February 8, 1994 – CBS World News Roundup – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
February 8, 1994 – A busy day for newsrooms. The Odyssey of the Tailhook scandal was continuing – this time, a military judge in Norfolk, Virginia concluded that the Navy’s top Admiral had witnessed nudity and “conduct unbecoming” at the infamous 1992 Tailhook Convention in Las Vegas. After a brief ruling earlier this day, Captain William Vest, the judge in the Tailhook convention scandal, dismissed all charges against Commanders Thomas Miller, Gregory Tritt and Lieutenant David Samples. Capt. Vest ruled that Navy Admiral Frank Kelso Chief of Naval Operations was present at the third floor of the Las Vegas Hilton where the alleged incidents took place, therefore disqualifying Kelso as a convening authority in the case. Capt. Vest’s ruling was expected to be appealed.
And in Malibu – the quip “Sudden California” earned its verbal wings again – this time mudslides, triggered by the on-going rain which was pelting the coast turned otherwise bucolic neighborhoods into seas of mud and washed-away homes and businesses. Even the legendary Pacific Coast Highway was turned into a mud-submerged parking lot as mansions perched above the scenic thoroughfare began their inevitable slide along with mountains of rock and debris, making the road impassible and stranding thousands of residents. All this, on top of riots, earthquakes and fires – Sudden California remained true to its nickname. And there was no end in sight.
Also with no end in sight was the ongoing situation in Bosnia. Serb gunners around Sarajevo took a break, but Serb tanks had been reported pounding Tuzla, while Muslims and Croats were battling around Vitez in Central Bosnia. Politically, hardline Bosnian-Croat leader Mate Boban had resigned. NATO leaders were expected to meet the following day on the call for airstrikes by both the UN Secretary General and the European Union. To flex its muscle, France was ordering its aircraft carrier Foche to waters off the former Yugoslavia. President Clinton was said to favor airstrikes if the Serbs persisted in shelling Sarajevo and refused to pull back their 500 artillery pieces around the city. For all the noise and movement, Bosnia’s vice-President Ejup Ganic was dubious the west would actually make good on their threats.
All that, and a lot more for this February 8, 1994 as reported by The CBS World News Roundup.
