Press and Sun-Bulletin from Binghamton, New York • 3

Saturday, January 19, 1991 Press Sun-Bulletin 7 A I mm frig figlSf teajfll I 'r nn nil Tier pa Guard spokesman, said all F-16 aircraft pilot come, said Master Sgt. Robert P. Maus, operations sergeant for the 204th Engineering Battalion, which also has units in Walton and Oneonta. The state National Guard fighters were the first state militia or reserve air wing in the nation to be deployed, said Maj. Gen.

Lawrence P. Flynn, state National Guard commander. The unit made a "significant contribution" to Operation Desert Storm, Flynn said. Nearly 30 Binghamton-area reservists from the 816th hospital unit are among more than 100 Southern Tier servicemen in the Persian Gulf, Dayton said. They are serving with other medical units while the Binghamton unit re- mains demobilized.

The story was the same at Reserve Co. A of the 464th Engineering Battalion, said Master Sgt. Anthony 98th-Division public affairs supervisor. A Plattsburg-based ord-' nance company was sent to Europe replacing a unit sent to the gulf, but it was business as unusual for the bulk of the Rochester-based division, DeBellis said. "Obviously we are more curious about the future than the guy on the street, we have a vested interest," DeBellis said.

targets hit by the air wing nicknamed "The Boys From Syracuse." Each of the fighters, augmented for a ground attack role, flew two missions, Waters said. More than 2,000 New York Army and Air National Guard members are deployed or scheduled for deployment in the Middle East, including 600 of 1,100 airmen of the Syracuse fighter wing, Kutschera said. The 1 74th Fighter Wing arrived in Saudi Arabia Jan. 3 following 10 mid-air refuelings. Local National Guard units have been at a "heightened state of awareness" since August in preparation for a call-up that so far has not By STEVEN N.

LEVINE Staff Writer Air National Guard jets of the Syracuse-based 174th Tactical Fighter Wing have joined the daylight bombardment of occupied Kuwait and Iraq. Binghamton-based reservists are primed for action in the 3-day-old war, but remained holstered Friday, spokesmen said. There was no official word as to whether the Binghamton units will be called up, said Chief Warrant Officer Bernard A. Dayton of the Army Reserve 816th Station Hospital. Lt.

Col. Peter C. Kutschera, state National ed and serviced by Central New York residents Thursday hit their targets and returned to their bases in Saudi Arabia. Planes were unable to find their targets through the clouds Friday and returned to base, fighter wing spokesman Maj. Mike Waters at Hancock International Airport said.

The 174th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hancock Airport includes airmen from Binghamton, Ithaca and Utica, Waters said. The day-flight only attack craft are following up nighttime bombardment by all-weather F-l 5s based at the same Central Saudi airbase, he said. Neither Kutschera nor Waters would reveal if 5 f.i' (i SHERI JACOBS PHOTOS Vince Caforio, left, a senior at Maine-Endweli High School, Friday speaks out against the Persian Gulf war during an assembly attended by two of Jack Gilroy's "Participation in Government" classes. Sgt. First Class Howard O'Neal, at right, a recruiter from Endicott, was invited to address the assembly about the war.

Staff Sgt. Samuel T. Arnold was also invited. i edsin attaok Bush's ecruaters defend here that. won't support it?" one student said, picture of the Iraqi leader's facer The applause-that followed such 'statements dwarfed appiause for words against the war, which were sometimes jeered.

"I support the soldiers 100 percent'be-, cause they're over there doing something they believe in," said another student. "But I can't justify a war that's based on a totally hypocritical foreign policy." "It's kind of naive for me to say they're -not my neighbor," O'Neal said, referring to the feeling that Iraq's invasion, of Kuwait does not concern the United States. "Is this war worth giving American lives for, for cheaper cars and cheaper cameras?" another student said. "I'm not about the war," O'Neal said. "I believe if this guy's brutalizing that we need to do something about it." Many students who spoke defended President Bush's decision to attack Iraq.

"The president made a decision. How would you feel if you were over there fighting for what he told you to do, and there's people referring to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The assembly, attended by two of Jack Gilroy's "Participation in Government" classes and students on lunch was scheduled after a student asked the teacher, Monday whether the United States should attack Iraq. Gilroy said no, but promised to provide an opposing view. He called Arnold and Sgt.

