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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 1991)
2 Opinion Monday, February 4, 1991 The Battalion Opinion Page Editor Jennifer Jeffus - 845-331^ Americans must deal with current problems O ' Wednesday, I went to the "rally for the troops" in the MSC Flagroom because I felt it was the least I could do for the troops serving in the gulf. As the rally got underway, a war protester felt it was his obligation to disturb speakers at various times during their speeches. His sign read something to the effect of the United States arming Iraq. He personally said to me, "We armed A war supporter quickly countered, "If we arm someone, is it not our responsibility to disarm them?" After the rally, I had the opportunity to talk to one person against tne war. She told me how Kuwait loaned money to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war (which Iraq started) and the Kuwaitis were demanding all money be paid back at once in one lump sum. Wnen I went back to the early August papers to research this, I could find nothing supporting her claims. She also claimed that the Kuwaitis were "slant-drilling" for oil, which I assume means they were stealing oil under the border. All of this, I suppose, then would be justification enough for Iraq to invade Kuwait. After all, it is not Iraq's fault that they owed Kuwait money to fund a war Iraq itself started with Iran. Besides, it would be too difficult to negotiate controversial mineral rights on a few wells. Saddam obviously invaded Kuwait because he thought he could get away with it. Had he really felt it was a 19th province of Iraq, he would not have offered a trade-off for the occupied territories. She then began to talk about how the war was for oil anyway. So I assumed Chad Walter Reader’s Opinion she was right. She began to talk about how we needed to convert to alternative energy sources like hydrogen. I agree that, yes, we do need to utilize more alternative fuels, but the fact still remains that the heart of our entire economic system is currently tied to oil and that cannot be changed overnight. At this point, I could see how idealistic and far off base this person was, and so I left the Flagroom and proceeded to go to my next class. After seeing all the war protesters on TV shouting "iSJo blood for oil! Fight AIDS not Arabs!," I began to wonder. What would have happened if the United States had done nothing after Iraq invaded Kuwait? Would Saddam have found an excuse to invade Saudi Arabia? Obviously the Saudis think so, or else they would not have been so eager to let our army go over there. Saddam Hussein is a power hungry man. Within two years of a ceasefire with Iran, he decided he would invade someone he could defeat. What makes people think that he would have stopped with Kuwait? He said after Iraq invaded Kuwait that Iraq was pulling out. But Western intelligence snowea exactly the opposite! Saddam Hussein is not a man of his word, and he simply cannot be trusted. So what other realistic choice was there? The war opposer whom I referred to earlier felt the United States WE RBCCPV new •jER'-ey should have sent a contingent of 50,000 troops to the gulf, in case Saddam decided to invade Saudi Arabia and kept economic sanctions in place for at least a year — as if this would force Saddam out. This would give Saddam time to: develop a nuclear bomb, manufacture nemical weapons, organize dt - - - more c terrorist attacks an provoke Israel to do something that would break up the coalition. The simple point to all this is that we are now past the point of no return. I mean if this war is for oil and our lack of an energy policy, then so be it. It is our fault we have no energy policy. We must fix that then, too. But first we must finish our current objective of removing Saddam from Kuwait and reducing his radical military potential. We can do nothing about past mistakes; we can do something about current problems. The bottom line is "Support the troops in the gulf!" Chad Walter is a freshman chemistry major. Mail Call The BattaBoji Ui Interested in hearing from Its readers and welcomes all letters to the editor. Please Include name, classification, address and phone number on a8 letters. The eiStor reserves the right to edit letters for style and length. Because of Hmlted space, shorter letters have a better chance of appearing. There Is, however, no guarantee letters will appear. Letter* be brought to 216 Reed McDonald or sent to Campus MaS Stop 1111. Hats off to Nito EDITOR: Nito has run a slick campaign. He has created a letter war in Mail Call to give his strip notoriety, or at least a sense of relevancy. Writers pray to have their work banned. This creates best-sellers and fame (Salinger, Rushdie, etc.). Nito's strength, regardless of the content of his strip, is in his fore sight, and in his friends' help in creating a conflict over "The Itch." Regardless of the strip's merits, Nito has pulled a fast one. Hats off to his manipulation and to his friends' sup port. Scott Guttormson '92 Clean up dead squirrel EDITOR: I know that this campus is filled with people that believe "If it moves, let's shoot it." But I cannot understand why no one in charge of the fountain in front of the Chemistry Building has bothered to call the humane society about the poor dead squirrel that has been floating there since Jan. 29. I like these little creatures and I enjoy seeing them (alive) on campus. I, personally, was saddened and appalled upon seeing it on Tuesday as late as 10 a.m. But on Thursday when I saw that it was still there, I felt even more disgusted. Don't we pay good money for work ers to maintain the aesthetic pleasures of our campus? Alice S. Prendergast '93 Unborn deserve right to life EDITOR: Abortion is the termination of a human life or the poten tial of a human life. What about woman's choice? What about the baby's