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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 7, 1980)
I I I i I I I I I ! ! I i i Opinion CIA needs power to work While not condoning the alleged abuses of the Central Intelligence Agency, we have long felt the administration and Congress have fettered the vital agency with restraints unrealistic in today’s world. Support for this position, while slow in coming, is being more frequently heard in Washington — partly in view of the crises in Iran and Afghanistan and partly because of information on Soviet Union tactics now coming to light. Details of a secret campaign conducted by the Russians — a bag full of “dirty tricks” to discredit the U.S. among its allies and other nations — were made public last week by the House Intelligence Committee. The study portrays a clandestine anti-U.S. propaganda drive that reached a peak in intensity and sophistication in 1978 and 1979, the period in which the U.S. and the Soviet Union were wrapping up a new strategic arms limitation. Heavily bankrolled by the Soviets in regard to money, manpower and equipment, the effort to create tensions between the U.S. and other countries apparently was consi dered top priority in covert operations of the KGB. What was happening to the CIA during most of this time? It was being severely chastised for not playing by the rules, held up for public ridicule and chided for not being “open” in its operations. To suggest we do not need a top-notch spy agency is absurd. To suggest that such an agency play only by the rules of the good guys is ludicrous. No intelligence agency in the world can operate publicly and be effective. It is unfortunate we had to learn the need for a strong, effective intelligence system the hard way. It is regrettable we had to reduce the CIA to shambles and learn what the KGB is doing before we could see how vital the need for our own system. Amarillo Daily News the small society by Briclcman I'/AA A UV11A& £>NLY £>N WHAT AAAKIri& — The Battalion usps LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 3(H) words and are subject to heinfi cut to that length or less if Ionizer The editorial staff reserves the rifiht 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 numbir for verification. Address correspondence to l^cttirs to the Editor. The Battalion. Room 216. Reed McDonald Building. College Station. Texas 77643. Represented nationally hy National Educational Adver tising Services. Inc.. New York City. Chicago and Los Angeles. The Battalion is published Monday through Fridas from September through May except during exam and holidax 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.(X) per hill year. Advertising rates furnished on request Address; The Battalion. Room 216. Reed McDonald Building. C Jo I lege 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. 045 360 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 Mike Burrichter Focus Editor Rhonda Watters City Editor Louie Arthur Campus Editor Diane Blake Staff Writers Nancy Andersen, Tricia Brunhart,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, Steve Clark, Ed Cunnius, 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-profit, self- supporting enterprise operated by students as a university and community newspaper. Editorial policy is determined by the editor. Viewpoint The Battalion Friday Texas A&M University March 7, 1980 Trudeau will have to fight off growing Canadian regionalism By JACK REDDEN United Press International Pierre Trudeau, elected prime minister 12 years ago on a promise of a strong central government, is likely to spend the final years of his tenure fighting a defensive ac tion against growing regionalism. The danger of Quebec separation is grea ter, not less, than it was in 1968 and that area’s demand for more autonomy from de cisions made in Ottawa has now been joined by provinces from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The tide has turned since Trudeau, a dedicated centralist, came to power on a pledge that Quebec would not get special privileges. Newfoundland’s government is deman ding Ottawa transfer control over fishing as well as off-shore natural resources. Both Newfoundland and Nova Scotia are trying to restrict jobs in oil and gas exploration to natives of the province. In the west, which elected only two Li berals to the federal government — and none west of Winnipeg — the feelings of antagonism to Ottawa are old but never stronger than at the moment. It is just a matter of time until Trudeau gets into a confrontation with Premier Pe ter Lougheed of oil-rich Alberta. Trudeau is committed to lower oil prices than those promised by the previous Con servative administration — Lougheed is adamant that Alberta will get as much re venue as the Tories promised. His threats have gone as far as cutting energy supplies to other provinces. On the west coast, British Columbia Pre mier William Bennett unveiled his govern ment’s new budget with an endorsement of national unity but a warning for Ottawa and central Canada. “British Columbians today,’’ he said, “have little more representation in many of the central institutions that govern the acti vities of Canada than our forebears did in 1871 when the united colony of British