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Vol. 91 No. 185 (6 pages)
The Battalion
‘Serving Texas A&M Since 1893”
Thursday, July 30, 1992
Inside
A&M graduate Karen Chavis
sings with The Brew at Stafford
Page 3
Blast rocks
Israeli base
2 killed, at least 40 injured
RISHPON, Israel (AP) - A
blast at an underground explo
sives depot shook central Israel
Thursday, shattering windows in
buildings miles away. Two people
were killed and at least 40 injured,
radio reports said.
The blast occurred at about 8
m. at the Nof Yam military fac
tory next to the communal farm
settlement of Rishpon, about nine
ind —he wished hi> miles north of Tel Aviv.
i, could be standim
ting his piece of
ip Morales' return
as set in motion
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rials. His father,
Sr., was shown
ture of his dearly
Blanca,
k promoted his
i numerous
nd promos. Hew,
to watch in
?fore the race
•re was even a mils
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ot won his event,
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ally with her deal
it he used her
age as an
A cloud of black smoke hun
dreds of feet high was seen over
Israel's densely' populated central
coastal region.
A witness identified only as
Avfaham who said he was very
close to the explosion told Israel
army radio:
"I suddenly saw a column of
fire shooting 25 meters into the
air. Several seconds later I heard
the explosion, and immediately
the skies went black. I threw my
self on the floor and covered my
head with my hands and I felt that
large amounts of stones, sand and
tree branches were falling on me."
Police barred reporters from
the factory, which is just across
the street from a residential area.
Dozens of angry residents gath
ered at the gate three hours after
the explosion, demanding the fac
tory be moved.
Last month, an explosion at an
other ammunition factory in cen
tral Israel killed two workers and
injured five. The cause was de
scribed as accidental. Under cen
sorship rules, the exact location
was not revealed, but army radio
said today that it occurred in
Ramie.
Fire Commissioner Shlomo
Cohen told army radio that the ex
plosion occurred in bunkers that
apparently stored ammunition.
Israel radio said the blast appar
ently came during an experiment.
U.N. experts leave
Baghdad without
weapons evidence
DARRIN HILL/The Battalion
Geronimo!
Twelve-year-old Leroy Parker watches as his cousin, eleven-
year-old Jerry Needer, shouts for joy as he leaps off of an
embankment into the lake at the research park on Wednesday.
The two cousins like to swim in the lake because “it gives them
a chance to cool off during the hot summer, and they have the
lake to themselves, and they can't get into trouble for doing
things they shouldn't be doing.”
Sale of donated
land could beat
original value
$52 million Guam tract next to resort
theme, "Capturing the Spirit.""
When the gift was announced
in March, it was the most valuable
gift given to a public university.
Since then, the donation has been
surpassed by a donation given to
a New Jersey college.
Juli Phillips
The Battalion
Texas A&M may receive more
than the original value of $52 mil
lion from the sale of the donated
parcel of land in Guam, a Texas
A&M official said Wednesday.
"The market is too unstable to
tell, but, in an ideal situation, once
the land has been conveyed, with
the appreciation trend continuing
on the land, it could be worth
more than the original $52 mil
lion," Dennis Prescott, the director
of the fund-raising effort to which
the land has been added, said.
The donated tract of land is ad
jacent to a $600 million resort that
is scheduled to open in the spring
of 1993.
"Although we can't be sure
that the property value will rise,"
Prescott said, "there is every indi
cation to believe that it will."
Dwight Look, the donator of
the tract of land, was honored by
the Texas A&M Board of Regents
last week for his gift.
The resolution in Look's honor
noted his "outstanding contribu
tion to the current Capital
Campaign of Texas A&M Univer
sity is one of the largest gifts ever
presented to a public institution,
truly exemplifying the campaign
Look, a Somerville native,
earned an undergraduate degree
in civil engineering from Texas
A&M and then entered the Army
to serve in World War II.
After the war. Look returned to
A&M to earn a master's and teach.
Eventually, he returned to Guam
and established his own construc
tion firm and invested in real es
tate, cattle and citrus farming.
His land donation consists of
1,000 acres on an island nick
named "Japan's Hawaii."
Proceeds from the eventual sale
of the land will go to the College
of Engineering and to the Sterling
C. Evans Library.
The land will be sold in incre
ments over the next seven years.
Look told the Board of Regents,
after the resolution was read dur
ing the meeting, that he was "very
appreciative, humbled and hon
ored by the resolution," and said
he was glad he had the opportuni
ty to help Texas A&M.
ctory Mondavi
ras panned the
fouhd Pablo's
ce, the overabusec
ig family membeis
vas justifiable and)
t for the ages
MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) -
J.N. experts left Baghdad on
Wednesday after a fruitless search
or evidence of weapons programs
Iraq's Agriculture Ministry. The
earn leader said there were indi-
ations material had been re
moved from the building.
Iraqi media portrayed the in
fection as a victory that had re-
tored the Baghdad government's
dignity. Iraqi television showed
Saddam Hussein taking a symbol-
c victory swim in a river near his
lometown and driving a speed
)oat.
