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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 2002)
Opimon d * v,| 0(*'9 COBIWd 'Artth low mortility ^ ■« ®* 00 ^ preuue W|i‘ Tobacco UndacaaigK J,/ OvwwwgN Clwajttfd |i| Low hat*" | |j Irwdaacwicr |!,’ UnsalawsiK' a,. in 10 percent,” ai , a WHO seniors r. ort also ranks! parately for Ik e poorest rejio •Saharan Africa £ iouth Asia, otk countries and a svorld. No indiv:: listings aregiva orest group, nia by far the ra ard, followed \ — which refla HIV/AIDS to as. ers were sup t indoor poll® turning of mai: 1 for cooking ii ness and dealt.: urth-leading te: that region, ifc er, sanitations it had never !e ire, said the p ■, Dr. Chrisri ecutive direct™ aal program ora | ■alth policy. 11 developing >1 turned out Hi menace to hta- ’ high blood ps acco. Underwt:? eight jostled:: fourth and fe respective came next, il«| i vegetable MARIANO CASTILLO New strategy necessary to stop terrorism T he Russian operation to free 750 hostages from a Moscow theater taken by Chechen separatists was an order that should never have been given. Not only was it pre mature, but the logic which traditionally justifies leaders to take such high-risk operations is not effective with suicide- bent terrorists. With the number of groups that are increasingly resorting to suicide missions, it is time to rethink how terrorism is fought. The Washington Post editorial board summed it up well: ‘The Moscow theater siege ended much the way the Chechen terrorists seemed to hope it would - with the deaths of scores of innocent civilians, along with their own.” Waging a successful war on terrorism is not pretty. It usu ally involves military operations of dubious legality that are designed to scare the daylights out of potential terrorist recruits. Up to now. when faced with a siege, the only method to successfully defeat terrorists has been to engage in risky, often bloody, raids. However, with the increasing numbers of terrorists who are willing - and expecting - to die, leaders must realize that risky intervention may succeed in lowering the number of civilian casualties, but fail in its ultimate goal to deter terrorists from striking again. Terrorists are following the example of the Palestinian H- Bomb - the Human Bomb - and governments must act imme diately to develop new tactics to deter terrorism. Terrorists who signed up to give their lives can t be intimidated. The siege of the Moscow theater is reminiscent of the 500 hostages taken in the 1996 siege of the Japanese Embassy in Peru by Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) ter rorists. Both were no-win situations, except for one marked difference. 1 he Chechen terrorists were prepared to die. During the Peruvian siege, for instance, its government, like the Russians, refused to be blackmailed by the terrorists. After drawn-out negotiations that lasted four months, the MRTA released all but 72 hostages from the embassy. In April, without warning, a Peruvian elite military unit blew a hole underneath the embassy and stormed the residence, sav ing all but one hostage. The operation was hailed as a suc cess worldwide, hut this success came at a high cost to i human rights. In the weeks following the operation, the Peruvian media began reporting human rights horror stories. The terrorist leader’s body was riddled with 150 bullets; his second in command received six shots point blank; and the terrorists who surrendered and deposed their weapons were shot several times anyway. Now, Peruvians are rightly critical of these monstrous human rights abuses, but no one was complaining then. Everyone was too busy celebrating because the operation marked a decisive and long-term victory over the terrorists. The people most likely to be recruited by the MRTA would not join for fear of meeting fates similar to those of the hostage-takers. It was through similar military operations that Peru defeated the Shining Path. The same effects on terrorism cannot be said for the Russian affair. Besides the fact that the operation gassed 150 people to death and put another 600 in the hospital. Putin’s solution did nothing to deter future terrorist attacks, or to intimidate people from joining the terrorists. On the contrary, the outcome of the siege was more or less what the terrorists had in mind. Military force by itself does not defeat the new threat of suicide terrorists. It has not been effective in the Middle East conflict, and was not successful in the Russian conflict. Just three days following the operation. Chechnyan terrorists shot down a Russian helicopter. Rethinking how to respond to terrorists is not an easy challenge. In addition to military responses, more emphasis °n cutting the money flow would be a start. The United States is setting a good precedent through its thorough tar geting