BLUE HELMET COURT MARTIAL BEGINS

Army medic Michael New was arraigned in a U.S. Army court for refusing to wear U.N. insignia with his uniform. New was to be sent to Macedonia to be part of a U.N. peacekeeping force but remained in Germany after refusing to wear the U.N.'s blue helmet and armband. He has said that it is illegal to wear a U.N. uniform or serve under U.N. authority because he swore to uphold only the U.S. Constitution and government. If the Army court agrees, New's case could strengthen the cause of Congressmen who oppose putting U.S. troops under U.N. command. But because the fundamental issue is one of obeying orders, Pentagon correspondent Mark Thompson says the Army is unlikely to side with New. "The Army can't agree with his reasoning. The first rule of the Army is that you have to obey orders. Even if one is sympathetic to New's argument, to accede to this would be the beginning of the end for the military. If I'm in command of a number of people, when I give an order I have to know that it will be carried out. This can't be negotiable, or the Army would fall apart." Testimony in the trial is expected to begin in January.