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Volume 109 • Issue 84 • 12 pages
Texas A&M University
www.thebatt.com
Wednesday, January 29, 2003
STATE OF THE UNION
^Saddam ‘deceiving not disarming’
flush juggles war message
with domestic issues, tax cuts
By Ron Fournier
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON BwWing a
ase for war against Iraq, President
?ush said Tuesday night he has
sh evidence that Saddam Hussein
:eks to “dominate, intimidate or
Hack” with weapons of mass
struction that he could share with
errorist allies. Bush pledged to
‘fight with the full force and might
f the United States military,” if
lecessary, to disarm Iraq.
“A future lived at the mercy of
‘errible threats is no peace at all,”
[the president said in a State of the
nion address that also put forward
ix cuts, Medicare changes and
ther domestic policies geared
President’s address
Key issues of the State of the
Union address:
Tax cuts to stimulate the
economy - Eliminate federal
NJCjiax on corporate dividends, cut
0 marriage tax penalty and raise
child credit effective this year.
/JV Healthcare - More choices for
seniors and prescription
coverage from Medicare, reform
medical liability laws.
Environment - Develop
hydrogen-powered cars, pass
Clear Skies legislation.
^ Compassion - $15 billion for
V J AIDS in Africa and the
Caribbean, money for drug
treatment and educational
mentors at home.
Homeland Security - A new
Terrorist Threat Integration
Center and $6 billion for
bioterror preparedness.
I /4TN War with Iraq - If Saddam does
[ r „^ not fully disarm, U.S. will lead
a coalition to force him.
SOURCE: White House
toward his 2004 re-election drive.
For the first time since the Sept.
11 attacks transformed him into a
wartime president, Bush faced the
nation amid serious questions about
his leadership. Most Americans
don't approve of his handling of the
economy, polls indicate, and only a
bare majority support his policies on
Iraq — an area where the president
enjoyed support of more than 80
percent a year ago.
The first half of Bush’s hour-long
address was devoted to domestic
policy, a reflection of his desire not
to let Iraq overshadow domestic
issues dear to Americans. The heart
of his package is a $674 billion plan
to revive the economy, mostly with
tax cuts, and a $400 billion, 10-year
proposal to overhaul Medicare,
sprinkled with initiatives to combat
AIDS, produce energy-efficient cars
and give religious groups access to
federal community service money.
After an address interrupted 77
times by applause. Democrats chal
lenged Bush’s efforts both at home
and abroad.
“Tonight, the president used all
the right rhetoric, but he still has all
the wrong policies,” said Senate
Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-
S.D.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.,
said he would introduce a resolution
requiring Bush to present “convinc
ing evidence of an imminent threat”
before sending troops to fight Iraq.
“Instead of rushing down the
path to war with Iraq, the American
people deserve a full debate,”
Kennedy said.
Top GOP congressional leaders
sounded eager to get to work on
Bush’s legislative agenda. “We’re
about to get this ball rolling,” said
Prof: War rhetoric
drives speech
By Melissa McKeon
THE BATTALION
KRT Campus
President George W. Bush, backed by Vice President Dick Cheney, left, and Speaker
of the House Dennis Hastert, addresses a joint session of Congress as he delivers
his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday.
House “Speaker Dennis Hastert of
Illinois. “We’re ready to go,” agreed
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of
Tennessee.
Bush offered no new evidence to
support his charges against Iraq, but
said Secretary of State Colin Powell
will go to the U.N. Security Council
next Wednesday to present the U.S.
case.
“We will consult, but let there be
ho misunderstanding: If Saddam
Hussein does not fully disarm for
the safety of our people, and for the
peace of the world, we will lead a
coalition to disarm him,” the presi
dent said. Key allies, including
France and Germany, oppose mili
tary action in Iraq and want Bush to
See Bush on page 2
President George W. Bush’s State of the
Union speech Tuesday contained classic war
rhetoric when referring to Saddam Hussien, said
Dr. Kurt Ritter, professor of communication.
“It was a characterization of the opponent.
We’ve heard the same talk going into World War
I and World War II,” Ritter said. “He character
ized Saddam Hussein as savage, irrational and
aggressive. He used the philosophy of might
makes right.”
Bush summarized the threat the White House
sees from Saddam and tied him into the ongoing
war against terrorism.
“The gravest danger facing the world is out
law regimes that seek and possess nuclear,
chemical and biological weapons,” Bush said.
“These regimes could use those weapons for
blackmail, terror and mass murder. They could
also sell those weapons to terrorist allies.”
Bush’s speech was mostly concerned with the
war against Iraq, Ritter said.
“The first part of the speech (concerning
issues like the economy) was a prelude and he
did not really have a summary tying together the
domestic policies,” Ritter said.
In detailing the threat posed by Saddam, Bush
cited a link between Iraq and al-Qaida during the
latter part of the speech.
Mark Vernon, a member of Corps of Cadets
Company 1-1 and a senior recreational park and
tourism sciences major, said he is ready to go to
war if called, and agrees with the comments
made by Bush during the speech.
“I support the president because it is our duty
to support the leaders who are trying to act in all
our best interests,” Vernon said. “Iraq has been
breaking rules and regulations, all while mock
ing the U.N. and those countries trying to
enforce them. I fully support the decision,
should it be made, to go to war.”
Bush said that Saddam has shown “utter con-
See Local on page 2
□-lot
ount.
m.-9 p.m.
>:3<) p.m.)
Emergency vehicles allowed to bypass security gates
:arly.
1
Nails
Best!!
