The White Falcon - 10.08.1990, Side 5

Armed Forces News Briefs

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q invades Kuwait, urges U.S. action
ASHINGTON (NNS) — During the early morning hours of
August 2, 130,000 seasoned Iraqi troops invaded the Persian Gulf
country of Kuwait — an invasion that pits Arab against Arab for the
first time in modem history.
Within two hours, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s forces occu-
pied the capital, ministries and oil fields of the small desert country,
sending the world’s financial markets into turmoil and provoking
condemnation of Iraq’s “naked aggression” from around the globe.
President Geroge Bush strongly condemned the invasion, calling for
the “immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all Iraqi forces.” He
called for an emergency session of the U. N. Security Council, which
quickly approved a resolution echoing the U. S. statement. The
president solicited a collective course of diplomatic and economic
sanctions from world leaders, banning all imports from Iraq — includ-
ing oil — and freezing Iraqi assets in the U. S. to protect Kuwait’s
holdings in the U. S. The president also froze Kuwaiti assets to bar Iraqi
interference.
The Soviet Union joined world condemnation of the Iraqi actions,
halting all arms shipments to Iraq and implementing other economic
sanctions.
Officials in Baghdad said that a new government of the “free Kuwaiti
republic” had been installed. No members of that government were
named, and U. S. officials said that the reports of a revolution had little
basis. No estimates of casualties resulting from the fighting have been
released, but news media reports from Kuwait City indicated isolated
fighting continued on August 3.
The president said in an Aspen, Colo, press conference that no option
being ruled out in response to Iraqi aggression, and he expressed
concern for the welfare of U. S. citizens in Kuwait. Following
^orts that 14 Americans working in the Kuwaiti oil fields were
rounded up by Iraqi forces, Bush warned Hussein that if any Americans
were harmed, “all bets are off.” So far, no harm to Americans in Kuwait
has been reported.
Kuwait’s ambassador to the United Nations pleaded for help from
the U. S. and other allies, calling military intervention “paramount in
importance” to Kuwait’s survival as a sovereign state.
State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said August 3 that
Iraqi troops were massing five to 10 miles north of Saudi Arabia at sig-
nificant concern,” Boucher said.
In a press conference before departing for Camp David August 3,
President George Bush said that “further expansion would be unaccept-
able.” He added that the U. S. commitment to Saudi Arabia is clear.
“The integrity and freedom of Saudi Arabia are very, very important to
the U. S.,” he said.
“If they (Saudis) ask for specific help,” the president added, “I would
be inclined to help in any way we possibly can...it’s that serious.”
Officials at the U. S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) in Tampa,
Fla., responsible for U. S. military operations in the region, said there
are currently eight American warships inside the Persian Gulf, includ-
ing the flagship for the Commander Joint Task Force Middle East USS
LaSalle (AGF 3). The aircraft carrier USS Independence (CV 62) and
its eight-ship battle group are currently operating in the Indian Ocean.
House recommends personnel cuts
WASHINGTON (NNS) — The House Armed Services Committee
completed its closed-door markup session of the fiscal year 1991
Pational Defense Authorization Bill July 31, putting “people before
pons” while recommending a smaller force,
voting for a $24 billion reduction in President George Bush’s
506.9 billion budget request, the panel called for cuts in personnel and
weapons systems, protection of career personnel, fair treatment of men
and women leaving the armed forces, new research and development
initiatives, and efficiency in military administration. The proposal will
go before the full house in September.
The committee proposed a 4.1 percent raise in military pay effective
January 1, calling for cuts of 129,500 personnel from the armed forces
in fiscal year 1991 — 20,000 from the Navy’s roster and 4,500 from the
Marine Corps. The force cuts would represent the first major drawdown
of the all-volunteer era.
To ensure fairness as force levels come down, the committee
recommended swift up-front cutbacks to ensure the least damage to
force morale. Reductions in recruiting were urged as the main tool to
meet the reductions, coupled with strict retirements and, if necessary,
more controls on first-term reenlistments. These measures would
minimize the need for reductions through separation of career enlisted
personnel. The committee stipulated that personnel with 16 or more
years of service be protected to the greatest extent possible against
involuntary separations.
According to Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Mike Boorda, the
Navy’s Manpower Strategy is consistent with the approach recom-
mended by the HASC. “We plan to keep our good sailors and officers
for full careers..both to be fair to them and to protect the readiness of
the Navy,” Boorda said.
“The numbers we’ve seen from the HASC and the SASC will let us
avoid enlisted involuntary separations and keep the numbers of officers
released early relatively small,” Boorda added. “Involuntary separa-
tion means you’re ‘out’ when you wanted to stay and we are working
hard to avoid the need for that in the Navy.”
For service members involuntarily separated the committee pro-
posed a package which included separation pay, medical transition
assistance, transition counseling, job skill certification to identify
strengths for civilian employers and assistance to overseas personnel
in relocation and job-search information.
The panel also urged a $ 1.15 billion cut in the A-12 aircraft program,
the Navy’s replacement for the aging A-6 fleet and added $403 million
for the V-22 “Osprey” — the proposed tilt-rotor alternative to the CH-
53 “Super Stallion” used for medium lift missions.
The committee’s proposal approves the administration’s requests
for five DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and the last of 18
trident submarines. Acknowledging advances in Soviet technology
that make the SSN-21 Seawolf-class submarine a necessary program,
House leaders advocated production of one of two Seawolfs requested
by the administration. Their proposal differed from the Senate’s
recommendation for replacement of the Seawolf with two Los Angles-
class attack submarines.
The full House and Senate must act on the committee’s recommen-
dations, then a joint committee from both sides will work to resolve
differences to forge a defense authorization bill for consideration by the
president.
President diagrams future armed forces
ASPEN, Colo. (NNS) — President George Bush outlined his goals
in the restructuring of U. S. Armed Forces into a smaller, well-trained
organization designed to answer the future need for U. S. strength
around the globe, during a speech to the Aspen Institute Symposium
August 2.
In the speech, the president acknowledged the beginnings of an “era
of democracy-building” in Europe and the transformation of the Soviet
Union through a process “that is at once full of hope, and full of
uncertainty.”
The address came just one day after 100,000 Iraqi troops invaded the
tiny Persian Gulf country of Kuwait, with Bush noting the importance
of a ready, rapidly-deployable force to respond to threats against U. S.
interests. “The events of the past only preserves our security, but
provides the resources for supporting the legitimate self-defense needs
of our friends and allies,” he said.
As members of Congress worked on the final Defense Authorization
Bill for fiscal year 1991, the president urged caution against reduction
without restructuring to maintain response ability and deterrent effects.
August 10,1990
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