Guantanamo Gazette Vol. 44 -- No. 195 --U.S. Navy's only shore-based daily newspaper -- Tuesday, October 18, 1988 CNO sets record straight on USS Vincennes By Adm. C.A.H. TROST belligerents to expand the scope of the Iran-Iraq War. fleet, it is exhaustively tested. And with Aegis, more Chief of Naval Operations The U.S. Navy was given a tactically demanding and testing has been done than on any other system to date. This politically sensitive mission to execute in a geopolitically includes 300 days of controlled testing at sea, over 30,000 Some media and self-proclaimed defense critics can- vital region of the world - escort of friendly shipping and hours of testing both at sea and ashore, over 1,525 hours of ot seem to put the USS Vincennes incident to rest. After maintenance of open sea lanes of communication. Acting testing against electronic defenses and simultaneous at- exhaustive, thorough and meticulous investigation of in concert with our sister services and allies who commit- tacks by more than 40 manned aircraft. Three-hundred- that tragic incident, there are some who still question the ted naval forces following our lead, the Navy successfully seven missiles have been fired. Thirty-one of these firing Navy's presence in the Gulf, the role of capable ships like executed the mission, despite dedicated opposition from a exercises have included multiple targets, precisely the Vincennes in that region and the performance of Navy fanatic threat. wartime threat thatAegis was designed to counter. Seldom people. Unfortunately, the American public has been The Navy's success was this nation's success and a step has a system ever received this confirmation prior to fleet misled about these issues with distorted and factually toward peace in a turbulent region of the world. The recent introduction. inaccurate information. They deserve better. improvement in the overall political situation in the Per- The principle responsibility for the tragic downing of Let's first discuss the Navy's role in the Persian Gulf. sian Gulf is attributable, at least in part, to U.S. policy as the Iranian airbus rests with Iran. By prosecuting its war In doing so, two concepts underlie the entire discussion. executed by naval forces. against Iraq with extensive aggressive acts - including The U.S. is a world leader with certain inherent responsi- Another issue which needs to be addressed concerns but not limited to indiscriminate mining of international bilities. Additionally, we are a maritime superpower faced the capabilities represented by our ships, specifically waters and machine gun and rocket attacks on merchant with global interests essential to our national security Vincennes. Contrary to a few critics who contend the Aegis traffic and U.S. forces transiting international waters - which must be protected. combat system like that in Vincennes did not fare very Iran established an extremely hostile environment. Clearly, many of those interests revolve around petro- well, nothing could be further from the truth. Increased attacks on merchant shipping in the southern leum andmaintaining close relationships with the western- Aegis is the best anti-air weapon system in the world Persian Gulfduring the period immediately preceding July oriented oil bearing states in the Gulf. These nations are today. The system, since introduction, has performed to its 3 added significantly to the tension. By ignoring repeated important players to the economy of the entire free world, full capabilities. Critics lament that the Aegis system did warnings from U.S. forces concerning potential hazards of not only for the short-term but also for the foreseeable not apparently distinguish between the size of an airbus flight for civilian and commercial aircraft flying over the future. It was those very considerations that committed and the size of an F- 14. That did not happen because we do Gulf and by continuing to have its combat aircraft aggres- additional U.S. forces to the Persian Gulf, attempting to not have that capability in the design of our radars. maintain regional stability and nullify attempts by regional Before introducing any new weapons system into the CONTINUED on page 3 Household goods, personal Early Christmas in Guantanamo vehicles arrive on TMT barge GBOWC slates charity bazaar In cooperation with the Material Divi- Automobiles Christmas comes to Guantanamo Marine Officer's Wives Club will sell sion of the Supply Department, the Guan- Alvarado, E.G. Kittredge, J.I. Bay Saturday, Oct. 29, at the W.T. U.S. flags which were flown over the tanamo Gazette regularly publishes the Bossart, N.L. Miller, R.D. Sampson High School gym in the form Northeast Gate. Orders for similar names of people who can expect to receive Christopher, M.D. Mullins, R.P. of the annual Guantanamo Bay flags will be taken that day. household goods and vehicles on incoming Clapp, J.R. Naughton, L.A. Officer's Wives Club (GBOWC) The auction, which is an annual barges. Dirto, S.J. Oharrow, S.W. Charity Christmas Bazaar, which lasts event, is always well attended and is This information is compiled from Fischman, K. Palmer, R.A. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. held early in the year so that items advance manifests and, in most cases, will Fontanez, E. Rubes, C.A. Organizations participating in the may be mailed to the states without be accurate. Do not call DDS-PAC, Inc. Fore, P. Selph, D.B. 1988 bazaar include the: Girl Scouts, any worry that they will be delayed by When the barge is unloaded residents will Gwilt, M.A. Sparks, J.R. VC-10 Officer's Wives Club, W.T. the package rush from overseas. be notified and a delivery date will be Hernandez, J.G. Stockberger, R. Sampson High School Booster Club, "Organizations have been working scheduled. James, J. Totterer, D.A. Women of the Chapel, Friends of the for many months to ensure that the se- The following personnel can expect Junger, C.D. Woods, R.P. Library, Gitmo Swingers, Nursery lection will be varied and a wonderful their household goods or vehicles on the Keith, W.R. Zick, W.J. School, GBOWC, Hospital/Dental En- place for residents to begin their TMT barge. Personnel receiving vehicles are re- listed Wives Club, W.T. Sampson Ele- Christmas shopping," said Debby Household Goods minded that the vehicles will only be re- mentary School Parent Teacher Or- Murphy, President of the GBOWC. Bossart, N.L. Sample, C.R. leased after military customs inspectors ganization and the Marine Officer's "Money made during the day will Dillard, J. Seng, M. and working dogs have examined the ve- Wives Club. be donated to charity, so shoppers will Fontanez, E. Shaffer, C.L. hicles. Items for sale at the bazaar will in- not only have a beautiful, handmade Gerakios, D. Spade, R. Owners or designated persons must clude Castro Christmas ornaments, gift, but they will also be contributing Grinnell, W. Stewart, G.E. have a temporary license tag, base books, delicate shell-framed mirrors to a local cause," she said. Gwilt, M.A. Suissa, S.C. registration,and proof of insurance in their and original Guantanamo Christmas Residents with any questions, or Hill, L. Terry, B. possession before picking up the vehicle at cards, cookbooks and histories. Also organizations that would like to par- Huther, R.J. Villa, R. Bldg. 717. The above named vehicles are available will be souvenir calendars for ticipate, should call Lyn Bunn at 3300 Oberry, B. Willey, W.E. expected to be released and ready for 1989, Christmas stockings and the or Murphy at 2900. Plummer, M. Zick, W. pickup Wednesday, Oct. 19. Reply: Additional budget canvas sneak- Harry Hong Kong Tailor Shop and get ers and additional shoes are on order. yourself your very own personal NAVY RESALE ACTIVITY Look for them to arrive shortly. tailor. Never buy a suit off the rack again! Query: I've been here four years and ACTIONLINE Are you getting out of the service and had no problems with the check 4355 need an interview suit? Do you need a policy. I ordered 1,000 new checks new suit to wear back home for Christ- before the check policy started and I (CAPTAIN'S HOTLINE,4800) mas? Are you transferring PCS and all have a problem with you asking for you have in your closet is a nehru jacket more information on my checks. It and leisure suit? Have you ever wanted seems like the exchanges are leading Query: I had a problem at your Labor furniture we purchased is still on the to own your own tuxedo but could never to less customer service. Day sale. I couldn't find anything on sales floor three weeks after we pur- afford it? Frank Sze, the proprietor of the Reply: We've been taking a lot of sale and when I asked about it nobody chased it. It is getting dirty along with Harry Hong Kong Tailor Shop will make heat on the new check writing policy else knew what was on sale either. being worn and torn. you a tailor made suit using top quality and this one Action Line call is Reply: We received several com- Reply: The furniture on the sales floor is British wool or cotton for less money indicative of the many that we have plaints about this sale because sale our display furniture. Furniture that is than a suit off the rack will cost you in received. The new check writing items were not well marked and some purchased is safely kept in our ware- the States. But wait; there's more! Mr. policy goes beyond both NAVRESSO of our sales associates did not know house.