Achim Biermann, the German
lead of the nine-member inspec-
ion team, told reporters in
laghdad the inspectors found no
naterials forbidden by the Persian
ulf War cease-fire, which re-
res Iraq to surrender its
veapons of mass destruction un
der U.N. supervision.
, . But he said there were "traces"
Tat the Philippine 0 £ t M n gs such as furniture or
equipment removed before the m-
pectors entered the building
Tuesday. "There is room for the
eoncern some major material
night have been brought out,"
" diermann told CBS radio.
U.N. experts had suspected the
ninistry contained documents on
raq's chemical, biological, nuclear
md ballistic weapons. Iraq denied
die charge.
The information gathered in
Tents."
ns have been dis ;
nd nine out of I
uslim, said Nofel.
t their fellow Mus-
tuary," Nofel said!
ht of Filipino Mus-
ilippines. |1U[
lysically removed! ^
i in wooden hous-
re idea of allowing
i are meter of land
)t talk about such
islims mention it,'
ention
publicity can
' that this once
lis no longer can
y on the falterinj
ry, Houston seeffli
tg more tourists a*
npts to diversify ts
\nd the GOf
ould be just thi
the ministry must now be as
sessed by the whole team, said
Nikita Smidovich, spokesman for
the U.N. Special Commission
overseeing the weapons' destruc
tion.
A previous inspection team
was barred from the ministry and
gave up a 17-day stake-out last
week because of harassment by
demonstrators. U.N. officials wor
ry that the Iraqis used the inter
vening days to destroy or remove
weapons-related documents.
More than 40 U.N. teams have
gone into Iraq to track down and
destroy Iraq's weapons of mass
destruction. Much of their find
ings has been gathered in surprise
inspections.
Another nuclear team is to
travel to Iraq next month, and a
group of chemical experts has
been in the country since June
overseeing the destruction of mu
nitions leaking dangerous chemi
cals at the al Muthanna State
Establishment, 37 miles northwest
of Baghdad.
Because the U.N. chemical
team is helping to save Iraq from a
potential catastrophe, it has en
countered no resistance.
The surprise inspections have
been most irritating for the Iraqis,
and because they are not likely to
stop, future confrontations with
the United Nations cannot be
ruled out.
Postmaster General outlines goals
By Gary P. Carroll
The Battalion
Marvin P. Runyon, Class of '45, and newly
appointed United States Postmaster General,
outlined three main goals for the direction of
the U.S. Postal Service: improving service, re
ducing the postal service's deficit and elimi
nating the bureaucratic layers.
In an exclusive interview with the Battalion
on Tuesday, Runyon stressed the fact that the
U.S. Postal Service was a business — not a
government agency.
"We are a busi-
do everything as usual, we will finish $2 bil
lion in debt," for the fiscal year ending in 1993,
Runyon said.
The postal service has to erase its deficit
and avoid showing a loss, otherwise it will
have to raise its postal rates. "And we don't
want that to happen," Runyon said.
Improving the quality of service is another
problem that Runyon intends to solve by initi
ating a top-down tactic of internal problem
solving.
"We're going to start from the top," Runyon
said. "Most businesses start from the bottom
and stop before they are halfway up."
ness," Runyon
said. "We're in the
communications
business and we're
going to have to
run it like a busi-
"We have more customers than any other business in the world. Every
(American) citizen is a customer and we serve them six days a week ... at
work and at home."
increasing use of computer services such as
electronic mail. Instead of ordering by mail,
more and more people are phoning in catalog
orders or ordering by computer.
Runyon said he intends to increase the pub
lic's use of the postal service by renewing their
confidence in quality service.
"We have more customers than any other
business in the world," Runyon said. "Every
(American) citizen is a customer and we serve
them six days a week ... at work and at
home."
According to a recent postal service survey,
87 percent of the customers surveyed said ser-
vice is good, very
- Marvin P. Runyon, U.S. Postmaster General
The postal service faces many of the same
problems that most large corporations face —
high overhead and no financial aid from the
government. All operating expenses are paid
for by postage fees.
"We get no appropriations from Congress
to help defray our costs," Runyon said.
The postal service is supposed to maintain a
level financial plane, but right now the service
is operating out of a deficit.
"We're supposed to break even. But if we
The postal service must take a more active
and personal role in conducting its business or
people will find alternate ways of sending
their communications, Runyon said.
Large mailers, such as magazines and
newsletters, are using the postal services less
and switching to other modes, such as a door-
to-door method, of delivering their mail.
These large companies spend $400 million
to $500 million a year on postage, Runyon
said. "And that's postage we're not getting."
Another threat to the postal service is the
good or excellent.
Runyon thinks that
is unacceptable.
"That's 13 per
cent that isn't satis-
Bed." Runyon said.
"We have to be better than good. It's the only
attitude you can have."
The most important things are accountabili
ty, credibility and competitiveness, Runyon
said.
"We want people to think of these things
when they think of us."
The next 120 days will be spent targeting ef
forts to streamline postal service operations.
