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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1990)
The Battalion OPINION i Wednesday, August 1,1990 Opinion Page Editor Damon Arhos 845-33! Reader: ‘Expert’ mistaken about German arrogance, industry After reading Dr. Richard Thomas’ analysis of the situation concerning the Soviet Union’s intentions (“Expert says Soviets pose growing military threat,” The Battalion, July 26), one particular question came to my mind: Although he is supposedly an expert on Soviet technology, does Thomas really know what he is talking about? Obviously he does not; otherwise his judgments (especially those about Germany which are mostly mistaken) would have been stated differently. It was agonizing for me, a former exchange student from Germany who lived in Sheldon, Iowa during 1988-89, Mario Wilhelm Reader’s Opinion to read Thomas’ article. (I read The Battalion by chance while visiting friends in College Station.) Actually, it was a big surprise to me how much Texas A&M’s expert on Soviet technology believes he knows about what is going on in other countries. His statement “In the past, we have seen evidence of German arrogance by knowingly supplying Libyan Leader Mommar Gadhafi with materials used to manufacture chemical weapons,” is in itself arrogant and ignorant. Only an extremely small private group was involved in the Libyan deal, and thus it is not right to talk about German arrogance. After having read his judgment about Germany, I really wonder how Thomas would describe the United States’ weapon deals with the Middle East (Iran-Contra affair). Furthermore, Thomas says, “They (West Germany) have thrived under our nuclear umbrella, and there seems to be no gratitude for that.” But which mwo hoo^tcn Crave proof through the ni^ht that ourflagf was Still there... country pushed so hard to get their Pershing and cruise missies stationed in West Germany and other parts of Europe in the beginning of the 80s? Does Thomas know what it really means to live among the world’s deadliest weapons? In the event of a nuclear war, West Germany would be destroyed within seconds. The signing of the INF Treaty indicated the European desire to get rid of the nuclear arsenal stationed in Europe. And this is what Thomas calls the thriving under the U.S. nuclear umbrella? I read a few more lines and encounted another one of Thomas’ major mistakes. He believes the new Volkswagen plant in East Germany which is already under construction has “dual uses.” Apparently logic is not one of his strong points. Since Germany will be reunified by the end of this year, the plant will actually not be located on East German soil, but in a united Germany. So, why should a Volkswagen plant manufacture military weaponry which could be used against the United States? It doesn’t make sense for Thomas to even make a statement like “Unfortunately, these technologies (like the Volkswagen plant) have dual uses. Not only can they manufacture consumer goods, but also military weaponry.” In my opinion, West Germany needs to invest in the East German economy and help it as much as possible (for example, by building a Volkswagen plant, thus creating new jobs and raising the standard of living) in order to make the reunification process as smooth as possible. East Germany must make a transition from a devastated economy to a highly efficient working economy. This can only be done with West German monetary and technical aid. If you think I am finished discussing Thomas’ embarrassing statements, you are wrong. When I first read the following three lines, I just couldn’t believe my eyes. “Face it, take away their J / military and the Soviet Union is jus; big Brazil.” The country with the world’s greatest abundance of natm? resources, a country with anexcellr space technology industry andotlif t j ie advanced industries, and whichhai phi world’s third largest population at; gross national product is comparec big Brazil? T his comparison is soot the way that one really has to quest Thomas’ status as an expert on this subject. it I n my opinion, West Gem needs to invest in the East German economy and helpitai much as possible (for example building a Volkswagen plant,! creating new jobs and raising!- standard of living) in orderto make the reunification process smooth as possible. East Germany must make a transit!: from a devastated economyto; highly efficient working economy.” judg. ativit spee< In my opinion, the Battalionartic T« requires additional correct infoim J % on the topic in order to prevent the reader from getting a wrong impression. By reading Thomas’tjun this could have happened easily.Ifef something had to be done aboutt/ie wrong and annoying statementsmt!i article. Hopef ully, this column, containing inside informationfromi German citizen, will prevent people from having Thomas’ opinion. E you do, I will feel sorry for you. Mario Wilhelm is a former exchani j student from West Germany. As with all columns, viewpoints , expressed in Reader’s Opinionsanm f necessarily those of The Battalion. < Persons interested in submitting!! Reader’s Opinion should contact the Opinion Page Editor at 845-3314. V>W-> -- - ’ > , • .. . ^ y; . •. ». v ♦ • . Allegations against cold fusion not ignored by A&M officials Situation doesn’t warrant investigation under University policies on scientific misconduct Texas A&M University has recently been subjected to media reaction to a hypothesis in an article by a free-lance writer that was published last month in the journal Science. The writer alleges that an experiment at Texas A&M in the controversial field of “cold