we encourage our readers especially those who have never submitted a letter to write to us. Letters expressing readers viewpoints Are published Dally on this Page. All let ters must be signed and include address and Telephone number. Preference is Given to Shorter letters so that More can be published in a timely manner. We re serve the right to edit letters for clarity length and taste. Send to letters to the editor the stars and stripes unit 29,480, Apo a 09211. Or fax country code 49 06155-601-463, Dan 348-8463. Military update Aspin taking Stock since leaving Dod Les Aspin is Back. Nine months after being forced to re sign As Secretary of defense he sat Down with me on tuesday to discuss the Chal Lenges he faced As president Clinton first defense chief. They included accommodating Clin ton s unpopular Campaign pledge about Gays in the military restructuring the Post cold War military and withstanding a storm of criticism when . Soldier died in Somalia. After months of avoiding the press Aspin now declined to answer Only one question Why he left office. I Don t want to get into that he said smiling. In fact there seems no simple  s support within the administration disappeared gradually like Sand in a Light but steady Breeze. He still maintains he was the right Man for the Job although he acknowledges it was an adjustment after 22 years in Congress seven As chairman of the House armed services committee. When you re a congressman eve when you re chairman of a committee you re essentially talking for yourself he said. When you re defense Secretary Ona lot of questions you have to be very  and As a legislator you Don t have to publicly associate with Ever Issue. You can pick and  that s not so for defense secretaries. Aspin s worst moments occurred Las october when 18 army rangers were killed during a failed attempt in Somalia to capture warlord Mohamed Farrah aided. Two Days after that tragedy he angered congressional leaders by telling them in a closed door meeting that the United states had no policy on Somalia. Then word leaked that Aspin twice had turned Down a request by the commander of . Ground forces in Somalia  and armoured personnel carriers. Aspin said then that he had made mistake. And today in retrospect he said i probably would have sent the tanks although i Don t think they would have gotten there in  i think there Are lots of reasons to suspect that if the military thought the tank were important they could have lined up the malaysian tanks then in Somalia. Or they could have not done the operation. It was their  As to the disastrous meeting with con Gressional leaders Aspin said he had wanted it can celeb until the and ministration reached a Deci Sion on How an when to withdraw from Somalia. But vice president Algore National Security advis Ranthony Lake and others vote to keep the appointment. One Issue Aspin never seemed comfortable wit was Clinton s pledge to allow Gays to serve openly. The press attention got the administration off to a Tough  to 90 percent of americans it looked like a pretty peripheral Issue. They were worried about the Economy about healthcare crime he said. When the administration focused on Gays people were Tom Philpott yet it was Aspin who recommended Early action on the Issue he said Only be cause the press was giving it so much at Tention after the november election. The question with any new presidents whether he is going to stick with promises from the Campaign said Aspin although i would guess a Good chunk of voters did t know about the Promise on election  Aspin decided the Best course for the services was to get this and other social issues women in combat and sexual harassment settled As quickly As Possi ble. Initially Clinton wanted homosexual sin the ranks to be Able to acknowledge their orientation just not flaunt it. No Wear outrageous clothes not do anything in the Way of physical Contact Aspi said. After a few months Aspin had to. Tell Clinton it s not going to  the Don t ask Don t Tell Compro Mise accepted by the joint chiefs and approved by Congress now is More Likely than the old policy to survive court Chal Lenges he said. Aspin also stands by the Bottom preview the administration s blueprint for restructuring the military in the Post cold War Era. Clearly he said the Force called for can handle two nearly simultaneous regional conflicts. The trouble he said is that the de sense budgets Laid for the next five year probably Aren t Large enough to support that Force Structure. And i m worried about that he said. But that a someone else s problem now. Aspin teaches part time at mar Quette University in Milwaukee has a office at Center for strategic and inter National studies in Washington an chairs the president s foreign Intelli gence advisory Board. In september Clinton will task the Board with a year Long study of the Post cold War Intelli gence Community. I m becoming a specialist at Bottom up reviews Aspin said. Liat about returning to Congress perhaps As a senator maybe he said. Well  readers comments and suggestions Are welcomed. Write to military update co editor. Stars and stripes my. Cd non Snow approaching the opium. Tonight on the subject Towt . Ujj of e / anon  of me unite states my Feulou am5wcan5. &cusin6him5zlf