Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 22, 1986)
M Female contractor still carries See 'Aggie Sports in Review” gun after trouble with union in Wednesday's edition — Page 3 A&M men netters close out home season undefeated — Page 9 nnm_ TexasA&M * m w The Battalion Vo 1. 83 No. 139 GSPS 075360 12 pages College Station, Texas Tuesday. April 22, 1986 eagan: Allies lavored all-out ttack on Libya WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- jent Reagan said Monday that alter le decided to launch a limited mili- IMstrike against Libya, some U.S. jllies suggested a coordinated, “all- \m attack to force a change in loammar Khadafy’s policy <jf ex- 1 lotting terrorism. In an interview with The Asso- liated Press and other news agen- IjesJthe president said the sugges- ]■ were “that we look seriously IjtgeilHt at real major action” jgaihst Libya. He did not name the nations or lie leaders who offered that advice, liutlhe Washington Times, in a re- jHpublished Monday, quoted a se- ^Htdministration official as saying JHdi President Francois Mitter- land told U.S. envoy Vernon Wal- |;rsHie would support the mission ^■if it were strong enough to be linild at overthrowing Khadafy. ^Rlters made a whirlwind tour of tlpean capitals in the days just Reporters tour city hit by U.S. NGHAZI, Libya (AP) —Of ficials showed foreign reporters _Jtlonda\ what the\ said were the casings of cluster bombs, de- i signed to kill and maim, that were I dropped in the U.S. air raid on Benghazi's airport. Pentagon officials say the raid at Benghazi hit Benina Airport, a missile site and other military tar gets. Benghazi, 630 miles east of Tripoli, is Libya's second-largest city and one of five targets hit by U.S. warplanes last Tuesday, llyfhe leader of Libya’s Roman Catholics, freed after 10 days of detention, said in Tripoli that he was questioned about church ac tivity in this Moslem country and the air strikes probably delayed Ids release. Bishop Giovanni Martinelli, ar rested April 10 in Benghazi with four priests and a nun, said he was released Saturday and re turned to the capital Sunday. The others were freed over the week end. he said. I Nearly 200 foreign journalists were taken on the first tour of f i Benghazi since the raids. It fo- V fused almost exclusively on dam- I m age to civilian areas, and Libyan otticials would sav nothing about military damage or casualties. I Blid Quueri, an engineering prolessor who led the tour, said v j 24 people were killed in the raid oiijBenghazi. “jP'he tour started at the airport, See Tour, page 12 O before the April 14 air raid to in form the allies of U.S. intentions and seek their support. Only Britain publicly backed Reagan’s action and permitted use of British air bases by U.S. Ait Force planes participating in the attack. “We found that some of them were suggesting that — not that the answer be nothing of that kind —but that we look seriously at, together, real major action against Libya,” Reagan said. “Some of them sug gested that, ... if we were going to resort to force, that then perhaps it should be a wider-based and a more all-out effort to change the Libyan policy.” Walters consulted with leaders in Great Britain, West Germany, France, Italy and Spain between April 11-15. T he bombing raid oc curred early on the morning of April 15, Libyan time. In Paris, there was no immediate official reaction to Reagan’s remark, with a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry saying only, “We have noted the comments.” In The Hague, a Dutch foreign ministry spokesman said his govern ment “knew nothing of such a sug gestion." Reagan said he expects to discuss the matter further next week when he meets other allied leaders at the seven-nation economic summit in Tokyo. “This has simply been in conver sation with some of our representa tives that have been over there,” he explained. “I think it would be the kind of thing they would want to talk about at the summit as to whether we had reached that point or not. Meanwhile, Pentagon officials said they were convinced that Libya is “blowing smoke” with claims to have retrieved an F-lll bomber missing from last week’s raids. But these officials, declining to be named publicly, acknowledged that See Libya, page 12 'Spirit at A&M sets it aparf By Sue A. Krenek Reporter Monday night’s Aggie Muster drew a near-capacity crowd to G. Rollie White Coliseum for the tra ditional ceremony honoring Ag gies who have died during the past year. A.W. “Head” Davis, in his Mus ter address, told the crowd A&M is distinguished from other good universities by its spirit, a spirit he said comes from A&M’s tradi tions. “How often does one hear the word ‘greatness’ used as a de scriptive adjective in referring to this University?” he asked. “I as sure you, one of the first things I was told when I was a freshman here in 1941 was, ‘Fish Davis, let me tell you something. You’re at the greatest college in the world. If you don’t believe that, we’ll help you out of here the same way we helped you in.’ “That was the beginning and end of my orientation to Texas A&M University.” Davis said since graduation he has learned a great university must have three things: a great faculty, great students and great facilities. “These are indisputable,” he said. “A university cannot achieve greatness unless all three are a reality.” A&M has all of these, he said, and something more. If great faculty, students, and facilities are the only qualifica tions for a great university, Davis said, there’s a great university in every state. “Yet you and I know that in the entire world there is no other uni versity such as Texas A&M,” he said. “At Texas A&M there is a spirit that can ne’er be told.” Davis said spirit in this context includes frame of mind, desire and character as well as esprit, See Muster, page 12 Photo by John Makely Friends console one another at Aggie Muster in G. Rollie White Coliseum Monday. ‘Texas border easy access to U.S. for terrorists’ EL PASO (AP) — Sophisticated and determined terrorists easily could cross the border into the United States, according to federal officials whose agencies are on alert after the bombing of Libya. The vast, open spaces of the 1,952-mile border between the United States and Mexico coupled with limited manpower of federal agencies has