NJN News; Thursday, January 17, 1991

U.S. Tets continue to pound Iraqi positions as the Persian Gulf War enters its second day. Here at home the Gulf War is marked by anti-war protests. New Jersey residents with loved ones in the Gulf wait for word on their status. The war brings Titan security to Newark Airport to head off a possible terrorist attack coming up next. Major funding for New Jersey Network News is provided by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and First Fidelity Bank. New Jersey Network, New Jersey Network News with Ken Manahan and Steve Heisman. Good evening.

The war in the Gulf is now 24 hours old. A third wave of U.S. and Allied air strikes is now underway following what the U.S. military describes as devastating pre-dawn strikes in the initial phase of Operation Desert Storm. North American military officials confirmed that the Iraqis offered little resistance. The White House calls the air attacks unprecedented in size and complexity, but caution against early assumptions of victory, saying there are casualties and there are likely to be more. President Bush was asked today if the only way out for Saddam Hussein is unconditional surrender. The President's military advisors say the air strikes are the first phase of a battle plan that is in their words, including all of the tools in the toolbox. So far, the only known American casualty, the pilot of a downed F-18 fighter bomber.

Despite the apparent success of the initial U.S. attack, Reuters News Agency reports that Iraq is still planning to attack Israel. One place in New Jersey that is closely watching the events in the Gulf is McGuire Air Force Base near Wright's town. Crews from McGuire have been in Saudi Arabia since August. Larry Stupenegal visited those men and women last fall, and he is standing by now at McGuire Air Force Base to report on the goings-on there tonight. Well, Steve, the mood here at the base can be described as somber, because while the exact number is classified, many of the people normally stationed here are now down-range and within the range of fire in Saudi Arabia. And while security has been tightened, it does appear that the winds from Desert Storm are blowing into New Jersey. C-141s like this one coming home to McGuire Air Force Base this afternoon, have played a major role in what was Operation Desert Shield, that when America went to war with Operation Desert Storm last night, security here was tightened.

And you just showed up, you need to put the camera away, you need to put your camera down. Air National Guard fighter circled over the base this morning, adding to the tension you could feel on the ground and nearby Wright's town. It hurts because I used to work at the commissary, and you meet a lot of people there, and you don't know whether they are going to be alive or dead, and it really, I think it's a waste, I think it's a waste of life. It's a shame it happened, but it's pretty glad for the soldiers that it's finally stored, it's probably a lot of pressure off them, and it's something's going on now, so just sitting there waiting. Hennie's restaurant is a popular eating place for soldiers in Airmen. Airmen, Mark Tony O'Reister, offered this assessment of the mood on McGuire. I think there are a lot of people that think we're doing the right thing, and they just don't want to go there itself, but if they have to, everybody's willing to go and give it a happy hand. Staff Sergeant Derek Mercado just came back from Saudi Arabia. The biggest thing that's going through my mind is, and my gut is the worry for my friends that I did leave down there before I had to come over here to PCS in McGuire.

Do you think they're safe? I believe they are. I don't think anything's gotten as far as where we were at. But the location of the McGuire cruise is a prime staging base who Jersey Network visited just last October, and now Linda Shock says her children want their father back. And late this afternoon came these reassuring words from the Air Force. Our wing commander has talked with some of our people over there in Saudi Arabia, some of our people who are actually deployed there. They're doing fine, they're in good spirits, of course they'd all like to come home, and hopefully we'll be able to do that soon. But late this afternoon, word did arrive that 55 more members of the 69th Arrow Medical Evacuation Unit based here at McGuire were activated. They'll report for duty tomorrow to work in hospitals in Europe. I'm Larry Stoopnagle at McGuire Air Force Base. Let's go back to the studio now and Kent Manahan.

Larry, thank you. And while those initial words are reassuring, this war is only one day old, and no one here will relax until the shooting stops and their loved ones are back home. We have two reports tonight, the first from Deborah Zara. From the Pentagon, a summation of the latest on Operation Desert Storm. After watching the war unfold before her on television, Barbara Linear couldn't make it to her nursing job today. It was just like I was watching a movie, it was just an area I couldn't believe it, I started crying, I didn't know what to do. Did you get any sleep? No, I think I must have those stuff around five and at six, fifteen I remember looking at the clock and turning the TV back on. Linear says she feels powerless here in her comfortable Mount Holly home. That's because fighting in the Persian Gulf is her son, daughter-in-law, and two brothers. Another son and two other siblings could be called to serve at any moment. She says she's angry that the lives of the people she loves so much are in jeopardy because of one man, Saddam Hussein.

