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Show Monday, January 7, 1991 The Daily Utah Chronicle - Page five Editorial U.S. officials must not be surprised in Geneva It would be nearly impossible to overstate the on Nov. 30, he neglected to set a date for the exchange. This oversight resulted in squabbling which nearly canceled diplomatic talks entirely. The same type of diplomatic carelessness must not occur in Geneva, where Aziz may well offer an Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait, not importance of the scheduled Jan. 9 meeting between Secretary of State James A. Baker and Iraq Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz. When these two men sit down in Geneva, they will decide if a diplomatic solution can be found to the current Gulf crisis, or if the world will continue in a bald statement, but in a subtle manner its to an inevitable and catastrophic which Baker must be ready to discern and war-marc- h end some time after Jan. 15. respond to. The importance of this meeting demands that Bush has stated time and again that the Baker and his staff be prepared for any United States and its allies will not "negotiate" diplomatic move on the part of the Iraqis. If U.S. with Saddam while his troops remain in officials are caught when and if they Kuwait. The principle behind Bush's policy is are faced with an Iraqi peace overture, the entirely correct Iraq must not be rewarded for results will be disastrous. aggression against a helpless neighbor. flat-foot- ed The Bush administration has already The difference between "discussion" and demonstrated that it can be caught unawares by "negotiation" is a matter of hairline semantics, Iraqi policymakers. When President Bush though, and their definitions could conceivably suggested talks between U.S. and Iraqi officials be manipulated to achieve a peaceful solution to the crisis. An ideal solution would be one in which the United States could come out hazing not "negotiated" with Iraq, and Iraq could somehow come out "saving face." All of this will initially depend on Aziz and Iraq, however. The ball is in their court, and if Saddam sends his foreign minister to Geneva claiming that a pullout can only result if Israel leaves the West Bank and Gaza, then war cannot be avoided. If, on the other hand, Saddam opens the door for a peaceful solution involving a complete withdrawal from Kuwait, Baker must be ready to respond. The Secretary of State must journey to Geneva as more than a broken record playing "get out or you will be destroyed." He must be ready to respond to the possibility of an Iraqi pullout. He owes at least that much to every man and woman serving in Saudi Arabia. Resolutions always made but rarely kept Doesn't it feel great? Here we are back for the John first day of winter quarter, only partially recovered from whatever has been keeping us Jill busy through the holiday break. A good portion of the student body is frantically trying to acquire adddrop cards so they can correct the things they should have taken care of three weeks ago on the telephone. Virtually everyone will be informed by at least one professor that they need to stop by Kinko's and pick up the professor's personally designed class packet. Every class will have to hear the same old "first day of class lecture" with the traditional class policies and grading information. With New Year's Day a full week behind us, I have nearly gotten over that annual tendency to reflect on the past and make all kinds of hokey resolutions about how I will Letters People must question government Editor: Mr. Szollosi's editorial ("Logic Dispels Baseless Sentimentalist Ideas," Dec. 4) is quite disheartening. In effect, whether he realizes it or not, he is attacking democracy. Freedom of speech and education are requisite for an effective democracy. Indeed, it is one of the that underlies public education in the fundamental ingredients Szollosi may feel United States. more at home in another time and Mr. another place perhaps Hitler's Germany? Unquestioning acceptance of Hitler's government policies resulted in one of the most senseless slaughters of human beings in history. I would encourage Mr. Szollosi to support organizations in the community that promote a forum for education and free speech regardless of whether or not he is in agreement with their point of view. Yes, free speech. The Utah Coalition Against U.S. War in the Middle East (of Szollosi entertains us with his disparaging remarks) has made substantial efforts to educate and provide a public forum for which Mr. discussion. government We and recruited community leaders with views contrary to our own who addressed the public at a town meeting on Dec. 5. Mr. Szollosi's assessment of the coalition reveals his own reliance on propaganda. Has Mr. Szollosi ever talked to members of the coalition? Perhaps he would be pleasantly surprised to find a group that is both diverse and motivated by the concerns for our troops as well as for the civilians in the Middle East. Indeed, our primary concern is to bring the troops home now. In this day and age, questioning the motives of our government, especially when human lives are at stake, is our duty as members of a democracy. We may never all agree on the right course of action, but, unfortunately the United States government has repeatedly misled the American people. We can no longer blindly accept face value statements issued by the government. We can no longer read their lips. M. Merva Assistant professor economics Cowards use Vietnam as excuse Editor: One would think that people at the University of Utah would have the intelligence to see the many, shades of gray instead of just black and white over the issue(s) in the Middle East. There are a lot of who also have of them I've heard Some opinions. these, days, about the current Gulf crisis, are shallow and others are not. "No war!" and "Peace" are cries without meaning unless they asteroid-orifice- s are pursued. So what are we, Americans, doing about them? "Teach-ins- " are worthwhile, but have too They many they are a product of the 1960s. During the 1960s there were individuals who fought for the peace issue pit-fall- s. crowd" and they chomped their are gum. Well, if the "teach-ins- " back in style, then just wait for the rest! Get with today and quit shoving the Vietnam era in the won't knock and there were others, "teenie you for not wanting to go and boppers," who dressed, spoke and deter war, but don't berate those got on the bandwagon but who who have the willingness to didn't have a genuine ' pursue peace by hanging their understanding of that Titan issue: bodies in action. Vietnam. They acted out of peer pressure, to be a part of the "happening place of cowardice. I Robert Martinez Senior improve myself during the coming year. Resolutions have never occupied a high place on my list of things that are important. The idea that once a year we can make resolves to change ourselves somewhat like a seems If people really want to change themselves for the better they should make little changes all year long instead of taking the easy way of doing it all at once the (Besides being a cop-ou- t, also has approach another problem, it doesn't cop-ou- t. all-at-on- ce work.) Changes are inevitable, and changes can be for the better or for the worse. The world abounds with things that I would like changed, but unfortunately, many of those things seem beyond the reach of the average person. I have put together a list of changes I would like to issue to various people and groups. These are things that I have no to influence or control, Eower I would like to see happen during 1991. Wayne Owens: Finally come out and admit you vote the same way Ted Kennedy does. Genevieve Atwood: Get a to see Wilson Chronicle Asst. Editorial Editor new hair style. Mikhail Gorbachev: Defect while you still can. Bill Cosby: Make your show funny like it used to be. Jon Huntsman: Ask the U. to change the name of the Huntsman Center. Saddam Hussein: Admit the invasion of Kuwait was a bad idea and pray to Allah for forgiveness. The Utah Legislature: (1) Write some liquor laws that actually do what they are supposed to do. (2) For once, don't bow down to the almighty UEA. Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Announce your plans to run for office. Any office. George Bush: Go back to your original "no new taxes" plan (after one flip-flop nobody will mind another.) Dan Quayle: Beat the tar out of the next reporter that mentions you have a wimp image. Every member of the U.S. Congress: Request that the budget be cut for at least one federal project in your home states, refuse new spending for all projects, and make a budget that doesn't kiss the fanny of every special interest group under the sun. Assorted Environmentalists: Admit that one more parking lot on campus is not going to do a lick of damage to the earth. Utah Republican Party: Publicly declare that you do not have a monopoly on truth and light in Utah. I know the chances of seeing any of these challenges met is slim, but with each new year there is always hope. John B. Wilson is the assistant editorial editor at the Daily Utah Chronicle. Welcome BacM |