choice and right to life? This issue boils down to responsibility. If two people are going to have sex, then they have to plan for all possible re sults, including pregnancy. Why should that innocent baby have to pay for their carelessness and irresponsibility? What if that baby was going to be the next president? Children are our future and God calls them "a reward from Him." Please, stop the senseless slaughter of the unborn. They deserve a chance to live. Todd Primm '92 Listen to other views EDITOR: A female student was standing at the front of my class room Jan. 30 talking with another student a few minutes be fore class was to begin. She was discussing the war in a normal tone of voice. But the room is very small, so if you were paying attention you could hear what she was saying. Evidently, a male stu dent at the back of the room was listening because suddenly he began to scream, "You are wrong! You are stupid if you believe that!" He began screaming his views at that point, but I was so in shock at his behavior that I really didn't listen. And that's the point. His actions were so rude and disrespectful to the person talking that no one really heard his opinion. And that's what it was — an opinion. Contrary to what some people seem to think, we'll probably never know who's right. So you have your views. I'll have mine. Tracey Burns '91 Support war or leave EDITOR: Normally I am unprovincial and very open-minded to ward the opinions and ideas of others. But let's forget about all that. I only have one thing to say to those of you who wish to acquire needless attention through your denial and protest of our military involvement in the gulf. I will gladly incur the expense of loading you up in the back of the truck, drive to Mexico, kick you out and let you waller with your disrespectful friends in tequila the rest of your lives. If you want to spit on the American flag and the graves of our forefathers who died for what that flag stands for, don't do it here! It's people like you who disgrace this country and this fine University. If you don't like it, leave! We don't need you. B. Jon Traylor '92 Research might alter future animal testing .s is true of most animal- rights advocates, Mr. Truesdale did not think through his propaganda statements thoroughly. If he had investigated a little bit, he might have discovered that computer simulations are normally less expensive than animal models. Most animals used as animal models are raised in isolated colonies. Most are • either viral antibody free or specific pathogen free. These animals are expensive. Care for them also is expensive. Their water must be uncontaminated as must their food and air. Not just one model is used. Product testing should involve several different animal models in the same condition as the final patient. To do less invites product liability suits. A computer can be used over and over again, which would reduce product testing costs. However, we do not know enough about how actual bodies work to trust just a computer program. Garbage in/garbage out. We do use computers to design new products. Hartz Blockade is an example of a computer designed and tested product. Take two safe products. Check for chemical reactions (on a computer). Mix and sell. Result: several thousand pets dead from liver and/or kidney damage (not a nice death). The problem was corrected in animal models and the product is now safe. Mr. Truesdale, do not insist that my family (pets included) must be the first full body test that a new product undergoes. Why cosmetics are animal tested is simply stated: They must be safe when used properly, they must be safe when slightly misused and doctors must know a suitable treatment when they Bill Howard Reader’s Opinion are used outside of normal reason. This last involves toddlers moretha: anyone else. How many times a year does a child eat lipstick or drink cologne? As to real research. Research falls into two categories. Basic research attempts to unlock mysteries of life. Most basic research centers around how or why a certain body function occurs. Applied research searchesfon cure or treatment for a problem. Both require whole body systems. Some research is done using cell or tissue cultures. A cell culture is cells derived from cancer or aborted fetuses that continue to replicate indefinitely As you might guess, they sometimes have reactions very different from normal cells, and they have no reactions between different tissues or organs. All of this information goes into computer networks so maybe one day we no longer will need to use animal models in research. igh tnl none of this means anything. To them animals have the same rights as humans. In fact, pet ownership is slavery and mouse traps are murder Researchers and product testers do not enjoy inflicting pain on their subjects, but some pain today maybe able to prevent much pain tomorrow. Bill Howard is a first year veterinary student. The Battalion (USPS 045 360) Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Lisa Ann Robertson, Editor Kathy Cox, Managing Editor J ennifer J effus, Opinion Page Editor Chris Vaughn, City Editor Keith Sartin, Richard Tijerina, News Editors Alan Lehmann, Sports Editor Fredrick D. Joe, Art Director Kristin North, Life Style 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 daily, except Saturday, Sunday, holidays, exam peri ods, and when school is not in session dur ing fall and spring semesters; publication is Tuesday through Friday during the summer session. Newsroom: 845-3313. Mail subscriptions are $20 per semes ter, $40 per school year and $50 per full year: 845-2611. Advertising rates fur nished on request: 845-2696. Our address: The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, Col lege Station, TX 77843-1111. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station TX 77843-4111. the itch by Nito graduate studs ait a Few days a6o.