Think he's a mad man, I can't believe somebody walking around like that. Sun Troy and his wife Kim left behind two small children. Yeah, I'm scared to death, but I keep asking myself what would I tell him if something happened to the mother and father. No, I've been here for many, buddy. She's been waiting by the telephone for any word. I had a call this morning from Senator Bradley's office and he said they were thinking of me and they would be getting back to me, so hopefully I hear something soon. Barbara says she does not believe in violence, although she does support the president. Right now all she can do is pray for peace and the safe return of her family. Until then, it's letters like this one from Troy that keep her going. I hope you realize how much I love you and how great I am to you for being there every time I need it you. Everything I am, I owe to you. Do you read that a lot? No, I don't know. Debra Zarano, Jersey Network News, Mount Holly.

This is Margie Smith at the 144th Army National Guard Armory in Hamilton, where families with relatives in the Gulf gathered to share their worries. It was scary. You're ready for it. You think you're ready for it. But then when it really happens, you're still not really prepared. The TV was the center of attention. Vietnam veteran Harry Palmer says his family was waiting for news about his youngest brother, Carl. He's been doing pretty well, I think, even though she's crying inside, you know, as old mother, they're just all probably doing now, you know. But the anxiety of this morning didn't last for long. Around 1.15 this afternoon, the phone rang. It was a collect call from Saudi Arabia. All right, you guys do a good job and everybody's supporting you back here. All right, good luck, okay? All right, out here. Okay, out here. That's it. Lala, you're doing fine. No problems. We gotta get on the phone.

It's called everybody. Volunteers began spreading the word. He was on the phone for a matter of seconds, and he just said tell everybody that everybody is safe. I was really shocked and I'm thrilled to death that we know because sure that they're okay. We're thrilled. This is the first time I've smiled in two days. Did you expect to hear any word today? No, I didn't. Not at all. So after, you know, last night when it started, I thought this is that we won't hear nothing for quite a while. So it was great news to know that they are all safe. Military officials say these families were lucky. I believe this was an exception because I'm pretty sure most of the troops that are up on the front lines don't have that opportunity to make those phone calls. So in one New Jersey town tonight, there's a sense that everything's okay, at least for now. Margie Smith, New Jersey Network News, Hamilton. Governor Jim Floreo today asked New Jerseyans to put aside feelings about whether the war is right or wrong and to support the troops. The governor also extended the order granting differential pay to state workers serving in Operation Desert Storm.

A call for special peace services came today from the Roman Catholic Bishop of South Jersey. Bishop James McHugh says it is time for people to revitalize their spiritual lives. And there were more anti-war demonstrations today, Trish Degasperous reports. We shall live in peace. It looked like a time from another era, armed with signs and voices about 100 protesters against the war and the Gulf, demonstrated in front of the federal building in New York at noon today. No, live for oil, no, live for oil. The country does not buy this war. It does not accept President Bush's decision to bring us into this potentially calamity situation. We took more time, you know, to let the sanctions work. I think that we could have had results. We didn't have to go to war so soon. When are we going to ask ourselves where our priorities are? Get the troops home now, right now. All of the protesters that we spoke with said they didn't want to be misunderstood. They're against the war, but they say they support the troops.

We support the men and the women who are fighting. We do not support the war. The most interesting moment came when a group of construction workers who are building the new federal courthouse next door, stage of counter-demonstration, they concluded by raising the flag on top of the new courthouse. Earlier in the day in Hackensack, a small but vocal group protested in front of a military recruiting office. As the recruiters looked on, the demonstrators made their feelings known. This is my draft card, George Bush. And in North Bergen in a stand for peace, students at North Bergen High School held a tree-lighting ceremony, they say the tree will stay lit as long as the war is on.