made it relatively easy over the years for illegal aliens to slip in, officials said Monday. It would be just as easy for a pro fessional terrorist, the officials said. Authorities along the 4,139-mile border between the United States and Canada also are on the watch for impostors and false passports that could give away a potential ter rorist. Larry Richardson, the chief Bor der Patrol agent for the El Paso dis trict, said Monday, “The best we can do is be alert to the possibility of ter rorist activity. An unarmed terrorist, someone handled routinely, would has a lot of odds in his favor.” Terrorist profiles have been given to the U.S. Immigration and Natu ralization Service, the U.S. Customs Service and the Border Patrol. But a terrorist trying to enter the country would probably have a phys ical appearance that would make him blend in with the rest of the population, Richardson said. Richardson said, “The most dam aging thing a terrorist can carry is his armament.” “But if you provide it in the coun try, and mix him in with the popula tion," the actual crossing of the bor der would be a relatively minor problem, he said. A1 Giugni, INS district director in El Paso, said legal documents, such as passports, birth certificates and visas, are being checked more thor oughly. Officials said sealing the border airtight against potential terrorists would be a difficult task. John J. Ingham, INS deputy dis trict director in Buffalo, N.Y., which monitors the U.S.-Canada border, said, “If you’re talking about terror ist-proof as in waterproof—to make an impregnable barrier — I think that’s unrealistic.” Ruben Saenz, chief Customs in spector in El Paso, said that along the Mexican border, customs inspec tors look for possible terrorists using the same techniques as drug smug glers. “We look at their luggage,” Saenz said, “is it expensive, where was it made, does it go with the type of person; the amount of clothes, does it go with the length of stay. “It’s a matter of asking questions until they (inspectors) are satisfied.” However, it’s probable that a ter rorist would shun ports of entry and attempt to cross the border at deso late locales, Giugni said. John Miller, public affairs special ist for the U.S. Customs Service Pa cific Region, said American border agents have been conscious of the terrorist threat for quite some time. To help guard against terrorists infiltrating border ports, American agents have access to the Treasury Enforcement Communication Sys tem, Miller said. The huge computer file allows Customs officials to check for possi ble drug traffickers alien smugglers, possible terrorists and other crimi nals through a number identifica tion sy stem, he said. ^About 100,000 attend festivities 0 Texans celebrate birthday ps SAX JACINTO STATE PARK AP) — Cannon blasts and cheers re- ounclecl through the park Monday is thousands of Texans celebrated heir 150th anniversary at the site i’hefe the bloody victory over the tlexican army occurred. ‘Freedom — that was what it yvas Jl about — freedom,” said former onaresswoman Barbara Jordan. The battle marked the ending of an ra ol repression, and the beginning 4 a new friendship between Texans nd Mexicans." More than 21,000 people at- ended the afternoon ceremony, and Hollands attended evening festivi- ies.lStanding in the shadow of the an Jacinto monument, they bowed their heads in tribute to the heroes who fought for f reedom on the same land 150 years ago. In 18 minutes the battle was over. Gen. Sam Houston’s troops had de feated the forces led by Gen. Anto nio Lopez, de Santa Anna — secur ing Texas independence from Mexico. The fireworks Monday eve ning, culminating the end of the two-day celebration that brought about 100,000 people to the park, also lasted 18 minutes. A 21-gun salute yvas fired as Texas Air National Guard jets fleyv in the missing man formation over the monument Monday afternoon. Afterward, cannon blasts echoed through the park as thousands of balloons were released into the blue sky. Vice President George Bush said, “It's a proud day to be a Texan. To day we remember when 150 years ago, 835 men in Sam Houston’s army charged across the open field at San Jacinto and charged into his tory.” Bush also honored present day heroes Chris Sweet and Gilbert Cha- \ ez — the men who dove into Hous ton’s Buffalo Bayou on Friday and rescued six children police who were allegedly thrown into the yvater by their mother. Two of the children have since died. The vice president told the crowd that the fight lor freedom continues. "T oday I’m very pleased to an nounce that next October the U.S. Navy will christen a brand new San Jacinto,” Bush said, adding the Ae gis cruiser will join the Navy fleet in January 1988. During the ceremony, Texas Gov. Mark W hite laid a wreath at one end of the monument, which on one side was draped with a huge flag that had a white “Lone Star." “Tough times never last, but tough people ahvays do,” WTite said, referring to the state’s economic problems. “The people of Texas have never been stronger than they are today." Gorbachev: Warsaw Pact, NATO should be disbanded BERLIN (AP) — Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev stepped up his courtship of Western Europe on Monday by saying he would support disbanding the W'arsaw Pact and NATO alliances. At the same time, Gorbachev voiced readiness to meet again with President Reagan if “the ap propriate international atmo sphere is created.” The Soviet leader, on a visit to East Germany, also charged that the United States had ignored the opinion of its W ; est European al lies bv sending yvarplanes to bomb Libya last week. In a speech to workers in East Berlin, the Soxiet Communist Party general secretary said Mos cow was ready for “a simulta neous disbanding of the Warsaw Pact and NATO, or, for a start, their military organizations.” The Soviets have previously said they xvere prepared to scrap the Warsaxv Pact if the West dis solved the NATO military alli ance. The offers hax'e been viewed xvith skepticism in the West. On the possibility of a super power summit this year, Gorba chev said, “We are ready for a So- viet-American meeting so long as the appropriate international at mosphere is created, and real dis armament steps are possible.” His remarks were reported by See Gorbachev, page 12