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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1980)
Slouch by Jim Earle ^8 6-%° “This is the last time Tm breaking it down and bringing it upstairs. From now on if anyone wants to steal it, he can have it. " Opinion Soviet massacre apalling The world must stand appalled at the cold-blooded mas sacre under Soviet orders that has virtually destroyed the village of Kerala in Afghanistan. An estimated 1,170 un armed male villagers, including young teen-age boys, were pitilessly shot and, while some were still alive, bulldozed into a mass grave. The facts are stark, but they have to be confronted by an international community with any pre tense to concern for ordinairy human decency let alone U human rights. 'is 3 ’ ' v • What is required is an independent official investigation by an organization such as the Red Cross or the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. No time should be lost. Recall the lingering controversy over the mass killing of Polish prisoners found buried in Katyn forest during World War II. Moscow no doubt will seek to avoid responsibility for the Kerala murders as it did for the Katyn massacre. The world should have a full accounting before the grim trail grows cold. Christian Science Monitor, Boston the small society by Brickman N^VV THAT N t£>L) / |Z& L^APK I T<2 TALK, LEHAS TKY T<2 ^n&AK “^A/AfE LAMPS'lL4<5f5 — Washington Star Syndicate. Inc. 2-3 The Battalion U S P S 045 360 LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not e xcee d 3(H) words and are- subject tee be’ing cut to that le'tigth or less if longer The e’ditorial staff re’serves the’ right to edit such letters and does neit guarantee’ to publish any letter Leech letter must he signed, show the address of the writer and list a te lepheene number for verification. Address correspondence tee Ix’tters te> the’ Editor. The Battalion. Room 216. Reed M< Donald Building. College Station. Te xas 77H43. Represented nationally b\ National Educational Adver tising Services. Inc.. New York City. Chicago and I^>s Angeles. The Battalion is published Mondav through Fridas from .'ptember through May except during exam and holiday Periods and the summer, when it is published on Tuesday brough Thursday. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester. $33.25 per school year $35.(X) 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 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 City Editor Louie Arthur Campus Editor Diane Blake Staff Writers Nancy Andersen, Tricia Brunhart, Mike Burrichter, Angelique Copeland, Laura Cortez, Meril Edwards, Carol Hancock, Kathleen McElroy, Debbie Nelson, Richard Oliver, Tim Sager, Steve Sisney, Becky Swanson, Andy Williams Chief Photographer Lynn Blanco Photographers Lee Roy Leschper, Paul Childress, Steve Clark, Ed Cunnius Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor cyr 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-profit, self- supporting enterprise operated by students as a university and community newspaper. Editorial policy is determined by the editor. Viewpoint The Battalion Texas A&M University Friday February 8, 1980 Administration speaking with r< many tongues on foreign issues tions oi By HELEN THOMAS United Press International On the question of war and peace, the administration is beginning to speak with many voices. In his recent State of the Union Address, President Carter said “any attempt by an outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force.” When Carter s special emissary, Clark Clifford, went to India to seek solidarity in condemnation of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, he told reporters the presi dent’s declaration “means war” should there be an attack. The use of the word “war” caused a se mantical uproar. Clifford, while still abroad, was chided by Defense Secretary Harold Brown and by Secretary of State Cyrus Vance for using “over dramatic” terms. But by any other name, the danger is the same. And while Brown was criticiz ing Clifford on Capitol Hill, generals brief ing Pentagon reporters were saying the United States does not have enough con ventional forces and would have to use tac tical nuclear weapons in any Persian Gulf confrontation. Carter himself added some doubt to his strong stand when he told a group of editors Jan. 29: “I don’t think it would be accurate for me to claim that this time or in the future we expect to have enough military strength and enough military presence there to defend the area unilaterally.” Meantime, Sen. Edward Kennedy, chal lenger for the Democratic presidential nomination, says Carter has created a “war hysteria. ” istration of its young people, there is no present indication of any new dialogue or statesmanship being exerted to find out if a new cold war, much less a hot war, can be averted without compromising principles. Vance has had one Dutch uncle talk with Soviet Ambassador Anatoli Dobrynin since the envoy returned from Moscow after re lations had taken a turn for the worst. According to some of his domslifc^g^ei tical opponents, the president The ceived as a leader who falters hi decisions, leaving the impressioili does not know what he is about. or mor The president’s top advisers apparently agree that the Soviet invasion of Afghanis tan represents a new dimension in Soviet expansionism and a whole new ball game in terms of U.S.