By Hedish Connor
THE BATTALION
The Bryan City Council decided
Aiesday to allow emergency vehicles
E d buses to enter gated communities
thout having to pass through security
ystems.
Several Bryan residents expressed
:oncem for the safety of residents inside
I ;ated communities, worrying that time
lelays could be the difference between
ife and death.
One resident described a horrific
instance of the consequences a matter of
minutes could make. He said a friend
who resided in a gated community died
in a fire before help from the fire depart
ment was able to gain access to his
neighborhood.
According to the Bryan-College
Station Eagle, Bryan has no gated com
munities, but the City Council decided to
discuss the ordinance before developers
approach the city and accesibility
becomes a problem.
Councilman Paul Madison said the
change will create an “ideal situation”
because emergency workers will not
have to be dropped off outside the gates
to enter the community.
The council also postponed until Feb.
11 discussion of a zoning request for a
planned development on 17.163 acres
located at Coulter Drive. More time was
allowed for contractors of the develop
ment and residents of surrounding areas
to gain support from those involved.
Local residents expressed concern
that the development would be built on a
flood plain where drainage problems
would arise.
Sharon Anderson, a Bryan resident
who lives near the proposed neighbor
hood, said an increase of 400 cars on the
road would cause a significant change in
traffic flow on Coulter Drive.
The council heard the complaints, but
said it did not want to impose on the con
tractors.
Recently, there have been complaints
made by community members about
Bryan Police Chief Ken Burton.
Police officers spoke in defense of
Burton at the meeting, responding to
complaints voiced about Burton by com
munity members prior to the meeting.
Mary Kaye Moore, city manager of
Bryan, said that a survey within the
police department showed “overwhelm
ing support” for Burton.
“Burton increased the morale of
investigators and police officers in the
department,” said John Mann, a detective
in the Bryan Police Department.
Moore said it was good to hear the
officers publicly support their boss.
“We knew support was there but it
had been quiet while the opposition’s
(side) was heard,” said Moore.
As city manager, Moore acts as
Burton’s employer and has the authority
to terminate employment of a police
chief at any time.
System headquarters to move
By Brad Bennett
THE BATTALION
bruary
17, 2003
The lack of funding that led Texas A&M
president Robert M. Gates to issue a hiring freeze
his week hasn’t hindered the remodeling of a
59.6 million facility intended to house the A&M
University System.
The new system headquarters will be located
n the College Station Business Park at 200
Technology Way, south of Greens Prairie Road on
| he eastern access road to Highway 6. The project
pill consolidate system administration, staff and
Agencies and save on rent, said Tim Donathan,
lixecutive director of facilities and planning for
I the A&M System.
“This decision was carefully evaluated by the
(Board (of Regents) and System before construc-
|ion began,” Donathan said.
Construction project manager Steve Smith said
he project is on track and expected to be com
pleted by June 2003.
According to Systems Communications
Director Bob Wright, the construction will save
money by moving four of the System’s agencies
into current system headquarters, eliminating the
ent those agencies are now paying to private
ompanies.
System Headquarters Building
* Cost: isle million
Location:
200 Technology Way
Construction began: Nov. 2002
Expected completion:
Juno 23, 2003
Source: Texas A&M University System Office
Ruben DeLuna • THE BATTALION
“Rent is the number one reason (for the con
struction),” Wright said.
The Health Science Center, Texas Forest
Service, Technology Leasing Office and Internal
Audit are currently paying a combined total of
more than $60,000 a month in rent, he said.
“The idea is not to keep paying rent forever;
most years the rent goes up,” Wright said.
Centralizing the agencies to the John B.
Connally Building, located off Tarrow Drive in
College Station, will aid interagency
See Building on page 2
Courts give ticket amnesty
By Esther Robards-
Forbes
THE BATTALION
Students who have not yet
taken care of outstanding war
rants from traffic and moving
violations, disorderly conduct,
failure to appear in court or
minor in possession charges
could face arrest beginning
Monday, Feb. 3, if they do not
take care of unpaid fines by
Friday, Jan. 31.
Officials from Brazos
County have teamed up with the
cities of Bryan and College
Station to offer an amnesty
period so students would have
extra time to clear their records.
More than 4,000 outstanding
Class C warrants have not been
acted upon by officials in the
two cities for the past month.
On Feb. 3, a “warrant roundup”
will begin, said Ken Burton, the
Bryan Police Chief.
“This is a golden opportunity
for people to take care of busi
ness and avoid being arrested,”
Burton said.
“Once this amnesty period
ends, every time a person with
an outstanding warrant gets in
their car, they need to worry:
‘Am I going to go to jail? Will
they get me on my way to work
or school?’ This is a good and
cheap way to settle the issue and
not be saddled with later incon
venience,” Burton
said.
Individuals with
outstanding Class C
warrants can pay
their fines before
Friday and avoid a
$50 warrant fee and
possible arrest. If
arrested, the penal
ties include the
original ticket fee, a
warrant fee, bail
and court and legal
fees.
Class C misde
meanors include traf
fic and moving vio
lations, disorderly conduct, fail
ure to appear in court and
minors in possession.
College Station Municipal
Court Judge Ed Spillane said he
would like to have as few stu
dents as possible arrested.
“We see a lot of (A&M) stu
dents in our courts and we
See Courts on page 2
Avoiding Arrest
To handle f ines,
call one of the
following numbers:
City ef Brywn
College Station
Municipal Court
irosoi County
Sheriff’s Office
20***400
?*4*2*§3
3*f«4f*§
Deadline! Friday, 3mm* 31
S p.m.
Source:: City or Bryan, City of College Station
Ruben DeLuna • THE BATTALION