Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 7, 1993 TAG: 9302080238
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: F-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETTY PARHAM and GERRIE FERRIS COX NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEWS
Q: I've heard that President Clinton based his policy on homosexuals in the military on a Pentagon study. Why is it that the Pentagon now rejects the findings of its own report?A: The study you refer to was done by the Defense Personnel, Security Research and Education Center, a think tank created by the Pentagon to study security risks after a spy network was uncovered in the Navy in 1987. The Pentagon sought the answer to only one question: Does homosexuality in and of itself create a security risk? What it got was a lengthy study which dealt only briefly with the security issue but that took an extensive look at gays in the military. It compared the background records of 166 discharged homosexuals with those of heterosexuals in the military, looking at school and service records, analytical skills, substance abuse, adjustment to military life, and other factors. The study found that homosexuals rated better than heterosexuals in all categories except in the incidences of drug and alcohol abuse. It urged that the military's ban on homosexuals be lifted. The Pentagon rejected the report, calling it biased, flawed, offensive and a waste of taxpayers' money because it went beyond answering the original question. The rejected report was leaked to Rep. Gerry Studds, D-Mass., an acknowledged homosexual, who gave it to The Associated Press. A second report, which the Pentagon accepted, found simply that homosexuals are no more or less security risks than heterosexuals.
Q: United We Stand, America, which is Ross Perot's new non-profit organization, is asking people for $15 a year in dues. What is a non-profit corporation? How can anyone know what happens to the millions of dollars collected?
A: The primary legal distinction, according to the Georgia secretary of state's office, is that whatever money a non-profit corporation generates in excess of expenses must go to an entity other than an individual. Whether Perot's group would come under Federal Election Commission rules depends on which activities it undertakes. If it is raising money to influence the election of a clearly identified candidate, it must register with the FEC and adhere to regulations concerning how much can be spent and to whom the money would go. United We Stand apparently does not consider itself such a group; it has not registered with the FEC. The watchdog over such a group is ultimately the Internal Revenue Service.
Q: What happens to military personnel who become HIV-positive after entering the service? Are they discharged?
A: The military's policy on HIV-infected service members is premised solely on health considerations (not on risky behavior). The aim is stopping the spread of the virus, Pentagon spokeswoman Susan Hansen said. Those diagnosed with HIV are referred for a full medical review but can remain on active duty. Their conditions are evaluated every six months, and they are never transferred outside the United States. When they become 30 percent disabled, they get a medical retirement.
Q: What is the difference between the solicitor general of the United States and the attorney general?
A: The solicitor general's office is part of the Justice Department, which is headed by the attorney general. The primary role of the solicitor general is to represent the government in cases before the Supreme Court. The solicitor general is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
Q: Are there any reliable statistics on what percentage of the population is homosexual?
A: The most frequently cited statistics are from a study by the Kinsey Institute for Research into Sex, Gender and Reproduction. The study estimated that 9 percent of Americans are homosexual. Several other studies put the percentage higher, others lower. Some experts have called all the studies flawed, for various reasons.
Q: Why is Hillary Clinton now referred to in the paper as Hillary Rodham Clinton, when this has never been done before with other first ladies?
A: Because it is her preference, officially stated when she became first lady.
Q: When our troops went to Somalia, much was written about the stimulant khat, which is chewed by Somalis, and how it contributed to the situation over there. Have our troops been able to stop the use and distribution of khat?
A: There has not been a formal effort to stop the daily flow of khat into Somalia, said a Pentagon spokesman. "The U.S. government does not believe khat plays a significant role in contributing to the anarchy in Somalia. It has been part of Somali society for many years," he said.
Q: What exactly is a Starter jacket?
A: They have the logo of a particular team emblazoned on them. It has nothing to do with what is worn by the starting lineup of any team, but the name of the manufacturer, Starter.
Q: Where did the expression "cloud nine" come from?
A: Used to express euphoric exultation, "cloud nine" is based on actual terminology used by the U.S. Weather Bureau. Clouds are divided into classes, and each class is divided into nine types. Cloud nine is that pretty cumulonimbus cloud - kind of a heavenly place - that you often see building up in the sky on a summer afternoon. Some of them can reach an altitude of 30,000 to 40,000 feet.
Q: I read that the term expired for five members of the U.N. Security Council on Dec. 31. Who are the new members?
A: Brazil, Djibouti, New Zealand, Pakistan and Spain replaced Austria, Belgium, Ecuador, India and Zimbabwe on the Security Council. The Security Council has 15 members. The five permanent members are the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China. The other 10 members rotate five at a time every two years. Serving through 1993 with the above-named 10 are Cape Verde, Hungary, Japan, Morocco and Venezuela.
Q: Is Cape Verde new?
A: It's relatively new and quite small, with a population of about 386,000. It consists of 15 islands off the west coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. Portuguese explorers discovered the islands, which were uninhabited, in 1460. They planted crops and brought slaves from the mainland to work, and slave trading became Cape Verde's chief commerce. It was ruled by Portugal until 1975, when it received independence.
Q: What is the background of the Joint Chiefs of Staff? How is the chairman selected? When does Colin Powell's term expire?
A: The Joint Chiefs of Staff are the principal military advisers to the president. The panel was set up by Congress early in World War II, with the Army and Air Corps (as it was then called) chiefs of staff and the chief of naval operations presiding. The Marine Corps commandant wasn't added until 1978. In 1949, Congress created the office of chairman of the Joint Chiefs, who outranks all other U.S. military officers. He presides at meetings and manages the staff. The chairman is appointed to a four-year term by the president, with the consent of the Senate. Powell was appointed in October 1989.
Q: How many potential military recruits test positive for the AIDS virus?
A: Tests of applicants show that 1.4 in every 1,000 are carrying the AIDS virus.
Q: Why do so many Haitians make the dangerous trip all the way to the United States when they could escape conditions there by just going over the border to the Dominican Republic.?
A: The border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti is open, and many Haitians do cross over hoping for better conditions. When they get there, however, their situation improves only slightly. They are treated poorly and given only the lowest and most menial jobs.
Q: What percentage of Supreme Court opinions are decided by 5-4 votes?
A: One-fourth to one-third in any given year.
Q: During the redistricting process, are non-citizens counted as constituents in a new district.
A: Redistricting is based on U.S. Census figures, so whoever responds to the census is counted in redistricting.
Q: Please give an update on the Sarajevo zoo animals, where a keeper was killed by snipers?
A: When the Yugoslavian war was raging around the zoo, ponies, buffaloes and the lone giraffe were shot by Serb snipers. Tigers, leopards, lions and pumas, after resorting to cannibalism, starved to death. The only survivor - a black bear - finally succumbed in November.
Q: United We Stand, America, which is Ross Perot's new non-profit organization, is asking people for $15 a year in dues. What is a non-profit corporation? How can anyone know what happens to the millions of dollars collected?
A: The primary legal distinction is that whatever money a non-profit corporation generates in excess of expenses must go to an entity other than an individual. Whether Perot's group would come under Federal Election Commission rules depends on which activities it undertakes. If it is raising money to influence the election of a clearly identified candidate, it must register with the FEC and adhere to regulations concerning how much can be spent and to whom the money would go. United We Stand apparently does not consider itself such a group; it has not registered with the FEC. The watchdog over such a group is ultimately the Internal Revenue Service.