European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 30, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                When it comes to competence North Heads South Bruce Hull Republican candidate Oliver North misleading in the polls and Virginia i poised to catapult him into the  candidacy has not lacked  initial reaction of journalists was to ask How virginians were expected to Trust a Candi Date who had lied to Congress and continues to lie about his activities while serving on Ronald Rea Gan s National Security Council staff. It is a Good question. Yet North s record As a false Fier is not of primary importance to his supporters. They argue that North s lies during the Reagan years were produced for Good causes the Rescue of american captives in Lebanon and the financing of the nicaraguan contras. They insist that stretching the truth is something All politicians do from presi dents on Down to local City Council members. While this sort of response blurs the habitual nature of North s prevarication it does raise a Chal Lenge to those who Are concerned about North s competence to serve As a elected Leader. The Public must not be diverted by the Issue of North s truthful Ness. A More serious problem must be confronted North s record of ineptitude. His tenure on the National Security Council shows not a Patriot working for a just cause but a foolish incompetent who embarrassed his nation abroad and at Home. Oliver North s incompetence hinges around his Maneu Werings to free the american hostages held by lebanese captors during the 1980s. In a scheme Send in your column plus photo of yourself to be our guest sunday Magazine the stars and stripes Apoate 09211 or Postrach 11 14 37, d-64278 Darmstadt Germany. If mailing disk save text in Asci and include printout. Columns Are edited for clarity and length. Opening laugh Toos Usa All the kids love the Millers and you re about to find out  clue cooked up by two arms merchants Adnan Kash Oggi and Manucher Ghorbani far North National Secu Rity adviser James Mcfarlane along with other selected members of the Reagan team worked to free the hostages. How by Selling weapons and military spare parts to Iran. To the credit of Mcfarlane he recognized that the iranians were not cooperating. In May 1986 Mcfarlane pulled himself and an american delegation out of a bargaining session in Iran when he realized the iranians were not about to deliver the hostages. North who was present argued that negotiations should be reopened and new offers made to the iranians. He believed to the end that iranian Goodwill could be purchased by the gift bearing americans North retained his shortsightedness All the Way to the Day that his Iran Contra operation unravelled. Like a frantic jobber ready to Dicker he posted Mes sages around the world promising Money weapons and favors. Each working Day seemed to bring about new formulations for what the United states would deliver to the iranians. In october 1986, for in stance he promised a shipment of 500 tows anti tank weapons for two hostages if possible but no less than one " to be released within four Days of de livery. The desperate offer came to nothing. And still North negotiated he even allowed arms dealers Richard Secord and Albert Hakin to bargain with the iranians in Frankfurt Germany. Also embarrassing was North s scheme to Transfer profits from arms sales to the contras. The illegality of the Transfer was of Little importance to North he believed the contras heeded every cent available. Yet in his usual Clumsy Way North managed to Muddy up this operation. Of the $16 million in prof its from the iranian sales the contras received Only $4.7 million. The rest of the Money melted into the running of North s Clandestine operation including $6.6 million taken solely As profit by Secord and Hakim the men who supplied the contras. It is this kind of amateurism that conservatives and liberals in Virginia need to reject. An incompetent is not the proper Model for a senator from any state. Bruch Hull lives in Wurzburg Germany. Skipping the truth Terri Brentnall students at Wiesbaden High school were shown an example of integrity when a local army colonel lied to protect his daughter from the penalties of skipping  weeks into the school year two High school juniors one the daughter of a Navy senior chief Petty officer the other the daughter of an army colonel went on a school skipping spree that lasted the better part of three weeks the Navy de pendent s parents discovered her truancy she was readmitted with an unexcused absence which Means that the missed work cannot be made up and the Stu Dent received no Grade for that unexcused period. In the meantime the army dependent continued to absent herself from classes the rest of the week and was seen by some school personnel and the entire student body every Day in the morning and at lunchtime loitering about the school grounds trying to re Cruit accomplices and bragging about her escapades. On oct. 11, after the Columbus Day weekend the colonel accompanied his child to school for readmission. Her absence was excused. According to both the assistant principal of the High school and the. Public affairs officer for the department of defense dependent schools Europe parents can offer what Ever excuse they choose to readmit their child to school after an absence and the school will accept it. It was suggested that the Navy dependent s parents have an abrupt change of heart retract the unexcused absence and suddenly remember that their daughter was with them on a family trip. My daughter is the Navy dependent. I refuse to re tract the unexcused absence because my daughter has been taught to be prepared to take responsibility for her actions. I find it very unfortunate that a High ranking army officer promotes lying As a Means to protect one s self and to add insult to injury tells lies to cover up for his daughter s behaviour. He has effectively taught the student population of Wiesbaden High school two important lessons 1 it is possible to avoid the penalties of truancy and 2 you can get away with anything if your Parent has a High enough rank. Thank you colonel for these lessons and the Opportunity to explain to my child that just because a per son is a Parent does t mean he s a Good one. Terri Brentnall lives in bad Schwalbach Germany. Contents n from the cover .4-5 it s halloween. Sidelights. Andy Rooney s notes. Voices. 19 Joe Bob Briggs strikes out at slogans. Words & wit. 20 Tony Koch Cisco on Simpson Book Flop. Books 21 Odds & ends 8 \ Dan rather does t blink either. Miss manners Chews on  in  .9 remembering Bun Lancaster. This week s films 10-11 military circuit listings. Chuck Vlinch on Wes Craven s new Nightmare. " television listings. 12-15 local Cable and a Alliie schedules. Home entertainment 16 the direction of de Wood. \ on Parade. 23 the link by Fincen Rossellini and Oldman. Last laugh. 24 be Barry climbs and jumps. Sunday is a weekly supplement of the stars and stripes editor. Bucky Fox cover Story design Susan Harris production Bernard Jensen cd Tor Iii assistance Louis d. Pierce Page 2 sunday october 30, 1994