"One person can make a difference,"
Runyon said.
awyers involved in BCCI scandal
ace federal, state criminal charges
dENT
Drinks
$1 off all
drinks
9-10pm
WASHINGTON (AP) - Quintessential
Washington insider Clark Clifford and his law part
ner were charged Wednesday with making millions
n illegal profits from the BCCI international banking
icandal.
The charges in separate federal and New York
late indictments against former Defense Secretary
Clifford and colleague Robert Altman ranged from
liminal conspiracy to accepting bribes. Meanwhile,
lie Federal Reserve Board said it has begun civil pro
ceedings that could bar them permanently from U.S.
lanking.
Clifford, 85, and Altman, 45, were accused of par-
icipating in a massive criminal conspiracy that offi-
ials said was designed to give the corrupt, foreign-
>wned Bank of Credit and Commerce International
ecret control of U.S. banks.
We totally and categorically deny all charges/'
Clifford and Altman said in a joint statement, accus-
_ overzealous prosecutors and politicians of using
hem as convenient targets.
The charges are based on "circumstantial evi-
lence . . . mean-spirited suspicion and unfounded
ipeculation," they said. "We shall fight to establish
>ur innocence."
They pleaded innocent to the New York State
charges Wednesday afternoon before state Supreme
lourt Justice John A. K. Bradley, who directed them
o return to court next Wednesday to discuss how to
>roceed with the case.
Clifford and Altman acted as BCCI's principal
awyers in this country. They also were chairman
nd president, respectively, of First American
tankshares, Washington's biggest bank-holding
flrnpany.
The ruling family of the Persian Gulf emirate of
Abu Dhabi owned 77 percent of BCCI before it col
lapsed last year amid allegations of arms smuggling,
drug money laundering and financing of terrorists. It
operated in 70 countries.
BCCI pleaded guilty in December to federal
charges and forfeited $550 million in assets, the
biggest forfeiture in U.S. history. In a plea bargain,
BCCI conceded it illegally owned First American and
three other U.S. banks.
In a boost for the prosecution, two BCCI insiders
who pleaded guilty Monday in New York to misde
meanor violations of state banking laws are cooper
ating with authorities, federal and New York state
officials said Wednesday.
They are Sheik Kamal Adham, a Saudi Arabia
businessman, and his accountant, Sayed Jawhary.
Adham, a former head of Saudi intelligence, agreed
to pay $105 million in fines but avoided any jail term.
For 45 years, Clifford has been an adviser to presi
dents, a powerful figure in Democratic politics and a
witness to some of major developments in the latter
half of the 20th Century.
He played poker with Winston Churchill; helped
Harry Truman win the presidency in 1948; advised
President John F. Kennedy after the disastrous Bay of
Pigs invasion of Cuba; and urged President Lyndon
B. Johnson to get out of Vietnam.
A three-count federal indictment returned in
Washington accused Clifford and Altman of enrich
ing themselves through secret "sweetheart" loans
and other deals in retufn for convincing federal reg
ulators that BCCI was not involved in U.S. banking
acquisitions.
County official says deaths
avoidable in Brenham blast
AUSTIN (AP) — Three deaths in a gas explo
sion near Brenham could have been avoided if the
pipeline company had contacted authorities when
they discovered something was wrong, a county
emergency official said Wednesday.
Residents whose homes were destroyed also ex
pressed anger against Seminole Pipeline Co. and
the state for not helping them rebuild after the
April 7 blast
In addition to the fatalities, 21 people were in
jured. The blast also caused $5 million in property
damage, officials said.
The explosion occurred after Seminole's under
ground storage facility overfilled with liquefied
gas, officials said.
Seminole, based in Tulsa, Okla., had received
an alarm about the overfilling cavern at 6:08 a.m.
— one hour before the explosion, officials said.
But Seminole representatives maintain they re
sponded properly to the emergency.
"We followed our procedures as far as sending
people immediately out to the site," said Rick Neal
of Seminole. Asked why local officials were not
contacted, he said, "l don't have an answer to
that."
The charges came as the National Transport
ation Safety Board started a two-day hearing as
part of its investigation into the explosion.
Ron Haussecker, emergency management coor
dinator for Washington County, told the NTSB
that during crucial moments after the explosion.
emergency crews did not know what kind of dis
aster they were dealing with.
He said the first time he spoke with anyone
from Seminole was 16 hours after the explosion.
Prior to the blast, Haussecker said he didn't
even know there was an underground cavern at
the Seminole facility, and that gas companies nev
er participated with local officials in preparing for
emergency situations.
Later, he told reporters, "I have a big problem
that they did not request emergency services and
did noLevacuate " He said if Seminole had told
Washington County officials about the leaking gas
sooner, they could have evacuated thetarea and
blocked the roads.
"There would not have been any deaths," he
said.
He said he has yet to get an answer from
Seminole about why the company did noncontact
local emergency officials. "Their people never talk
to me," he said.
Meanwhile, residents in the area said they have
not been able to get any help from the company or
government
"I want the public to know’ that nothing is be
ing done for us," said Vickie Weiss, a mother of
four, who was injured in the blast with her daugh
ter. Her home was also destroyed.
"I don't.even know how I am going to buy my
kids school clothes/'