of al-Qaida funders. Also, more use must be made of the ultimate weapon d gainst this type of terrorism: education. Resources would be wisely allocated to teaching would-be terrorists that any doc- tnne that asks them to give their lives in the name of any- fhing is a perversion and distortion. Those people who feel oppressed must learn that terrorism will only result in a more lre situation for them. The Washington Post put it in good Perspective, “Terrorism discredits and destroys even legiti mate political movements, corrupts civilian leaders and cnies justice to people suffering oppression.” Mariano Castillo is a senior journalism and international studies major. cw«S0K ffiSTOH-KRA The Battalion Page 5B • Thursday, October 31, 2002 No longer safe Halloween is more dangerous than in years past T he news has been filled recently with dismal sto ries about the bleak state of the economy and heartbreaking reports regarding the recent sniper attacks in Maryland and Virginia. Terrorist threats since Sept. 1 1 are still rampant, and every day the pub lic is reminded it is not as safe as it once thought. Because of the dan gers presented, Halloween cannot be enjoyed this year as much as in years past, and parents should find alterna tive, safer ways for their kids to go trick-or-treating. Parents are still shaken after a sum mer of highly-publicized kidnapping cases and are not comfortable letting their kids out on the streets at night. Last week, people shuddered when the serial sniper warned that children “are not safe anywhere, at anytime.” The Office of Homeland Security measures the terrorism threat, and the rating has recently been as high as the third highest on the five-level system. Unfortunately, Halloween is a night that makes chil dren an easy target for attacks. As a result, parents this year should find alternatives. Post Oak Mall is inviting kids this year to trick-or-treat from 6 to 8 p.m. Whitney Wolf, the mall’s mar keting director, says characters from LINDSAY AIELLO the Texas Renaissance Festival, including magician Isaac Fawlkes and The Moxie Puppet Theater, will entertain and hand out candy. This will ensure . more safety than if candy ' was obtained from random neighborhood homes. Denna Reed says her daughter will not trick-or-treat this year, and will instead attend a children’s party at the Veterinary School. If parents feel their ,, children must trick-or- T^g treat throughout the neighborhood, they should accompany the children to ensure their safety. Not only would it make children safer, but it would allow parents to partake in their children’s holiday excitement. Many people have voiced the notion that we should not compromise our usual activities out of a fear for the ^ unknown. However, on a night such as this, when these fears become much more plausible, risks should not be taken. Lindsay Aiello is a sophomore journalism major. JON FULLRICH • THE BATTALION The Rev. Graham is a hero Graham’s enlightening career ended Oct. 20 in Dallas B illy Graham completed his last crusade, the Metroplex Mission, on Oct. 20 in Dallas, ending a life long career of evangelism, which he started in 1949. Throughout his career, Graham has touched and changed the lives of a countless number of people by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and showing them how to relate to God. “My one purpose in life is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through know ing Christ,” Graham said on his Web site. Graham’s ministry knew no boundaries. He had a global impact, and preached to tribes in Africa, bushmen in Australia and in cities across the United States. Graham also answers questions people ask him. Graham, 83, called it quits because of health reasons. Graham should be remembered as a coura geous man. Speaking in foreign countries, including countries in the Middle East and the former Soviet Union, Graham put his life on the line. However, Graham was obedient to the call he heard from Jesus to spread the gospel to the world, taking very literally what Jesus said in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Graham should be looked upon as an example of what it means to be broken before God, willing to do whatever God asks. Graham has received numerous awards and honors, including the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Freedom Award, the Congressional Gold Medal and the Speaker of the Year Award. Graham has graced the covers of Time, Life and Newsweek and received several honorary doctorates from institutions in the United States and abroad, according to billygraham.org. With these accolades, it is not unreasonable to see why he has been listed on several occasions in Gallup polls as one of the “Ten Most Admired Men in the World.” Although Graham will be sorely missed, his ministry will continue. One of his