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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 5, 1993)
news digest Navy hopes to add women to front-line combat by 1997 n-'-.‘" 1 Service’s plan to help alleviate battered image WASHINGTON — The Navy wants to put women in all its front line combat jobs — as fighter pilots, submariners and warship crew members—within thenextfouryears, officials say. i In a tradition-breaking plan ready for action by Defense Secretary Les Aspin, the Navy suggests allowing women to serve on six classes of combat support ships within the next several months. It would also allow them to enter training or more advanced combat jobs. The sweeping plan is designed to repair the Navy’s battered image in the wake of the Tailhook sex abuse scandal. It would also put the service in the forefront of revising attitudes toward women in the military. The plan would also make it .. i Clinton s entry into spotlight ‘pretty original,’ Yeltsin says VANCOUVER, British Columbia — All eyes were on President Clinton’s debut in the world spotlight — unfamiliar turf for a young president who campaigned almost exclusively on domestic issues. Despite Clinton’s lack of foreign policy experience, the first superpower summit to focus on economics instead of arms seemed a made-to-order showcase for the former Arkansas governor ’ s strong suit — an easy command of facts and figures. The early review from his summit partner, Boris Yeltsin: “Pretty original.” Not only was Clinton out to prove his foreign-policy prowess to Americans, but to other world leaders as well. As usual, the two-day summit in this western Canadian seaport was carefully choreographed by both sides to put the two leaders in the best light for domestic consumption in their respective countries. They went through all the ritual steps of summitry—praising each other, plunging into crowds, being seen about town, taking a reflective “walk in the woods” and holding a final joint news conference. Despite the best-laid plans, though, summits can go sour. Remember President Reagan’s October 1986 summit with Mikhail Gorbachev in Reykjavik, Iceland — nuclear arms talks broke off abruptly in a major misunderstanding between the two leaders. This one didn’t. And even though Yeltsin remains on extremely shaky political ground in his home and Clinton faces a daunting salesmanship jobon the aid package in his, both leaders left the summit having achieved most of what each wanted. For Clinton, that meant being viewed in the eyes of Americans and U.S. allies as a serious leader in the world arena. Both Clinton and Yeltsin “were two very impressive politiciahs,” said the summit's host, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. difficult for the military to bar any other group — such as homosexuals — from combat jobs, as some have proposed. “The plan is to increase the role of women in the Navy_it is something the Navy would very much like to have happen,” said a senior Pentagon official knowledgeable about the plan who spoke on condition of anonymity. Adm. Frank Kelso Jr., the Navy’s top admiral, has approved the plan, the official said. At present, women are barred from flying combat aircraft and serving on major warships, such as aircraft carriers, destroyers or cruisers and submarines. However, they do serve on 64 of the Navy’s 453 vessels — primarily supply ships, such as oilers or submarine tenders, or repair and salvage vessels. Allowing women in the Navy’s prem ier combat slots means they could seek out and destroy enemies as F-A 18 fighter pilots, for example, or as nuclear missile launchers on Trident submarines. Congress has passed legislation to repeal the ban on women in certain Air Force aircraft and to allow women to fly Navy aircraft. However, the law does not require the armed services to change their policies. Aspin has signaled that he’s ready to approve placing women in some combat slots. Because of the new law, Aspin could simply sign a directive to the services, telling them to move on the issue. “The Navy believes it must have the sign-off of the secretary before it can move forward on this,” said a senior Navy officer, who also spoke on condition of anonymity. President Clinton has yet to name a Navy secretary. Clinton, Yeltsin solidity pact as summit closes VANCOUVER, British Columbia — President Clinton cemented a partnership with Boris Yeltsin on Sunday with a final round of summit talks and a first-installment pledge of $1.6 billion to aid Russia’s struggling economy. ' The U.S. program was swollen by $700million for grain sales to Moscow under extraordinarily easy terms, a boon both for Russian families and the American farmers who will send thier crops to Moscow. After two days of meetings, Cl in ton was impressed by Yeltsin’s determination to fight for democracy and economic reforms even as hardliners and nationalists try to overthrow. . “The President believes that Boris Yeltsin is a fighter, somebody who really will fight for democracy,” White House communications director Geoi^cStephanopou los said. The summit gave Yeltsin a sizable package of aid—though far less than The President believes that Boris Yeltsin is a fighter, somebody who really will fight for democracy. — Stephanopoulos White House communications director Russia needs — before an April 25 referendum that will determine if Yeltsin’spowerand program have the support of the Russian people. Clinton has to convince skeptical Americans that withouladditional aid for a democratic Russia, the United States would have to spend billions if a nationalistic, threatening regime were returned to power. The second and final day of talks focused on national security and foreign policy issues, following intense discussions Saturday on Russia’s crumbling economy. Clinton was asked about Yeltsin’s reaction to the aid package. t’s been ww good,” he said. Yeltsin declined to take questions. A big chunk of the U.S. aid program, $215 million, was earmarked for dismantling Russian nuclear submarines, bombers and missiles and other nuclear safety programs. Aside from food sales, other components included a $6 million demonstration program to build housing for military officers returning from the Baltics and Eastern Europe, a $50 million enterprise fund to prov idc seed money for Russian entrepreneurs and $60 million to support the sale of government enterprises to private ownership. Bosnians pray for peace as airlifts resume a/\KAjtivu,»osnia-iierzegovina—About 1,500 worshipers risked sniper fire