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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 1983)
Page 2/rhe Battalion/Wednesday, April 6,1983 opinion Forum productive, but needs polish The MSC Endowed Lecture Series in augural address, “The Future of the Western Alliance,” presented a unique opportunity for Texas A&M. It is not often that such well-known, experienced and influential people visit our campus. The lecture series committee should be commended for its efforts. After sev eral cancellations from moderators, they did a good job in getting Marvin Kalb, a capable, articulate moderator. In addition to the lecture series com mittee, former President Gerald Ford, former British Prime Minister Edward Heath and former West German Ghan- cellor Helmut Schmidt also deserve thanks. Having the three men meet in such settings and share the wealth of their experiences was valuable for Texas A&M and the Western Alliance. But, even with the success of the forum, the lecture series committee will no doubt learn from some of the mistakes it made, including a biography in the program that referred to Kalb as Ber nard Kalb. The committee also needs to improve its dealings with the press. There were constant mix-ups in times and places in regard to access to the men. In some cases, our photographers got better cooperation from the Secret Service agents. Other local media expressed similar difficulties. The idea of the series is a valuable one, and it should be continued. We hope bet ter preparation can alleviate problems with future forums. Soviet choices and arms control policy by Robert Shepard United Press International WASHINGTON — President Reagan, as did his predecessors, has had to formulate an arms control policy in the midst of a continuing and spirited public debate about what the right course may be. Leaders of the Soviet Union are in a much different position, of course, but that does not mean they are spared equally difficult decisions. High on their list must be the question of how to deal with Ronald Reagan. The Soviets can negotiate with him seriously on arms control, or delay in the hope that political forces will force Reagan to change his stance, or they can try to wait until Reagan is out of the White House. “The Soviets have a very difficult deci sion to make in terms of strategy,” Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., a member of the Sen ate Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees, observed last week. The United States and its NATO allies are preparing to deploy 572 nuclear armed missiles in Europe begining late this year. Reagan has said that deploy ment could be delayed or limited if the Soviets agree to some reduction in their existing missile forces. Opponents of the U.S. missile deploy ment are vociferous both in the United States and in Europe, giving the Soviets hope that the West can be talked or bluf fed out of the deployment. The Soviets could decide to bank heavily on that possibility. “They can do it that way and find that resolve may be there to deploy,” Biden noted. In that case they could “lose out on any prospect of getting arms control.” They would then have to deal with the accomplished fact of NATO missiles pointed at the Soviet Union. “Or what they could do is decide it is more advantageous for them to move now with this administration,” Biden said. “If they don’t move soon, if there is not some progress soon” the there may be no chance for agreement for some time, probably not until after the 1984 pres idential election, Biden observed. “And then what do they have? They have to make a guess — Ronald Reagan runs and there is a 50-50 chance he will be re-elected again.” “I don’t think it’s as easy for them to wait and see if they can derail (deploy ment). They may find themselves in a worse position if they do that. I would suspect that it’s not nearly as simple as it may seem on the face,” Biden said. Other observers suggest a Soviet pact with the conservative Reagan administra tion would offer the Soviets more cer tainty than they could expect from a dif ferent administration. Jimmy Carter signed the SALT II treaty, but conserva tive critics raised such objections it was never submitted to the Senate for ratifi cation. It is unlikely Reagan and his nego tiators would ever be accused of giving away too much to the Soviets. If he were to give his assent to an arms treaty and submit it to the Senate, ratification would be almost assured. The situation would be similar to Richard Nixon’s decision to resume nor mal relations with China. Had a liberal Democrat — say George McGovern — tried to do the same thing, he would have touched off a political firestorm. Reagan’s congressional critics com plain he is surrounding himself with arms control advisers of a decidedly haw kish bent. If the Soviets perceive the same situation they might feel the time for an arms agreement is now, before the hard liners become any more entrenched in the administration. And despite congressional objections and efforts to slow the rise in defense spending, Reagan has managed to launch a major rearmament program. Even if Congress makes some cuts this year or next, the weapons building prog ram has the momentum to continue for the next several years. The Soviets will not slow that buildup by refusing to negotiate seriously or acting more bel ligerent in world trouble spots. Slouch By Jim Earle “An armadillo carrying case — you’re kidding. You are kidding, aren’t you?” Fires that destroyed CHICAGO... <£*<783 DAH/ratibAtCHi Batters up ... baseball deals by Art Buchwald The income of baseball players seems to be getting more attention from the media than how they play the game. Pret ty soon we can expect to hear the sports announcers on television describing a contest like this: “Coming up to bat is Paul London, the million-dollar wonderboy right fielder. London, who became a free agent last year, is the highest priced left-hander in baseball. His deal is, every time he gets to first base, he