fusion” might have been “spiked” with tritium. The media has called on the University to “do something” about this hypothesis of scientific misconduct. William H. Mobley Reader’s Opinion 66 Our facilities and faculty in nuclear science, electrochemistry and thermodynamics who have made possible the investigation of nuclear and thermal events proposed as being associated with the phenomena are also investigating important ramifications that lead in other potentially promising directions. These scientists are debating and evaluating alternative hypotheses as are theoreticians from a variety of disciplines.” Suggestions that the University has done nothing in response to this allegation are simply not true. Appropriate personnel have been monitoring all aspects of “cold fusion” research at Texas A&M since the very beginning of the work on our campus. Last month, Provost E. Dean Gage appointed a research program review and assessment team to look at the status of the entire project, activities of all individuals involved and summaries of results, as well as proposed future directions. Despite thousands of words written on the so-called “cold fusion” experiments in the press and in scientific journals, there has never been a single allegation of misconduct by a scientist at Texas A&M that would warrant a formal inquiry under the University’s policies on scientific misconduct. It is important not to rush to judgment, especially since recent scientific evidence from experiments conducted in laboratories other than Texas A&M does not support the “spiking” hypothesis. Research on the phenomenon which has come to be known as “cold fusion” continues in numerous laboratories around the world. Several of these including the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Case Western University and the Bhabha Center in India, and others have also noted the presence of tritium, and evidence of excess heat has been extensively verified by a growing number of researchers. The scientific process by its very nature involves healthy skepticism and vigorous critical debate, and new and unexpected findings are almost always accompanied by disputes and controversy. Such results are accepted only after other scientists replicate them and after the experiments are thoroughly understood. This is the process that is under way at laboratories throughout the world as scientists continue to pursue this intriguing phenomenon. It is distressing to see one aspect of the “cold fusion” investigation so much overemphasized as to obscure the much broader scope of this research. Our facilities and faculty in nuclear science, electrochemistry and thermodynamics who have made possible the investigation of nuclear and thermal events proposed as being associated with the phenomena are also investigating important ramifications that lead in other potentially promising directions. These scientists are debating and evaluating alternative hypotheses as are theoreticians from a variety of disciplines. It is important to be aware also that the principal sponsor of the research in question, a private, non-profit, industry- and assessment team continuingto evaluate the situation; the primary research sponsor continues tosuppo our activities; and the University’s ism Cz( Office of Research continues to moral the activities of the three different !] laboratories and several theoreticiansi here actively investigating and debaicj this topic. I again affirm that if credible evidence of irregularities arises, hi implement, without delay, the University’s established polidesand procedures for dealing with sciendfn misconduct. oriented organization, has monitored this research program and continues to support it. Finally, we would note that Texas A&M University researchers have not withheld their results from open discussion, scrutiny and review in order to seek patent protection or for any other reason. In summary, the University has a well-qualified research program review The scientific community at large: agencies that sponsor research, whed or not involved in “cold fusion” research, understand the delicate balance between freedom of scientl inquiry and appropriate responseto concerns about possible misconduct I am proud of the researchers who are investigating this intriguing phenomenon and the 2,200 faculty members and researchers at Texas A&M University who are workingint wide range of fields to advance the frontiers of knowledge. The controversy surrounding one labora® does not diminish my confidence inti competence and integrity of our face or of Texas A&M University. William Mobley is president ofTett A&M University. Un val kia p.n net The Battalion (USPS 045 360) Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Associated Collegiate Press The Battalion Editorial Board Monique Threadgill, Editor Melissa Naumann, Managing Editor Damon Arhos, Opinion Page Editor Holly Becka, City Editor Meg Reagan, Lisa Ann Robertson, News Editors Clay Rasmussen, Sports Editor Eric Roalson, Art Director Todd Stone, Lifestyles Editor Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-sup porting newspaper operated as a commu nity service to Texas A&M and Bryan- College Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editorial board or the au thor, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, faculty or the Board of Regents. The Battalion is published Tuesday through Friday during Texas A&M sum mer semesters, except for holiday and ex amination periods. Mail subscriptions are $20 per semes ter, $40 per school year and $50 per full year: 845-2611. 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