North Bergen cares about what's happening, and we want to show support, and we just want them to come home as soon as possible. Trish D. Gasparis, New Jersey Network News, North Bergen. A split along party lines today over a resolution in the U.S. Senate commending the military for their show of force in the Persian Gulf. While Republicans favor a version praising the president's decisiveness, Democrats are objecting. Marie DeNoia has been talking to members of New Jersey's Congressional Delegation all day. Marie, what's been the general reaction to this initial phase of war? Kent, Congress members I spoke with were somewhat surprised at how quickly this happened, but all expressed full support of U.S. military forces. The major concern on many of their minds is if and when allied ground forces will be deployed. This will not be over soon, and every phase of the operation it cannot be expected will go as well. Congressman Robert Torres-Sally, who firmly supported the use of military force in the

Gulf during congressional debates last week, stressed caution this afternoon. Senator Bill Bradley, who as firmly opposed the use of military force and supported continued sanctions against Iraq, called the apparent success of the first hours of battle reassuring. He stated, I hope that Saddam Hussein will recognize quickly that this is a war he cannot win, and that our troops will be home safe with their family soon. I just thought that we would at least give diplomatic opportunities a few more chances. Congressman Donald Payne also opposed military action and expressed shock and sadness over the sudden attack, but reinforced his confidence in the troops. I've been on this job for exactly two weeks, and it's a really anguishing kind of decision that I had to make to authorize the president to send these people to their death. Congressman Richard Zimmer voted yes on Saturday, although he agonized over his decision then. Now he stresses the need for full support of the troops from every American.

As a democracy, we can't shut anybody up, and we can't keep anybody from saying what they think. But I just hope I just ask these demonstrators as individuals to think about the consequences of their acts. Late this afternoon, some members of the New Jersey delegation were briefed by Defense Secretary Dick Cheney. Tomorrow, the House is also expected to consider a similar resolution in support of U.S. troops. Some say it's one way to show Saddam Hussein that the president is fully backed in this. Kent? Thank you, Marie. Now that the U.S. is at war, security at Newark International Airport has been upgraded to the highest level. Scott Moniac reports the move is a precaution against terrorist attacks. Security officers at Newark International Airport are now discouraging all curbside check-ins, threatening to ticket or toll unattended cars. And the hourly parking lots, their closest to the terminals, have been shut down altogether in an effort to rule out any threat of a car bombing. It's frightening.

You know, just to think that people are losing their lives as we speak, that's very frightening for me. The country now at war, security against possible terrorist attacks at Newark International Airport has been upgraded to its highest code, level 4. But busy travelers say they have to keep up with their schedules, despite the developments in the Middle East. We're moving the cars a little faster than normal, but most of the people seem to cooperate to understand why we're doing it, and most people are getting their luggage out and moving on as fast as they can. According to police authorities, terrorists don't attack the same strategic locations as the military, they go after highly populated areas to attract attention to their cars. So not only are the travelers at airports and train stations at risk, so are the workers. They're just a rough job sometimes. You know, we worry about things, but we ain't going to just stop working and we can't. We got it. We've got families to feed. Scott Moniac, New Jersey Network News, Newark. Children can also experience a range of emotions during war, even if far from battle. Melinda Morton reports parents are being advised to talk with their children. My cousin told me nobody comes back in a war.

She said that that's the point of a war if everybody dies. Experts say war can have a devastating effect on the minds of children. Some of the typical concerns that children have, when there is a war, foremost is the fear of abandonment, either by the parents or certainly significant others, fear of death would be the ultimate and fear of losing control, fear of injuries. I was afraid because people from here, they're going to lose their folks and people from there are going to lose their children. I think something might happen to my father because some planes dropped and stuff and it might probably be my father near and I only have one father. Psychologists say parents can help their children with their fears of war by discussing the issues candidly with them. We talked about how it would affect other people. What could we do, what are they doing over there?

And basically the bombing and the tragedy that's happening now. It's very hard to explain him because he doesn't understand very well, very well, each situation. I think for the very young children, one of the best ways to get to what they're fearful about is to engage them in play. Dr. Villa Franco says parents should try and reassure children about unrealistic fears. Be honest about questions that cannot be answered and last of all make them feel secure in knowing that parents are there to make things safe. Belinda Morton, New Jersey Network News, New York. Was the U.S. too quick to go to war? Michael Aaron found leading experts at Princeton University today thinking just that. Two old foreign policy hands. George Ball was under Secretary of State in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Richard Omen is a foreign policy professor who just last weekend in the New York Times gave President Bush a flunking grade for doubling the military buildup.