Col umbia entered Confederation.” It is ironic that Trudeau, the man who went to Ottawa to stop Quebec turning inward, should be prime minister when the regions of Canada are increasingly deman ding changes in the traditional power sharing that appear to be erecting barriers between provinces. The predominant strength of central Canada has been unchallenged for a cen tury. There was grumbling in the past ab out the economic structure, which pro vided high tariffs to force the purchase of Ontario and Quebec’s manufactured goods. Now the demand for a change is being backed by the one irresistible force — the growing economic power of Canada’s for merly backward and dependent regions. Oil has turned Alberta into the weal thiest of the country’s 10 provinces. New foundland is still Canada s poorest province but is confident the exploratory wells off the main island will prove there is enough oil and gas to go the same direction. Nova Scotia looks to the treacherous wind-swept sands of Sable Island to give the energy-poor province the natural gas it needs — and of course fights for sole juris diction over the seabed mineral resources that Trudeau wants to share. Trudeau spoke repeatedly against this rising regionalism and the Conservative endorsement of it during his 1979 election campaign but almost ignored the subject until very near the Feb. 18 vote that re turned him to power. “Canada is not a 'community of com munities' where a lot of little feudal states try to get together to give some power to the national government, " Trudeau said of the previous Conservative government’s view of Canada. “The people of Canada want to vote in this election to say clearly that they want a government which will govern for the whole country, not for one province against the other, not for onepartajjt other. They did — and they didn’t ( )ntario, which most agree hast most during the last century(rtr/m nomic framework of the sparsely J nation and now needs westemoijjJ, back to Trudeau. But clearly the western reWlv Trudeau at least partly reflects^ ion of the Quebec native’s viewtf^H unity — a mood also apparent \ incial governments that fightwiaE receive strong support. Trudeau in the past has beenuav give the provinces what theyaskdr ;’ although many think he is now:-- ciliatory, in his speech on thenigkH returned to power he talkedofil central government. I'nder the constitutionOttawaa.., rule provinces for the nationalgyrlfe has been hinted in the past on mattyi as Alberta's threat tocutoffener|)r® in order to get world prices. ButusJ powers without popular support extremely dangerous. Like it or not, Trudeau willprokk; on the defensive in his final term,®/ fend off the growing regionalvoifl minimi/e the flow of powertopiJll go\ ei mnents until the pendulum ml 1 Jt ne an to dr st; th th dr th se 2 4 € me the A& Cl oh Letters Government by people, not computer Editor: I am writing in response to the “Compu ter may aid marriages” article in March 5th’s Battalion. This article deals with plans for computers that would aid people in making decisions in areas such as voting and marriage, a “... kind of mass produc tion of intelligence, ...,” as the sociologist developing the program calls it. The very idea of such functions being carried out by a computer abhors me, as it should any individual concerned with pre serving freedom and morality in society. Can decisions made through a computer’s “analytical thinking” involve morals and basic human rights? And, if so, who is to program these ideas into a computer? I’m not in any way saying I’m against computers. They are invaluable in almost every facet of our culture. But there exist certain decisions, (about things like politics and marriage), which should be made by human brain, however “muddled” it is with feelings and emotions. According to the article, cheap versions of computer prog rams to “relieve” our minds of such deci sions could be on the market within five years. The idea certainly is tempting, as it appeals to the laziness and self-doubt in almost everyone. But we must always keep in mind that ours is a government “of the people, for the people, by the people” — not computer. Kathy Johnston Women’s team happy Editor: The views exuressed in Wednesday’s let ter column (“Soccer Ignored”) concerning the men’s soccer team do not reflect the views of the Texas A&M women’s soccer team. We do appreciate the support we have received from the Intramural Depart ment, the Battalion staff, and the student body. As an extramural club, we are the reigning state champs representing Texas A&M University. With the backing we have received, and with thecontal port, our level of competition cane crease. President Donna Elk 1 F Coach Alan Hi* ■ Correction Three students were misidentifel picture appearing on page lofH®l Battalion. The cadet doingpushuOT Giebel, and seniors Stuart Sasseras : | man Linkenhoger are members!? pany B-l. Thotz By Doug Graham I HCPE UR. CLDIVilGS' MANOSOUPT IS SHORT. I ME GOT To CHAIMGE 3 UORTS (M OGK PHM SlGS H. BOOK SO UdE CAM PRIMT A SE.G0MD EDITION that will. HAUL To our AT AM E\JEN HIGHER PR\ TRAM \TUE CASA DMC. WHfcM The MANMJ5CB1PT REACHES ITS XiesrfA/ATIOwJTP SUEA2ELV 0 IMC f HOWEVER, I'll snul this \s poorly writtem IWODM^RfcHfcKJSlGLE CARCAOL