-Soviet relations. But some are more hawkish, including national security affairs adviser Zbigniew Brze- zinski. Vance appears to be toning down the confrontational aspects. But as the nation prepares for a possible conflict, with reg- Carter himself has obviously been stun ned by the Russian moves, which have all but wiped out his hopes to make the world a more peaceful place, and to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. Recently, he has studied how his prede cessors handled grave crises. He also sees a country strongly unified behind his strategy to draw a line against further incur sions by the Soviets into areas that are of “vital interest” to the Western world. In the case of the Americanl Iran, Carter has displayed the ul| patience and stubbornness. The* people appear to have accept^ approach, the main goal ofwhiclii!!;j the hostages alive. Obviously, the president is I: new President Abolhassan Banii be able to get Ayatollah Khomeini’s backing for a facesamij promise for all concerned, j the auspices of the United Natal Call: 1 lev< t the The Russians have complained that they do not understand Carter. And he un doubtedly does confound the Kremlin, which seems to prefer to deal with Amer ican hardliners, such as Richard Nixon. With two crises to juggle anl election campaign well underway, has his work cut out of him. He is pa sioner a systematic and steady course, fci told se time has probably come to ernme again where the country stands ro image where it is going in terms ofwarandp Te: Mich place regie week Shi and 5 Letters Yell leaders’ actions improper Editor: The behavior of several of the yell lead ers at the basketball games this season has been improper and out of character for such a respectable position. These men were elected with the confidence that they would perform their duties in an exemplary manner; however, their conduct has fallen short and should be corrected. I suggest they continue to remain in the role of generating enthusiasm from the crowd and leave the display of basketball shooting to the athletes. I much prefer being enter tained by skilled athletes and Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band than a yell leader and a group of neighborhood kids who now feel it’s their privilege to misuse the facilities. We show respect by keeping people off Kyle Field; let’s keep off the floor of G. Rollie. Ken Poenisch CS attitude shocking Editor: I am still in shock after reading about the City of College Station’s regarding Texas A&M University’s Ambulance Service. Our elected public officials could not have demonstrated a more irresponsible lack of insight and leadership. After sifting through the rhetoric, the basic conflict seems to be one the lost revenue — not service. Perhaps by following Bryan’s lead and working with the University instead of against it, service could be improved for everyone. As a citizen of College Station I feel appalled at the behavior of our Mayor and City Councilmen. As an off-campus Aggie, I feel cheated out of a fine service provided by my school. As a charter mem ber of the TAMU Emergency Care Team, I am deeply insulted and offended. I know many of the present members personally and can attest to their exhaustive training and extensive experience. Many of them have gone on to be accepted into Medical School. As for having “hot rodders running around” and “trying to play EMT”; the absurdity of these claims warrants no furth er mention. But in spite of this, they want us to back them up! Ifl remember correct ly, back when Mr. Sherrill wanted out of the ambulance business the City wanted nothing to so with it. Now that they are in that business they don’t want anyone musc ling on their territory. I challenge every student and citizen to call or write our Mayor and City Councilmen to let them know where we, their constituents, stant on this issue. In the meantime, if I m in jured at home I’ll call the University Ambu lance for a “non-emergency (transfer) run. ” Kyle C. Akers ’82 MS II Orin H. Lindberg MSII Bill Brady MSII Claine Miller MSI Love it or understand Editor: This letter is in response to Mr. Jimmy Orr’s letter in The Battalion of January 31. Tm sure that there are many Aggies out there who have grown up with the slogan, “America, love it or leave it.” There is im plicit within this slogan a neccess! choose between these two altenx. namely loving our nation or leaving# ] means that if you love it, you won’t fe '- and if you leave it, you don’t love it. li iJ don’t love it, then you obviously halti you go to war, you have to leave# 1 therefore you must hate it. Soifyoulo' 11 you won ’t even consider leaving it, W leaving it is proof that you hate it. llT only ones fighting for it will be theoBti' 1 hate it, and I don’t want people whoki to fight for it. Is IT vague, Mr. On! Make no mistake, there are t choices. But, if you are the model you would have us believe you are, you have no choice whatsoever. Ob# to people like you, the only purpose draft is to provide a clandestine avei# escape from your rightful duty on 0# shores. So away with you, and if you IB necessary to reply, please don’t be v#; . David Stewa# Peter Gilrooi* Steve I THOTZ LETs 60 PLAX so 1*6 -TE-NNUS. HOW COKE? H0U W6«£ R'JN MaMPAY. —,rr cart STUX- IURT By Doug Grab