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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 1980)
IRAN ’^AFGHANISTAN arr\ Opinion Immediate action needed by US in Afghani-Soviet crisis The presence of Soviet troops in Afghanistan appears to be the most blatant show of military force by any superpower in recent years. More that the takeover of Poland, the Soviet attack and occupation of Afghanistan, coupled with the build-up of Russian troops on the Afghani border with Iran is a show of might for the Third World and Western Europe to see. The Soviets are telling the word they are the most powerful military force on the planet. The Soviet attack also spells a rather abrupt end to detente. As a result, what the United States does in the next few weeks and months will be of utmost importance. President Carter needs to act as quickly and as firmly as possible. The economic sanctions already in effect are not going to do the trick. There are enough nations in the world who are sympathetic to the Soviet cause and who have been shut out of the international trading world for years who are willing to do business with the Soviets. On the other hand, military force directly against the Soviets is too firm. The problem can be solved without shedding American lives. A show of force, such as the movement of American forces into the area or an announcement establishing military bases in countries such as Israel or Egypt that have already expressed interest in such installations, rather than letting Soviet imperialism go unchecked, an attempt at calling the Soviet’s bluff would be a rude awakening for the Kremlin. the small society by Brickman ^ AT fKic&S X CAti 6>NLY/4FR?f2P LA^ - Washington Star Syndicate. /-/S The Battalion USPS 045 360 LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 3(X) words and are subject to beinff cut to that length or less if longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and dot’s 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. Hie Battalion is published Monday through Friday from September through May except during exam and holiday X'riods and the summer, when it is published on Tuesday hrough Thursday. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester; $33.25 per school year; $35.00 per full year. Advertising rates furnished tin 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. 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 MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor. Roy Bragg Associate Editor Keith Taylor News Editor Rusty Cawley Asst. News Editor Karen Cornelison Copy Editor Dillard Stone Sports Editor Tony Gallucci Focus Editor Rhonda Watters Senior City Reporter Louie Arthur Senior Campus Reporter Diane Blake General Assignment Reporters Richard Oliver and Andy Williams Staff Writers Nancy Andersen, Tricia Brunhart, Mike Burrichter, Angelique Copeland, Laura Cortez, Meril Edwards, Carol Hancock, Kathleen McElroy, Debbie Nelson, Steve Sisney, Robin Thompson Chief Photographer Lynn Blanco Photographers Lee Roy Leschper, Sam Stroder Regents. The Battalion is a non-profit, self- supporting enterprise operated by students as a university and community newspaper. Editorial policy is determined by the editor. Viewpoint it The Battalion Texas A&M University Tuesday January 15, 1979 Say,...bya»ychance.isthetie Saneplace nearby where wt could some gas?.. Inninj oldi 1(3 pt US longshoremen rival State Department in political clout By DICK WEST Citizens who had thought of dock work only in terms of loading and unloading ships may have been surprised to learn last week that longshoremen have their own foreign policy. The diplomatic aspects of stevedoring became evident in the unilateral move by the International Longshoremen’s Associa tion to cut off all trade with Russia. I say “unilateral’’ because the ILA’s fore ign policy is in a faster lane than the U.S. government’s foreign policy. Whereas the U.S. government’s embar go also applied to the shipment of 17 tons of grain and certain high technology items, the I LA boycott covered all cargo to and from the Soviet Union. When I first heard of the I LA action, I attempted to reach the organization’s sec retary of state to inquire what he intended to do about the situation in Iran. But to no avail. At the time, I understand, he was on the ILA hot line trying to negotiate for the use of bases in the Persian Gulf area. So I had to settle for going down on the waterfront and talking with a group of workers who gave their names as Marlon, Karl, Rod, Lee J. and Eva Marie. I don’t pretend they were typical. No thing much is unloaded on the wharf here except hard-shelled crabs from Che sapeake Bay. However, the workers I met on the piers assured me that being confined to an inland river port did not relieve them of the responsibility of making foreign poli cy decisions. “That is probably the toughest part of a waterfront job,” Marlon, a husky young man in a torn T-shirt, remarked. Karl, an older man with a nose you wouldn’t believe, nodded agreement. “I’ve been involved in waterfront foreign policy ever since the days of the two-China debate, but it doesn’t get any easier,’’ he said. Lee J., whose gruff voice articulated keen perceptions of world affairs, said the waterfront’s hard line response to the Afghanistan crisis in part reflected a sense of frustration over the ILA’s continued ina bility to free the hostages in Iran. “If I had my druthers, the union would stop shipments of foodstuffs tolebrn revoke diplomatic recognition«( Khomeini regime,” he growled. Rod, surly and belligerent, onlysli his feet, cast dark looks and mutteredi telligibly. But Eva Marie, a bright) 1 woman and quite a looker, quest whether the waterfront could go it “Much depends on whether the 111 persuade its allies in other unionstoi economic sanctions of their own,” SAN |Rt TEX/ |51 co THE ch Jei MIC1 I 20 0RA1 au' tiv au< or STAT drivers: the 8 “If, for example, union taxi refusing to carry passengers to embassy here, or to pick up Ru: U. N. headquarters in New York, thi go a long way toward bringing them knees.” THOTZ By Doug Graham CALL ME SEXIST IF YOU WANT,... Letters Aggie spirit lives on, ‘Old’ Ag writes Editor: About a month ago I was in College Sta tion to take in the Bonfire and watch the A&M - tu football game. I was in the stands supporting the Fightin’ Texas Aggie foot ball team, and I was thrilled with the 13-7 verdict. While there, I happened to come across a Thursday, November 29, 1979 issue of the “The Battalion”. During my reading of it, I spotted an article in Reader’s Forum on page three, and it was written by Mr. Hank Wahrmund. The article concerned Aggie spirit and his chastisement of Aggie supporters, pri marily students and alumni. The story sounds familiar. My fish year in the Corps I heard seniors talking about “Ole Army” dying, and each year it died a little bit more while I was obtaining my degree in Mecha nical Engineering and Reserve Commis sion in the Army. We all remember back about “the good ole days” and how the present can’t compare to them, even though time moves on and things change. I have always been proud of the spirit exhi bited by Aggies and their actions at about any event I have ever been at. Several times this year I have been as impressed as in the past years with the spirit shown at A&M football games. A lot was expected of the Texas A&M football team in a conference seen by many as the most balanced and the strongest in recent years. There were both disappoint ments and thrills, such as the victories over Penn State up there and tu, this year. After the disappointing loss to Texas Tech, a cou ple from Tech came over to where a buddy and I were at, among A&M supporters, and they said they couldn’t understand the spir it shown by A&M fans during and after the game. Following probably the most dis appointing loss of the season — to Houston at Kyle Field — the spirit shown during and following the game by Aggie fans was most impressive. That same kind of Aggie spirit was exhibited when A&M hosted both Arkansas and tu. However, spirit should never be an excuse to show poor taste, lower ourselves to other’s standards, or tarnish the high standards and historic heritage of Texas A&M University. Each time a team representing Texas event! A&M enters into any type of event, I will support them to my u| At the same time I will be realistic the conditions surrounding the Wahrmund I applaud your attend: cord of 82 out of the last 85 football that being the case. Based on the spirit that has been exhibited so Aggie students, alumni, and sup) the “Twelfth Man” and the rem Aggie spirit are still very much a well. It is said it takes one that is with certain actions to use those s tions to describe others. Don’t shortcomings of some be put on or on the large majority of Aggies exhibit and take pride in the Aggie — Paul contei ivho! Scott]