Both think Bush was too quick to pull the trigger. President made a mistake. Ball says when Bush doubled the troop strength, war became almost inevitable. He painted himself into a corner. I think he painted the country into a corner. I don't think he did it deliberately, but I think that the exuberance of taking over the war and running it ourselves and having the American forces constitute the sole important significant United Nations contingent was more than he could resist. Both men believe sanctions would have worked. This certainly would have taken effect. Not in five months. I thought that the President last night was saying, well, we tried it for five months. And it wasn't working. I mean, no modern state can be brought to its knees by this sort of pressure within five months. How long does it take? A year, two years. So far as I'm concerned, the time wouldn't have made any real difference as long as the trend was right.

And I think it would have been. If, in the course of the bombing, we do too much damage to the Iraqi economy. And if we kill enough Arabs in Iraq, then I think the whole Arab world is going to be against us at the end of the show. It would make a difference as far as terror, I think, is concerned. But I think that there will be people wanting to avenge the deaths of many Iraqis if that takes place. There's a sense of considerable sorrow and of missed opportunities. Carl Brown, a professor of Near Eastern Studies, believes war could and should have been avoided. We will surely win. We will prevail militarily. We may, and I hope and pray this is the case, we may even win very quickly. At minimal loss of life on all sides, certainly our own side. But there is going to be this festering spirit within the Middle East and especially within the Arab world. Of here, the great outsider is presuming to move in and kick us around and tell us what to do.

Another professor with a column in today's New York Times agrees and hopes the U.S. can win without using ground forces. But if this is turned into American troops blasting their way into Iraqi positions and the Arab world looks on, the Arab world will forget very quickly the occupation of Kuwait. Michael Aaron, New Jersey Network News Princeton. Tonight at 8, NJN will present a special one-hour nightly business report focusing on the Gulf War. And then at midnight, it's a frontline special, America at war, which will air every night until the crisis is over. Next Japan Cycle with the War-related business. And fire rages through downtown Patterson. Stay with us. If you see news happening or shoot it with your home video camera, let us know about it. By dialing the New Jersey Network News tip line, 1-800-JERZY-1. That's 1-800-JERZY-1. It's turned out to be a nice day.

But unfortunately, tomorrow and Saturday don't look nice at all. I want to show him lots of finishes for most parts of the garden city. A windswept fire has destroyed a block and a half of downtown Patterson and is believed to have taken the life of a firefighter. That fire started on Main Street, one firefighter in a group which entered the building where the fire started is missing and believed dead. Things gusting to 25 miles an hour spread the flames to a second block. The damage is estimated in the tens of millions of dollars. Cause of that fire. Not yet known. Business is next. And Jim, you say you'll ye of little faith? Yes, yes.

Taking aim at that. You know, we are a cynical bunch. We don't believe very much to press certainly and not many of our political people either. But if a lot of people have been less cynical for just a moment or a week or so ago, a lot of business news might have been a bit different overnight. Perhaps you heard it, President Bush interview with David Frost. There was one key line delivered by the president. Saddam will not have any air covered. It was just that blunt and he repeated it again and again. But when CNN's guys stuck a mic out the Baghdad window last night so the world could hear all that noise, oil traders simply panicked. Regular markets were closed, of course, but in the spot markets, oil prices rocketed, shot up around $9 a barrel. What everybody feared was the Iraqis would incinerate production facilities all across the Middle East. It didn't take too long to realize that that was not going to happen. And shortly, the panic reversed. You couldn't sell oil fast enough, down $9 a barrel by morning, a panic of selling at days close, oiled down $10.56 a barrel lower than it was the day before Saddam did his thing.

