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Viewpoint The Battalion Friday Texas A&M University , March 9, 1979 Soviet ‘soft stick’ move a Carter win By HELEN THOMAS UPI White House Reporter WASHINGTON — Backstairs at the White House: Word has seeped out that President Carter got tough and recently told Soviet Ambassador Anatoli Dobrynin the strategic arms limitation talks would be jeopordized if the Kremlin persisted in charging U.S. collusion with China on the invasion of Vietnam. It was learned Carter told Dobrynin the United States had nothing to do with Pek ing’s decision to launch the border inva sion and that there was no truth to playing a “China card.” The message apparently got through, and American officials noted with satisfac tion that when Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev delivered a major address a day Washington Window or so later, he did not make the same ac cusations against the United States. The SALT treaty is expected to be com pleted in the next few weeks, and a sum mit could take place this spring. Brezhnev does not want 5 to,cQme to.die United States, but Carter is adamarit. It’s Brezhnev’s turn to make the journey, and Carter has no plans to go to Moscow. “That’s the way it’s going to have to be,” said one official. Meanwhile, officials are saying only slight differences remain in the negotia tions but indicate they require a little more give on the Soviet side. The president’s trip to Egypt has evoked some quips from reporters who re call that Hamilton Jordan attained some celebrity with a wisecrack at the Egyptian ambassador’s wife during a dinner party. After staring at her cleavage, he said, “Now I’ve seen the twin pyramids.” “Now Ham will see the real pyramids,” said one newsman. The president has decided to hold a town meeting in Elk City, Okla., instead of attending a Gridiron Dinner in Wash ington on the evening of March 24. Carter has been to previous gridiron dinners, where members satirize the foi bles of politicians in song. Like most pres idents, the longer they’re in office, the less funny it is to be the target of the barbed humor of reporters, even though the Gridiron claims it “singes but never burns.” Nevertheless, Mrs. Carter is being asked to take over the speaking chores on the night of the white-tie Gridiron Dinner, and she will be lampooned only lightly in song. The first lady recently revealed she is much more “political” than her husband. She said he makes his decisions on “what is right” with not first thinking of the polit ical implications. Mrs. Carter also seems to enjoy the tough game of politics and will be hitting the road more often in the days to come, starting with the traditional Democratic Jefferson-Jackson day dinners. Mrs. Carter has also been very much involved in the Middle East peace pro cess. She stayed at Camp David through out the 13-day summit last September, re turning to the White House only briefly, and once flew back to the mountaintop re treat in a driving rain. She has also become good friends with Aliza Begin and Jihan Sadat as their hus bands have been involved in the continu ing rounds of peace talks. ' But when it comes to decision-making, Mrs. Carter is making her voice heard more and more with her husband. On the female front, Mrs. Carter also is playing a strong role as a special member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Women. She gets along with Sarah Weddington, Midge Costanza’s replace ment as chief women’s adviser at the White House, and they are working to gether to promote the Equal Rights Amendment. But they both feel it’s an uphill battle, convincing nearly all-male legislatures that ERA should be ratified. But with the tough women’s libbers out of the White House, even the magnolia touch does not seem to be working. The sign-up list for the president’s Mideast trip was nearly filled on the first day of the announcement, displaying the huge media interest in the journey. Two planeloads of press were filled, and had the White House permitted it, proba bly more reporters and cameramen would have signed up. Reflections No Aggie gag prize Texas A&M University was recently awarded the Southwest Confer ence Sportsmanship Award. This is the first time in 31 years that the Aggies have won the award; some say it is because of Texas A&M’s end less rivalry with the University of Texas. But the award is nothing to be laughed at. In a conference as fiercely competitive as the SWC, good sportsmanship is sometimes a rarity. And Texas A&M should be a leader in sportsmanship, as well as striving to be a leader in all disciplines. Not too many people know the sportsmanship league exists. It is com posed of three representatives from each of the nine SWC schools. A few years back the organization dissipated because it was hard to coordinate the spread-out committee. But slowly the group has been formed again. Their actions aren’t very apparent; they do little things like working to control the fans through the yell leaders and the band. It’s not really that important who wins the annual sportsmanship award, or that an award is given. And it may be a little idealistic to think that a group of 27 “sportsman ship” league representatives can do much to control their packs of college fans. But the theory behind the league is good, and should be applauded. Foreign predicament predicting $ business By LeROY POPE UPI Business Writer NEW YORK — Political instability means expensive grief for business everywhere but it has enabled Lawrence Bloom to create an unusual and profitable business. Bloom, a Syracuse University graduate, took a job with a research firm that was doing a contract job for the State Depart ment working out computer models to be used in executing foreign policy. He discovered in the course of this work that most companies, even the biggest, could not find adequate ways