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r!i» •'AVW ashington merry-go-round%vX*oJL• IiXlt; h’^anized crime war faltersi iA*By JACK ANDERSONWASHINGTON - A confidential study by the General Accounting Office (GAO) charges tersely that “the war on organized crime is faltering.” The rackets continue to flourish across America, according to the study, despite federal attempts to crack down on the mob.The study lays most ofthe blame on the federalstrike forces, which spearhead the national effort to disrupt organized crime. The strike forces, states the study, “a re not gettin g the job done.At the same time, thestrike forces have come under intensive fire inside the Justice Dept. Critics have accused them of subverting the judicial processes and abusing tneir powers. In their zeal, some task forces ahave hounded and harassed suspects who couldn’t be convicted.*»wAsst. Atty. Gen. Richard Thornburgh, the conscientious chief of the Justice Dept.’s criminal division , has had misgivings about the strike forces ‘ in St. Louis and New Orleans. He also put the New Jersey strike force under U.S. Attorney Jonathan Goldstein’s jurisdiction.Finally, Thornburgh removed the respected William Lynch as head of the organized crime section, which oversees the strike forces. Lynch was compelled to trade places with Kurt Muellenberg, who had been running the narcoticssection.These developmentsave sent shock waves reverberating through the organized crime section. Inside sources have told us that morale on the strike forces is at an all-time low. There is concern that more strike forces may be disbanded.Muellenberg has paid quiet calls on several strikeforces to allay the apprehension. He told us he would never have taken thejob if he had thoughtThornburgh was trying to ki 11 the strike forces.Yet the malaise remains. We interviewedseveral strike force investigators. Most complained about a lack of communication between Washingtonand the fie Id. Others suspected thee motives of those who are trying to curb the strike forces.Some strike force prosecutors are thinking about leaving the Justice Dept, to go into private practice. Others have simply adopted a “wait and see” attitude.At the last meeting between Thornburgh and the strike force chiefs, we havelearned, Thornburgh wasnot responsive to their complaints. The confidential GAO study also claims thefightcrimeagainst organized lacks organization and direction.In a lengthy discussion with our associate Marc Smolonsky, Thornburghconceded that organized crime is proliferating and that federal opposition should be better organized. But he challenged the GAO’s auditing methods as a reliable measure of the Justice Dept.’s effectiveness in combating the mob.He also blamed the American people for the growth of organized crime.It will “continue to flourish,” he warned, “until the American citizenry chooses to withdraw its patronage from these multimillion-dollar sources of income, influence and power.As evidence that the Jus-forces aren’t focusing on the important organized crime cases as they should.fttice Dept, is not soft on organized crime, he pointed out that six of the most powerful Mafia bosses from Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York City and St. Louis are now behind federal bars.Thornburgh agreed, nevertheless, that the strike“Even where prosecutions ultimately result inconvictions,” he said, “the cost is often high in terms of the attitude of judges and members of the bar.”He had received complaints from judges and U.S. attorneys alike, he said, “about inept performances by strike force attorneys.”is/i Dr. Brotherskeeping your headBy DR. JOYCE BROTH ERSDEAR DR. BROTHERSA fire broke out in a restaurant where we were eating dinner and my boyfriend panicked. I didn’t. He was too embarrassed to talkabout it and didn’t call me for 10 days. Then I finally broke the silence by calling him. His reaction didn't bother me. For some reason, I seem to function wellin a crisis. I just don’t lose my head. I don’t look on it as a virtue, but I would like to know why I’m not thrown by emergencies. —T.P.Dear T.P.: There arebasically two responses tofear — fight or flight. Dr. Anne Phillips, vice president of the Fire, Smoke and Burn Foundation of Boston, has added another: denial of the potential danger.Those who deny the possibility of danger actually slow dowrn plans for prevention and protection by their attitude. Even at the actual crisis level some people simply fail to accept and face the danger.All of us, in an emergency, will be 100 per cent ineffective for an instant. Then about 25 per cent quickly size up the situation, control their fear and react rationally. About 50per cent perceive the situation adequately. They’re more conscious of theirfear than the first group, and are able to respond to the commands of others but probably won’t be able to take action on their own.The next 15 to 25 per cent will be so frightened, that it will be tough to get them to act at all.One way people can learn to be more effective in a crisis is by anticipating crises before they happen and planning the best action to insure safety for themselves and others. Help your friend not to betheLeisuRe cRAptsnunby Phyllis Fiarotta6. Pin the appliques in place on the base satin.7. Stitch the appliques to the base fabric around edges.8. After the appliques are stitched, lay cord over their raw edges. Sew down the cord securely. Stems and curlicues are cord. Also add cord decorations to the vase.9. Sew a dark satin border tothe top and bottom of the center square. When they are in place, sew a border to both sides of the square to accommodate not only the sides of the square but also to include the borders atthe top and bottom (see No. 1 in the diagram).10. Cut, pin and sew appliques to the border design. Outline with cord. Sew cord over theedges where two sections of applique are joined.in crisisashamed of fear. If he admits and then tries to learn to cope, he can probably overcome it. Also, reassure him that fearlessness has nothing to do with manliness.DEAR DR. BROTHERSMy 10-year-old son has been getting bad grades and he is capable of better work. His only interest seems to be play. He has a wonderful sense of humor, is full of laughter, and has more friends than any other child on our block.This may be his problem. My husband is determined our son will be a doctor so he worries about grades and I.Q. He has said he wished the boy had more brain and less humor. — F.P.Dear F.P.: When abright child does less than his best in school, he maybe reacting to too muchparental pressure. It maybe his way of saying, “Let me be myself. Don’t force me into a profession you wish you could have had.” You and vour husbandyourshould let your son discover his own talents and interests. You also should accept the possibility that he may not be suited or attracted to the medical profession.The fact that your son has so many friends indicates that he is well adjusted and has learned the very important lesson of how' to understand and get along with others. His good sense of humor indicates that he probably doesn’tTOlTh* CflffJ100% SoOutcfc on System ■TheoJ-S»2chos!Systeturecolor¥The mComp a Americ. Video F
Newspaper Details
Grand Prairie Daily News
Grand Prairie, Texas, US
Mon, Nov 22, 1976
Page 19
Full Page
Clipped by
Madison H.
NA, 26 May 2023
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