and filled Sacred Heart Cathedral to hear an appeal for peace on Palm Sunday as the U.N. airlift resumed after a 16-day suspension. Another aid mission finally reached the embattled Muslim enclave of Srebrenica to deliver 85 tons of food and medicine. But town officials blocked the planned evacuation of , wounded people and other refugees, saying it would further Serb plans to clear the area of Muslims, a U.N. official said. -u Let those who are destroying, burning and killing come back to the true path. -Puljic . archbishop - An international air operation dropped 45 tons of food and nearly 1 ton of medicine overnight in the Srebrenica area. The developments came a day after Bosnian Serb leaders rejected an international plan for ending the year-old ethnic war. At U.N. headquarters, diplomats said the Security Counci I this week would impose sliffer sanctions on Serb-dominated Yugoslavia for supporting the rebels in Bosnia. Scattered violence was reported Sunday, but there was no immediate word of casualties. Saturday, Bosnian news media said at least 23 people died in Serb attacks around the country, a claim U.N. observers said they could not confirm. Roman Caiholics filled the cathedral in the center of the city, an area often raked with sniper fire from Serb militiamen holding the hills surrounding the capital. They carried sprigs of pine or leafy branches to be blessed for the holy day that ushers in the Holy Week before Easter. “The gospel says that he who lives by the sword dies by the sword,” said Archbishop Vinko Puljic, spiritual leader of500,000 Roman Caiholics of the Sarajevo archdiocese. “No earthly force is eternal,” he said in his sermon. “So if we are troubled now, we have to know in our hearts that God’s justice always prevails. . . . Let those who arc destroying, bum ing and k i 11 ing come back to the true path ” 25 years later, King s dream revered . Twenty-five years after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words were silenced by an assassin’s bullet, civil rights leaders reminded a racially charged nation Sunday that King dreamed of a land where children will not be judged by the color of their skin. In the past year, tensions have erupted into violence in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta and New York. “It seems sometimes that we take two steps forward and three back,’’ said Elisa Gilham, 63, a trustee at Ebeneezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where King was a co-pastor. King was shot April 4,1968, at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., where he was staying while in town to organize a sanitation workers’ strike. i 1 ■ 1 1 James Earl Ray is serving a 99-ycar prison sentence for the killing. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was with King at the Lorraine, urged congregantsat the All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena,Calif.,on Sunday, to “noljusl be spectators and witnesses to violence, but find a way to do something about it." Ten miles away in Los Angeles, a federal trial is under way in the beating of black motorist Rodney King. When four while officers were acquitted of similar charges after a state trial last year the deadly Los Angeles riots followed. Also on the Los Angeles court docket this month is the trial of three black men accused of beating white trucker Reginald Denny during the riots. At the National Civil Rights Museum, built at the site of the Lorraine Motel, people stopped on their way to an afternoon concert at the Mason Temple, where King gave his last speech. “The soul of our people died when he died," said Tony Jackson, 19, of Atlanta. “The fight continued but not with the same spirit. I don't know if we’ll ever be able to capture it again." On Aug. 28, 1963, King told marchers in Washington, D.C., of his hopes for the future. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by tnc content of their character,” he said. Nebraskan FAX NUMBER 472-1761 The Daily Nebraskan(USPS 144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board, Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St„ Lincoln, NE. Monday through Friday during the academic year; weekly during summer sessions Readers are encouraged to submit story Ideas and comments to the Dally Nebraskan by phoning 472-1763 between 9 a m and S p m Monday through Friday The public also has access to the Publications Board. For Information, contact Doug Fiedler, 436-7862. Subscription price Is $50 for one year. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Dally Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St.,Lincoln. NE 68588-0448 Second-class postage paid at Lincoln. NE. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1993 DAILY NEBRASKAN -World wire-1 Gulf Warcrimes common, report says oain i AvJKU£,caur.—Three days after Kuwait was liberated, a man believed to be a resistance fighter came to Naimat Farhat’s home. What the war hadn’t done, he would. At gunpoint, Ms. Farhat’s brother was forced to hogtic their father and, in lum, she was ordered to tie up her brother. The man then beat, raped and shot her. He then shot to death both men. Ms. Farhat, 33, wants others to know what happened March 2, 1991, three days after President Bushdeclared Kuwait liberated and suspended offensive operations against Iraq. Human rights groups have criticized Kuwait for allowing armed forces, many apparently connected to the Kuwaiti resistance and security groups, to carry out hundreds of reprisals after the Persian Gulf War. On Monday, the New York based Lawyers Committee for Human Rights is scheduled to issue a 56-page report on a fact-finding trip to Kuwait. In a draft obtained by The Associated Press, the Farhat case is cited as an example of atrocities committed by Kuwaiti security forces under martial law. rowell visits Somalia to boost morale muualushu, Somalia—The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of r*®f* arrived Sunday to assess the U.S.-led humanitarian mission and seek to boost morale among the more than 12,000 American troops in Somalia. F The Pentagon is scheduled to turn over control of the mission to the United Nations May 1, but clan fighting and other unrest could delay the transfer. Meanwhile, at least one aid agency pulled out of the troubled southern port of Kismayu, the site of fighting between backers of Mohamed Said Hirsi, known as Gen. Morgan, and supporters ol Col. Omar Jess. The Red Cross suspended its operations in the city of 160,000 after four grenades were thrown into its compound.