First Class Howard O'Neal, who work in the recruiting office on Washington Avenue in Endicott. O'Neal told the audience of about 1 50 that although the United States imports only a small amount of oil from Kuwait, if Saddam continues to hold that country's oil fields the economies of Europe and Japan will suffer and the price of oil will rise, making products such as cameras and stereos more expensive. By KAREN LANGE Staff Writer Two U.S. Army recruiters appeared Friday at Maine-Endwell High School to give their side in the debate over whether the United States should have gone to war against Iraq. They were met with support and criticism.

"We didn't give sanctions a reasonable chance," a student said. "How much time do you think is reasonable? You're talking about a man who's already killed a half million of his own people," said Staff Sgt. Samuel T. Arnold, Before the assembly, about 10 students who said they were against the war sat with a small American flag on one side of a hallway, said Principal Jerold Etingoff. Facing them was a larger group of students with two signs that expressed support for U.S.

servicemen in the Persian Gulf, he said. Wojtek G.M. Wolfe, whose family's apartment was burned three times during riots in 1980 before he emigrated from Poland, wondered if his classmates understand what Desert Storm means. "A lot of the seniors in this school are for this, but the only violence they've come to in their life is a war movie," he said. "Love it or leave it!" shouted a young man.

Another young man wore a T-shirt with the words, "insane Hussein, Time for your medication," and a target superimposed on a Iraq's attack aimed at provoking retaliation, SUNY-B professor says seeing now in Morocco, Algeria and said. Stillman said Israel's decision to forgo installing Patriot missiles, which could have been used against Iraqi Scuds, bought them sympathy and good will from the coalition, but that there are limits to how much Israel will be willing to withstand. Ahron Shapiro, 20, a student from Hempstead, Long Island, said, "Americans are concerned for their troops, but many of us are concerned for our families. This makes the war much closer to home." Shapiro said, "Israel was attacked once and there were no fatalities, but should they be attacked again, in order to keep respect and the respect of other countries, they should retaliate. They are not held by any government," he said.

By LAURIE GENGENBACH Staff Writer Retaliation against Iraq's attack on Israel should be left in the hands of the United States and its allies in the Persian Gulf, a political science professor at SUNY-Binghamton said Friday. "The attack so far was a token," Don Peretz said. "It was more symbolic and an attempt to provoke Israel into retaliating. Massive retaliation would be falling into the trap set by Saddam Hussein." If the Israelis decide to retaliate against Iraq for Thursday night's aggression, the response in the Arab world would likely be massive protests against U.S. embassies in Arab countnes "similar to the ones we're lunisia, rereizsaia.

Norman A. Stillman, professor of history who specializes in Arabic studies at the state University Center at Binghamton, said Friday that the Arab world would not turn its sympathies toward Iraq if Israel were to retaliate. "Most of the Arab countries are very frightened of Saddam Hussein. I think most of the countries, even Syria, will not pull out of the coalition," he said. "The Israeli doctrine has always been one of answering any attack with a larger retaliatory response to serve notice that any aggressor will be dealt with.

I think they made that political decision to absorb this attack," he -V--V ERICCHEOEDUS Josephine Wilber of Binghamton, a founding member of the synagogue, reads a worship book during Friday night's service. Joining her are Shirley Y. and Samuel Goldin of Binghamton. Tier joins ranks in support of Bush SPEAK OUTI SPEAKOUTT Jewish Continued from Page 1A enemy. In Hussein's arsenal is PLO terrorism.

There's no question he will begin to use it against Israelis and Americans," he said. Sussman and his congregation praised Israel for not striking back, not rising to Hussein's bait to broaden the war and decimate the Arab, European and American coalition fighting for Kuwait's liberation. "As Jews, we have much to be proud of. Israel's reaction has been excellent to date," Sussman said. "We just don't know how many attacks will make the domestic pressure so great that Israel will have to retaliate.

Israel has a right to defend itself." "I was scared and nervous, probably pretty typical reactions," said Joel Roth, of 409 Irving Endicott, who spent six weeks in Israel as a high school student in 1976. "I just hope Israel stays clear." Fear was natural, said Samuel Goldin, of 8 Beethoven Binghamton. "Most of us here have friends and family in Israel," he said. Although he thought Israel should adopt a -can-do stance, he said, "It's pretty naive for us to think we can tell Israel what to do. We don't have to pay the price, do we?" "Hopefully, Israel will be allowed to sit tight.

This is difficult for them. They're not accustomed to sitting tight," -said his wife, Shirley Goldin. "We should bomb Iraq to the ground and when it's all cleaned out, put the PLO there. But Israel should hold the oil rights. That would be a real balance of power," said Sheldon Gerber, of 3644 Pheasant Lane, Endwell.

