Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 21, 1993 TAG: 9301210032
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ray Reed
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
MARINES AND ARMY IN SOMALIA
Q: In Operation Restore Hope there has been lot in the papers and on TV about the work the Marines are doing in Somalia. Back in December there was a lot of discussion about the 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum, N.Y., going to Somalia. Why don't we hear about the 10th Mountain Division? L.K., RoanokeA: Most of the American public probably thinks all of the 25,500 troops sent to Somalia are Marines.
Actually, 10,000 of them are Army, flown from the outpost you mention in upstate New York to Baidoa, about 175 miles inside central Somalia. The army has been securing the land's interior, usually miles from the TV cameras.
The Marines got the publicity for two reasons. The beach landing at Mogadishu made good video, especially with the four networks waiting on a relatively peaceful shore. Second, the U.N. military command in Mogadishu is the source of most information.
In defense of the reporters, it would have been risky in the first couple of days of the U.S. involvement to drive across 175 miles of clan-held desert to cover the Army troops, and then find a means of communication to get their reports back to New York.
Now, as each interior town is taken, reporters go there but credit the action to "U.N. forces," partly because it's hard to be sure whether an operation was exclusively Marine or Army.
No more free mileage
Q: I understand some of the car rental agencies have a program where you can pick up a car in Florida at the end of the winter tourist season in April and drive it for free back north where more cars are needed in the summer. Can I get on the list to do that? K.P., Troutville
A: Not any more, unless there's a small company still doing these transfers. That great deal for travelers vanished years ago when the major rental agencies started buy-back programs with carmakers.
Now, when seasonal demand changes in a region, the cars simply go to dealers. If you shop for a car the salesperson may offer a "program car" that has a few thousand miles on it and $2,000 or so shaved off the price. Probably it was an Avis or Hertz car first.
Multiple headlights?
Q: What is the purpose for six lights on the front of a vehicle? At least two of them are driving lights that are supposed to be aimed at the pavement, but lots of times they seem higher than that. R.L., Roanoke
A: Driving lights have become increasingly popular, partly because some European carmakers have been making them standard equipment. It's not unusual to see them on high-riding pickup trucks equipped for off-road use.
State police say driving lights must be mounted below the headlights. Fog lights and driving lights must be wired so they won't burn with high-beam lights.
A limit of four lights can burn on the front of a vehicle at one time.
Driving lights are supposed to be aimed at the pavement 25 feet in front of the vehicle, with a few inches allowed for tolerance.
These lights' original purpose probably was to improve illumination in foggy conditions, but lots of owners just like the way they look.
One thing's for sure: these lights on a high-riding pickup can seem mighty bright if you're in a car just ahead of it.
a question about something that might affect other people too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.