to analyze and forecast the political stability of coun tries where they want to establish plants or engage in big operations. So he created International Political Surveys, Inc., of Hartsdale, N.Y., to re medy the situation. Bloom said it has taken two and a half years to get the firm going. He believes it is unique in the United States but the prestigious firm that publishes the Economist in England has been providing a somewhat similar serv ice. Bloom has a full-time staff of ten and about 100 consultants scattered around the world. They make computer models and analyze them to predict the political risks for companies that want to engage in ventures abroad. The bread and butter business is custom analysis. For example, the firm is pres ently engaged in making an eight-year forecast of political conditions in a Middle Eastern country where an investment company is considering a $100 million venture for certain client companies. “Naturally we will get a very good fee for this job,” Bloom said. But Bloom’s firm also gets good prices for its noncustomized surveys. It publishes a 32-page monthly periodical with a sub scription price of $1,150 a year. This is a current review and political forecast of conditions in 60 countries. A much more ambitious venture is a quarterly with much more in-depth studies of about 15 countries to sell for $22,500 a year. There are no subscribers to it this year, but Bloom is confident there will be. One of the fascinating things his firm has done is to create a great index of the politi cal instability risks for companies investing in foreign arbitration. Assigning an arbitrary level of zero to the United States, Bloom and his re searchers calculate the extra return on in vestment over and above normal return for a given industry and over and above inflation that should be earned in the country as a hedge against the possible costs of political turmoil. For example, six months ago IPS was advising firms they needed to earn 8.9 percent on an investment in Iran as a hedge against the fall of the Shah on top of all other return on investment. Right now, IPS is advising a 7.9 percent extra yield on investments in Turkey as a hedge against political instability. The figure for Britain is 2.8 percent by contrast despite the op position to Prime Minister Callaghan’s wage controls. Bloom said his firm’s research team on any given country will include an ex-U.S. government employee and a university professor, both familiar with the country, and a native of the country with political and economic background. This team then will draw on the skills of those of IPS’s 100 consultants to make the detailed analysis. Bloom said some of the losses American firms are experiencing in Iran could have been averted or at least partly offset by his firm’s services. Readers’ Forum Guest viewpoints, in addition to Letters to the Editor, are welcome. All pieces submitted to Readers’ forum should be: • Typed triple space • Limited to 60 characters per line • Limited to 100 lines Letters to the Editor Military prof’s actions deserve praise Editor: After having become acquainted with (some) of the facts and opinions regarding the cheating incident which led to the notice of reprimand to Capt. Joseph McNabb, I feel compelled to agree pub licly with The Battalion editorial position that a commendation would be more ap propriate. Given the facts as I see them, (which is slightly more than those printed in your article. Battalion, March 7), I can only hope that Col. Durham reconsiders his ac tion and withdraws the damaging docu ment from the file of the professor. Capt. McNabb apparently acted in a highly professional and ethical manner in every way. His devotion to both the Air Force and Texas A&M are evident in every action. When his attempt to use the correct chain of command failed (for what ever reason) his high moral standards would not permit him to dismiss the inci dent. Instead of acting as an Air Force officer, he chose the role of former student and professor to achieve what he saw as jus tice. For his concern for this school and the Air Force the captain now stands an excellent chance of losing everything he has strived for in his 10 years of service. This, I cannot agree with and that is why I am writing now. This action by the mili tary can only demean it and Texas A&M, as well as ruining the career of a fine indi vidual. Admittedly, this letter is written with only some of the facts revealed, but the consequences of the reprimand are seri ous, and the official position will probably not be revealed until after spring break. Since the Air Force doesn’t take a spring break, an immediate decision was neces sary. I am certainly looking forward to hearing the whole story and I firmly be lieve that the facts will justify both Capt. McNabb’s actions and my whole-hearted support of same. Gig ’em. — Thomas E. Muschalek, ’79 Top of the News CAMPUS Ethanol to he commercial product Ethanol will be commercially produced from common sugar crops at less than $1 per gallon within four years, says Edward Lipinsky, senior research leader of the Battelle Memorial Institute of Ohio, Lipinsky addressed a special colloquium committee here Thursday in the Texas A&M Soil and Crop Sciences Department. Ethanol, or ethyl anhydrous alcohol, makes up 10 percent of gasohol, with un leaded gasoline being the other 90 percent. Ethanol is the same type of alcohol used in making vodka. Lipinsky said ethanol production from sugar crops holds potential not only as a gasoline extender but also as a second cash crop for farmers. STATE House abolishes ‘slush fund' Bee slew ( dty’s nisser he fir Ron /olun ix ou loss hem. )bstae The he o) V&M. >det Jnive The Texas House Thursday abolished what one member called a slush fund in the secretary of state’s office, and put a lid on the amount that agency can charge for special handling