Eileen Orringer, of 27 1 7 Camelot Road, Endwell, said she felt sympathy for the Holocaust survivors, who once again faced deadly gas, and for the new Russian immigrants to Israel, who sought peace, but instead found conflict. "I also i fear for the chilven in Israel, for what they're going through. I'm so angry that Hussein is shooting at civilian centers," she said. Sussman said he had opposed a military offensive. "But now that we're in the fight, I believe we owe our military a show of support.

Now is not the time to fight against the war. Now is the time to beat Hussein as quickly and thoroughly as possible." Friday night's service was without music, except for sung prayers. The war had struck home for organist Peter Hartman, whose son is serving with the Marines in Operation Desert Storm, and whose daughter, in a Marine reserves unit, was called up Thursday. "He couldn't bring himself to come here tonight," Sussman said. The synagogue canceled a children's service Friday, feeling children should be with their parents as the scenario in the Middle East unfolded.

Sussman told the congregation that he'd telephoned friends in Israel FriJay. "They're real peace niks. They said that Israel would not retaliate, yet surprisingly, they added that the U.S. was doing its job. They said that everyone in Israel is grateful to the American soldiers, everyone admires the Ameri- can pilots.

They want peace, but they also want some measure of justice," he said. Many words in the sabbath service reminded the Jews of their ties to the Israeli people. "We have come together to strengthen our bonds with our people. We are Jews, but each is unique. We stand apart and alone, with differing feel-' ings and insight.

And yet we are not entirely alone and separate, for we are children of one people and one heritage," they read. Sussman's opening prayer echoed his congregation's sentiments. "Oh Lord, we have gathered in a time of anxiety and fear. Our armed forces are engaged in terrible conflict. Israel is under attack.

Everyone is holding his breath as the dynamics of war begin to spin their own deadly logic. Help us to restore peace and sanity on our planet speedily and without delay," he said. Kuwait, but they support Saddam and his hatred for the Jews. I'm sure they're very happy when the bombs hit Tel Aviv, but what can you say about these people who think that Hitler was a hero?" Darryl Unger, Binghamton: "I think Bush was wrong because how can death be right? How can the murder of Americans or any human beings be right?" Glen Warner, Vestal: "I think President Bush has exercised outstanding control and diplomacy and I firmly, fully back him 1,000 percent." Wyatt M. Buchanan, Johnson City: "I support President Bush's initiative in the gulf, especially in light of what happened with the unprovoked attack on Israel.

My biggest wonder is, in these days when we see so many people who aren't willing to fight for anything, what are we willing to fight for? If it was our homeland that was being attacked, would we have enough concern to rally? We've always stood up for people's rights around the world and that's what makes us a great nation. If we don't stand up for people when they are being oppressed, who would stand up for us? Or woufll! we even stand up for By MARK WINHELD Staff Writer Slightly more than 80 percent of Southern Tier residents who responded to Friday's "Speak Out!" question say President Bush did the right thing by ordering military action against Iraq. That tops the 76 percent approval nationwide recorded by a poll taken immediately after Wednesday night's news for ABC News and The Washington Post. Of the 131 callers who responded to the unscientific Press Sun-Bulletin poll, 106 backed the president's decision. Responses from the majority included gallows humor and comparisons of Saddam Hussein with Hitler.

"You have my thanks for the picture of Saddam Hussein. I needed a new one for my dart board," said Roy Hibbard of Norwich, who supported Bush's decision "110 percent." "We gave Saddam plenty of time to get out," said Dean A. Connell of Binghamton. "You go back to World War II we could have stopped Hitler way before things got out of hand. We didn't, a)id look what happened.

Now we have a chance to stop Sad- dam; that's our only choice. As far as the protesters against the war go, if it was their 12-year-old daughter over in Kuwait getting raped and beaten by Iraqi soldiers, I don't think they'd be out there protesting right now." An Endicott man who disagreed with Bush's decision said military action is squarely against his religious teachings. "I'm a Roman Catholic, and this war is a total rejection of Catholic church teachings," Joe Coudriet said. "I'm disappointed that the president refused to accept Pope John Paul's last-minute plea for peace. We have a terrible problem in our country which the Christian community is going to have to address." Other responses included: Elizabeth Brady, Binghamton: "I support the president.

What I don't support is the Arabs in the U.S. who hate this coufry and President Bush because of Israel. They care less for.