Well, you ask, what will happen here, the gas pump? Our source on oil, oil information is time closed. It says he's hearing talk of oil under $15 a barrel. And although it will take a while for prices to work down, dollar a gallon unleaded regular. Of course, there is always the aduration that we hear from General Colin Powell that we should avoid euphoria. It is not over yet. Speaking of euphoria, some say that a lot of the smart money stayed in the market before all this began to happen, but since August, the market had lost 14 percent of its value. Some, of course, due to that recession threat. But today, well, it's the second biggest jump for the Dow ever, biggest being a rebound from the 87 crash you might recall. Volume 8th greatest ever. And as you can see, the breadth shows that every measure of the market was up, and not only the big board, MXOTC making big jumps too. And Ditto bonds, one fear had been that interest rates would jump in the face of war destruction and oil shortage.

Long bond, up two and a third points, yield down to 8.18 percent tonight. The usual caveats, of course, the war is not over. And where there are gains, there are profit takers, and then there is the recession, and where will that take us? Well, we're going to take you into the clouds, Jim, which continued to linger across the garden state, but we got a fair amount of sunshine through those partly cloudy skies today. A look at current conditions. We have cloudy skies at this hour in Newark, Trenton, and Atlantic City temperatures dropping in the state capital to 38 degrees. Skies will clear out tonight, it will get colder with the lows between 22 and 32, a partly sunny and windy day tomorrow with more normal, January temperatures. Highs, the freezing mark 32 to 42. Those conditions will continue on Saturday, again, partly sunny and cold between 30 and 40 state-wide. Sports now, Pat Scanlon's in our Newark Bureau. Pat? Well, Steve Kent, the sports world is also reacting to the war in the Persian Gulf. The question is to play or not to play.

The NFL says today it will go on with the NFC and AFC Championship games on Sunday, and next week's Super Bowl. But the league is mindful of the war in the Persian Gulf, as are the giants as they prepare for San Francisco. Unfortunately, for the situation, the spirit can't be as high as you want them to be because of what is going on. But you just hope that everything does work as I found it, and if the league decides for us not to play the game, then we will not play. It puts things in perspective. If you had to put a list, you would have to say, I would have to say that the war, you know, weighs very heavy in my mind, and then this game. I still have to prepare for it, and I'm going to do it as I always do, but something has taken presidents. I think you can stay focused. It might take a little to lustre off of it, and that you've got a situation where many of the people in this room have friends or even relatives over there, and certainly everyone's concerned about it.

You know, we have a job to do here. And I have friends and family over there, and all you can do is pray for them. Like I said, we do have a job to do here. We have to get it done. NFL is taking extra security measures to guard against terrorism. The NBA says it will play its schedule, while the NHL will go on with its all-star game, Saturday in Chicago. Last night, the New Jersey Devil's Time Chicago 2-2 to end a six-game losing streak for John Cuniff. Captain Kirk Muller broke in alone for the time goal going upstairs for his 14th goal of the season and his 500th point as a New Jersey Devil. Also tonight in hockey, the Flyers host Quebec. Four games of interest on the men's side in New Jersey College basketball, Rutgers is at George Washington, St. Peter's hosting Iona, two northeast conference games, after use at Mount St. Mary's Monmouth, visiting St. Francis, and a women's game, number six Rutgers. The Lady Knights, host West Virginia, also a trade-the-nets trade guard, Lester Connor to Milwaukee, for great Cadillac Anderson. Kent, Steve? Thanks, Pat. For recapping our top stories tonight on New Jersey Network News, another wave of bombing has begun in the Persian Gulf War.

President Bush says the attacks will go on until Iraq complies with the UN resolutions. There is no indication significant numbers of Iraqi troops are surrendering. P.L.O. is calling on all Arabs to fight on behalf of Saddam Hussein. Reuters reports Iraq still plans to attack Israel. Stepped up anti-terrorism measures have been put in place at Newark International Airport. Securities at a high level of McGuire Air Force Base in Samantha War and pro-Troup demonstrations took place today in New Jersey. That's our news for tonight. I'm Steve Heisman. And I'm Kent Madahand. Be sure and stay tuned for New Jersey Tonight coming up next. From all of us here, good night. Thank you for being with us. The Gulf War coming up on New Jersey Network News next at 7.

The Gulf War coming up next at 7.

The Gulf War coming up next at 7. The Gulf War coming up next at 7.