European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 16, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 14j letters to the editor t Friday september 16,1994 european edition col Steven s. Hoffman Usan commander publisher a Bernard a. Zovistosk1 editor. /. News and editorial Deborah Absher news editor Bill Walker european editor Bob Wicker sports editor. George Manes City editor. To write us unit 29480 Apo a 09211 or Postrach 11 14 37 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 Jami Jones ext. 226. Business news ext. 326. News bureaus Heidelberg. Germany Quot Effia Bihon room 117, r6merstr. 104, 69120 Heidelberg Telephone Dan 3707010 or civilian 06221-23421. 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The appearance of advertising m this publication. Including inserts or supplements does not constitute endorsement by the department of defense or the stars and stripes of the products or services advertised. Haiti just politics the pending invasion of Haiti is not completely ideologically motivated. The Clinton administration is not primarily interested in ousting an oppressive totalitarian regime in order to Lay the groundwork for the establishment of a democracy. If that were so Why not do the same in other no Democrat in countries Cuba for one the main reason to invade Haiti is politically driven. The fact is that the constant influx of thousands of haitians into our country poses a tremendous socioeconomic Burden on our government especially in Florida As demonstrated by that states governors suit against the Federal government. It is because of this problem that haitian refugees Are not Given immediate political Asylum As we once traditionally granted All political refugees and Asylum seekers. Some argue that the haitians Are Only economic Asylum seekers and thereby not entitled to political Asylum yet our government considers the government of Haiti so oppressive that we arc planning to forcibly oust it. There seems to be a dichotomy in this policy. Yes there is an exploitive and oppressive government in Haiti and yes we do have problems created by haitian immigration. But lets be honest and forthcoming about our reasons to invade that country. Only then can we find real and lasting solutions by fully using the resources available in other areas and Arenas. John ii. Swift Frank flirt Germany c editor s note we encourage our readers a especially those who have never submitted a letter to write to us. Letters expressing readers viewpoints or opinions Are published Dally on this Page All letters 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 Reserve the right to edit letters for clarity length arid taste. Send to letters to the editor the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. Or fax country code 49 06155-601463, Dan 348-8463. 2 Fine cafes workers i would like to commend two employees at the Firth main Exchange. Several months ago we purchased a stereo system and wanted to order the turntable that went with the system. We were sent to customer service and told to Call or come Back later that afternoon. We made our Call and waited. Before Long we got a Call Back and was told that Tina Dickenson was checking throughout the army and air Force Exchange service system for the item we wanted. She called again to let us know she was checking in Germany. Next she called to Tell us she was ordering directly from the manufacturer in Japan and would Call us upon its arrival. Our turntable arrived a month before it was promised. More recently i was at the Firth main Exchange looking for a Field Grade hat. I was told that item needed to be specially ordered. Chris Goodman asked me when i needed it arid i told her the next Day. She checked her inventory and thought there might be one someplace she went to Call the military clothing store that was closing and found the stores Telephone had been disconnected. So she got into her car and drove Over to Check for me and came Back with my hat. Kudos to these two Fine cafes employees and All the others who go out of their Way to serve the customer. A a a a  Amary Cox  Germany maps not All to blame As a spouse of a military policeman i was shocked to see How a few rare incidents which one woman witnessed can have her generalize that there Are quite a few a bad apples in the military police Force. V. It sounds As if she is blaming the inconsistencies of others on the Law enforcement. Maps Are not babysitters. If anything is to be done about children misbehaving or vandalizing it must first Start in the Home with proper discipline. Children Are a parents responsibility. As for quiet hours All you have to do is kindly ask someone to quiet Down if they Are too loud. Is that too much must we Call maps for everything they May have a More in important Case which needs attention before another is resolved. Christine Golubski bad Kreuz Nach Germany military update j Pentagon is emphasize no Quality of i if e the Pentagon might support a special increase in housing allowances As part of a package of initiatives to raise Quality of life for service people according to senior defense officials. Defense Secretary William Perry already has told the services to add one percentage Point to projected military pay raises Over the next several years if approved by the White House the change would rescind president Clinton Call to Cap pay raises through 1997, but Perry wants to do More. He has a budget team drafting a Range of Quality of life initiatives for service people. Some would pump More Money into housing Upkeep and construction. One would fully fund the new Cost of living allow a Nee for High priced stateside areas. Others would beef up morale and recreation programs or family advocacy centers and staffs. The total package could add $200 million to $700 million to personnel and housing accounts in the 1996 budget. To cover these costs Perry said he a willing to cancel or stretch out major weapons programs. The most expensive initiative is a special increase in Basic allowance for quarters for service members who live off base. Bad rates which now Range from $899 a month for married Star rank officers to $179 for Bachelor recruits could jump by about 10 percent. This would be on top of regular annual increases. A. A Quot a. / a the special bad hike alone would Cost More than $350 million a year. One idea gaining support is to phase the increase in Over five years. The goal is to restore bad to the relative value it had in january 1985, when combined housing allowances a bad and variable housing allow ances were readjusted to cover s5 percent of National median rental costs at every Grade level. Service people were expected to a a absorb the remaining 15 per a cent. A since then bad increases have not kept Pace with housing costs. Out of pocket costs to members have climbed from 15 percent to More than 20 percent. Officials want to push that a absorption rate Back Down said a senior defense official. It could be done he said a in one fell swoop or Over a period of  either Way a a it a a fairly substantial  Tom Philpott because the bad initiative is Complex As Well As costly requiring careful study and a change in the pay Law Perry might decide to endorse it next january but not ask Congress to begin raising rates until the following year. Action could come sooner on a second bad initiative this one aimed at preventing further erosion in the allowance. Annual increases in bad now match the percentage Rise in Basic pay. As recent experience proves however pay raises can be capped. Even when they Arentt pay growth might be no match for housing Cost increases. Last january the military received a 2.2 percent raise in Basic pay and bad but average housing costs had climbed in the previous 12 months by 2.7 percent. Defense officials will propose to Perry that he Back a change in Law that would tie yearly bad raises to changes in housing costs As measured by a portion of the consumer Price Index. _ Perry is expected to make final decisions on the Quality of life package in october sending guidance to the services to adjust their 1996 budgets accordingly. Readers comments and suggestions Are welcomed. Write to military update co editor the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. Is k1ps first viable Weil it has several attractive Tea 7vpes. First it can be done without employer mandates secondly. It. Hey a watch out. A a. Peter we re Down were Down repeat our unit is Down a am your Nephew just knocked Over a 65000camera / of Pear is he Okay he snot fully covered