two sons, Franklin Graham, is taking over his father’s work. He conducts several festivals similar to the missions and crusades his father previously headlined. According to billygraham.org, Franklin has conducted festivals in places such as Johannesburg, South Africa, to Tupelo, Miss. Last spring, he conducted one in College Station, where thou sands of people made personal commitments to accept Jesus as their personal savior. Even though Billy Graham will not be conducting crusades anymore, his name will live on forever. He is and should remain a very respected man. He is a role model for Christians to follow, and hopefully, his son will carry on his work and continue to change the lives of thousands of people. Mark Wood is a senior journalism major. MARK WOOD MAIL CALL Nebraska student body president criticizes Corps In response to Richard Bray's Oct. 30 column: Traditions roll call: Twelfth Man - cool. Midnight Yell - cool. Cadets striking unarmed visiting fans - not cool. After driving twelve hours to College Station to watch my Huskers escape with a hard-fought victory on the road, I can say my experience in Aggieland was almost entirely positive. The fans, overall, were great people and good sports. I even visited a pre-game party hosted by A&M students and felt very welcome. Then came the Corps of Cadets. The Corps' Code includes words like "honor," "integrity," "bond of loyalty." Where exactly does body-slamming soror ity girls fit into this code? Yes, many Nebraska students rushed your field after the come-from-behind vic tory. Although this action was likely per ceived as obnoxious and borderline disre spectful, it certainly did not warrant the violent and physical backlash unleashed by several members of the Corps. Our students meant no harm. No one was planning on tearing down the goal posts. We were simply excited to congrat ulate our football team. Second, most, if not all, students on the field were unaware of Kyle Field's self- designated status as a memorial. A sim ple announcement over the loud speak ers may have solved the problem. Instead, our baffled students were met with fists. You say it is necessary to preserve the integrity of those who have died at war by keeping fans off of the field. In what way does battery and assault honor the lives of fallen soldiers? I recall the 1999 football season when A&M upset the Texas Longhorns and some of the student section rushed the field, trampling your precious memorial. Do the Aggies only respect war heroes when they lose at home? Surely the Aggie win in 1999 was not more important than the lives of dead soldiers. Further, the "sacred grass" was artificial turf until 1996! What a fitting and glorious memorial! Give me a break. Aggies. It's a college football field, where 18 to 23 year-old young men often shove, fight, spit, take cheap shots and accept personal fouls. To call this a memorial is nuttier than squir rel poop. If you want a war memorial, invest in a garden. Don't lay some sod and call it a shrine. When you come to Nebraska next year, we promise you a good experience. We'll be friendly. We'll be respectful. Most impor tantly, we will not physically assault you. In the meantime, Texas A&M, take the toys from the boys. The actions of the Corps of Cadets on Saturday were a dis grace to the uniform and a disgrace to those who wore the uniform before them. Ryan Wilkins Student Body President University of Nebraska-Lincoln Nebraska fans didn't know Kyle Field was off limits Nebraska fans were not behaving in a ridiculous manner. After a win it is custom ary in college football for fans to congratu late the players and coaches. That is all the fans were rushing out to do. They meant no disrespect and certainly do not deserve any punishment for it. Instead of those representing Texas A&M simply telling the fans they are not allowed on the field, physical actions were taken. All it would have taken was an announce ment right before kick off or during half time to prevent what happened. Nebraska fans did not know they were not allowed on the field or they would not have rushed out there. I have been a student here for more than three years and I did not know you were not allowed on the field fol lowing a game. Maybe it is because I am a graduate student that I missed that little rule. That rule was not publicized enough. Aggies themselves seem to be at odds over this rule as well because former students have been quoted in the San Antonio Express-News recently stating they did not know people were not allowed on the field. Texas A&M can have its own traditions, and if limiting the football field to players and coaches is one that is fine, but there needs to be more effort to make that known to visitors before a game ends. Edward Cargill Texas A&M University Graduate Student University of Nebraska Alumni