of applications for corporate charters. Representatives overwhelmingly approved an amendment by Rep. Charles Evans, D-Fort Worth, placing a $10 ceiling on fees charged for the corporation charter handling. It also required the money be channeled through the regular appropriation process rather than be kept in a special fund over which the Legisla ture had no control. Evans said Secretary of State George Strakejr. had reduced the size of his appropriations request for funds from the Legislature, but had sought passage of the bill allowing his office to charge unlimited fees. “What he (Strake) is doing is what no other office in the state is allowed to do, and thatqs set up a slush fund for operation of the office,” Evans said. The House adopted Evans’ amendment by a 118-15 vote, then finally approved the fee billon voice vote. It now returns to the Senate, where it passed earlier with little opposition. itl ip The pen f Open meetings violations charged Three Texas Tech University students, all staffers for the college newspaper, have filed suit alleging officials of the Lubbock County Hospital District have violated the state Open Meetings and Open Public Records Laws. The suit charges that LCHD directors had at least six closed sessions without publicly citing the section of the Open Meetings Law governing executive meetings. Under the law, the presiding officer of a governmental body is required to announce publicly that a closed session will be held and to cite the relevant law authorizing such a session. Plaintiffs Tod Robberson, Janet Warren and Gary Skrehart also charge that on 13 occasions the LCHD filled to post an agenda at least 72 hours before a regular meeting or two hours before an emergency meeting, as required by law, and said there was voting in closed sessions. The plaintiffs’ petition further alleges that LCHD directors violated the Open Meetings Law by voting in closed session. NATION Carter selects district judges President Carter announced Thursday he has nominated two men to new judgeship posts in Texas and Arkansas. Carter nominated George P. K^azen of Laredo for U.S. district judge of the Southern District of Texas. Kazen is the nephew of Rep. Abraham Kazen, D-Texas, and son of E.J. Kazen, a judge in Laredo. And William Ray Overton of Little Rock was nominated for U.S. district judge of the Eastern District of Arkansas. The judgeships were among those created by the last Congress. he u ipril ( Fili )0StS ilarch ee. Stuc ng for lied f< lecth Posi —cl -y -R -0 ion; -g' —st The )ers ( ind fi\ i min 1.5 at Ither purer A m for th ment ] tions. spent candit electii Any tiono by th room Centc HA. Council outlines price guidelines The Carter administration announced Thursday it will strengthen efforts to monitor price activity by companies. The announcement was made a few hours after the Labor Department reported that wholesale prices surged by 1 percent in February as food and gasoline costs rose sharply. The wholesale price increase was “far too high, said Alfred Kahn, chairman of the Council on Wage and Price Stabil ity. He said there are “several” companies that are in violation of President Carter’s price guidelines and they will be notified within 10 days that they are not in compliance. The firms will have another 10 days to respond to the council’s allegations before their names are made public, Kahn said. WORLD Showdown to decide Amin s fate A two-pronged Tanzanian invasion force Thursday drove unop posed toward the Ugandan capital of Kampala and a showdown battle with Idi Amin’s demoralized army to decide the fate of the dictator. Meanwhile, Ugandan exiles in surrounding nations petitioned Libyan strongman Col. Moammar Khadafy to halt his “gross and flagrant” interference in Uganda and withdraw his military support from Amin. Khadafy sent some 1,000 troops to bolster Amin’s tottering regime and a Libyan “air bridge” supply of weapons and gasoline supplies continued to pour into Entebbe International Airport. Tanks were parked in the main city square, anti-aircraft guns dotted the city’s many hills and the newly arrived Libyan troops reportedly were encamped in positions three miles to the south. WEATHER Partly cloudy through Saturday with a slight chance of show ers or thundershowers Saturday. High today near 80, low early Saturday mid-40’s. The Battalion; LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to being cut to that length or less if longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed, show the address of the writer and list a telephone number for verification. Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor, The ‘ Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 77843. Represented nationally by National Educational Adver tising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday from September through May except during exam and holiday periods and the summer, when it is published on Tuesday through Thursday. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester; $33.25 per school year; $35.00 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 77843. United Press International is entitled exclusively to the "use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. Second-Class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Ki® 1 ! Managing Editor Liz^ Assistant Managing Editor .Andy"'] Sports Editor David City Editor Scott PenWI Campus Editor News Editors Debbie I Beth Calhoun Staff Writers . Karen Rogers. I Patterson, Sean Petty, J Blake, Dillard Stone g Bragg, Lyle Lovett, H Taylor Cartoonist Dougt Photo Editor Lee Roy Lescbpj Photographer Lynn Focus section editor Gary'MB s Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of the University administration or the Board of Regents. The Battalion is a non-pro! 1 supporting enterprise operated btjs as a university and community netfl Editorial policy is determined bythi f
