The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, January 15, 1980, Image 2

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    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
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Washington Star Syndicate.
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The Battalion
USPS 045 360
LETTERS POLICY
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subject to beinff cut to that length or less if longer. The
editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and dot’s
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number for verification.
Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor, The
Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building. College
Station, Texas 77843.
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hrough Thursday.
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school year; $35.00 per full year. Advertising rates furnished
tin request. Address: The Battalion, Room 216, Reed
McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 77843.
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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,”
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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]