receives a $ 1,000 bonus and a new automobile. “On the mound is Too-Tall Dawkins, who was given the Empire State Building as a bonus when he signed up with the New York Yankees. Dawkins, who owns 210 Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises, made an unsuccessful bid to buy Sears Roebuck last week with the trust fund set up for him by George Steinbrenner. Strike one. “The infield is expecting a bunt. Third baseman Pedro Cappello, who earns Si million a year doing commercials for the Wallin Savings and Loan Company, is playing in close. Don Kirby, the shortstop who made $750,000 last year and held out this season during spring practice be cause they wouldn’t renegotiate his con tract, is covering second base. Dawkins winds up — here comes the ball, London swings — it’s a line drive over Pablo Her nandez’ glove into right field, and Lon don is safe on first. Hernandez and Lon don have the same business manager and they seem to be having a heated discus sion on a tax shelter they’re both in. “1’he next hitter is Ron Dirksen, who gets a big ovation from the crowd. Ron has a golden parachute deal with the Red Sox. If he is ever traded or hurt, he still gets $500,000 a year for 10 years, plus 10 percent interest on his money. “Hernandez has gone over to speak to Dawkins. Apparently London just gave Hernandez a tip on a high-tech stock, and he wants to talk it over with Dawkins, so they can call their brokers after the inning is over. “The umpire hasjoined the group and he is writing down the name of the stock. Dirksen is at the plate and play is resum ing. Dawkins throws a fast one over the corner and it’s called a ball. Catcher Sam Francisco, who does light beer commer cials for the Sudsy Brewing Company, is protesting the call. The umpiretcil to put his mask back on. “Here comes the pitch —agrd to second baseman Bip Doctorwl tried to corner the copper mark week — he tags London andthenik to first for a double play. “Two out, and Fernando Grav® es to bat. Fernando was notex[ play today, when his private Gulfi 111 had engine trouble in Tampi fortunately he hitched a ride fielder Max Newman’s Lear suited up in time. tnigj lid L “...The count is 3 and 2. shakes his head to the catcher ! either mean he doesn’t like thepiii ; lces led for, or Dawkins doesn’t wanti into a condominium deal catcher! cisco is developing in Fort Laudti y Dawkins throws, and Gravas swing misses for a strikeout. Thesideisn and Dawkins has earned the h zed State Building from George Steiii .— ner today. “Here comes the Red Sox ft Arnie Ballow, who’s record in porl futures this year is 20 and 1. Letters: Nuclear power Editor: In response to Rube Williams’ edito rial entitled “Nuclear energy — the Great Debate 44 : Rube, just how safe is nuclear energy? Is nuclear fuel only hazardous to those who “stroll through a containment building” or somehow manage “to eat uranium 44 ? tion needs (given this premise) is an “Equalization of Opportunity” bill, which would prohibit all private business reor ganizations and activities except those permitted by the government. This would insure that no needy soul would unjustly lose his or her job unnecessarily under the heel of the pursuit of the “Almightly Dollar.” question Easter thanks Editor: \re^ ibou Naiti : ear reel- lust Duel Dnly lersi Laurels to the Texas A&MUni't Century Singers, under the direciii the very talented Patricia F formed and presented an outsiait program of Easter music at Lounge on Wednesday night-® Have you ever wondered why so many states have refused to let the federal gov ernment bury nuclear waste in their backyards? Radioactive waste, even in the smallest quantity and in the most stable burial grounds, is a highly dangerous en tity. Furthermore, given mankind’s pre sent state of cognitive imperfection, is it not possible that a series of mistakes could be made in the building, inspection and operation of a nuclear disaster? Was the Three Mile Island accident a mere anomaly and must we, the public, live with the threat of repeated (and possibly more disastrous) anomalies? Can nuclear energy proponents begin to understand why people all over the globe are frightened and why some cry “No Nukes! 44 ? Why nuclear power is no longer seen as an energy panacea and why many people are turning to the soft energy paths (and are making them work). In mankind’s stream of energy con sciousness, nuclear power has played a crucial part. A part presently controver sial and certainly fading. Larry Mutter Dennis Burns Susan Bulmer Graduate students Growth and change Editor: I was pleased to see Mr. Art Buch- wald’s satire piece on April 1, on one particularly dynamic aspect of our eco nomy: growth and change. I completely agree with what appears to be Mr. Buchwald’s point, given that personal security is more valuable than personal liberty. Obviously, what this na- Of course government would play an active role in this bold new plan, making certain that complete objectivity and fair ness would be exercised in its inforce- ment. Why, just look at what a job the government has been doing for so long in other regulatory and social areas, like the Environmental Protection Agency or the Social Security program ... Frank Knickerbocker 306 Redmund strange circumstances — competing noisy departure of International? 1 participants. Five A&M cadets accomparf group with trumpets, trombone! French horn. Father Bill Brooks#* rator. Such pretty women, hani men, beautiful voices — anyone so very proud of this group. Hope it’s an annual affair—malt a Blessed Easter. Helen Job The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member ot Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor Diana Sultenfuss Managing Editor Gary Barker Associate Editor Denise Richter City Editor Hope E. Paasch Assistant City Editor Beverly Hamilton Sports Editor John Wagner Assistant Sports Editor John Lopez Entertainment Editor Colette Hutchings Assistant Entertainment Editor. . . . 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