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Show The Salt Lake Tribune OPINION Sunday, April 23, 2000 AA3 START II: Biggest Non-Story or a Good Chance to Restart Disarmament? attention to world affairs that helped Bill ("The economy, stupid”) Clinton beat him two months But Boris obviously enjoyed every minute ofthe ceremonies. He was still new and marching cheering crowds? Did anybody at all notice that Russia just ratified START I, that landmark treaty —— cutting their, and our, nuclear warheads’ Somehow, those things are not sexy anymore. about. Since then, it pretty much has been like: “Nuclear nonproliferation? Oh. Yeah, RUSSIAN VIEW I guess that’s OK. So what's happening otherwise?” “A treaty with Russia? Right. Wake me up when Oprah starts.” Occasionally, both sides remembered about the disarmament, but that never lasted long. in the capacity of Russia's top leader, it had been only one year since he kicked Gorbachev outof his posh Kremlin office, They were, though. Remember — just 14 and signing a disarmamenttreaty with the years ago, in 1986, the entire world seemed to hold its breath while President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev were sweating bullets in Reykjavik, Iceland, trying to hammer out a disarmament United States helped the ex-maverick feel important. Besides, he was dying to show the West that he is better, friendlier, simpler to deal with than Gorbachev. And, incidentally, the it actually was a good one — it halved each side's nuclear arsenals to 3,000-3,500 warheads.Still way too many, of course, but certainly more manageable,not just for the weak Russian economy,butfor the healthy United States as well. agreement — a prettylame one by today’s standards?It onlydealt with “limitations,” CL” in SALT) not “reductions” ("R” in START), of the numbers of nuclear war heads, but when Reagan and Gorbachev eventually failed to deliver, the “Bo-o-0” was loud enough to hear in most remote corners of the planet. Even in January 1993, in cold wintry Moscow, when President Bush joined Boris Yeltsin to sign STARTI, it still was a big deal and felt like history in the making. Well, maybe not so much for Bush who Yeltsin’s mood didn’t last for too long. Hequicklyrealized howlittle the Russians — impoverished and preoccupied with survival — care about disarmament. It was remarkably different compared with the old Soviet times, when you could hear hot debates -about the nuclear threat ev- by that time already had lost his presi- erywhere, dency and probably hated foreign policy — after all, partially it was his excessive beerhalls. So, the treaty was put on the back including Moscow's shabby Enter Vladimir Putin. Healthy and rel. atively young 47 — it may taketime before the ruthless Kremlin power system turns him into another Brezhnev or Yeltsin. Pragmatic, articulate and energetic, he didn’t hesitate for too long after being elected presidentto start acting. MICHAEL NAKORYAKOV burner, with sporadic and always unsuccessful attempts to get it ratified by the pro-CommunistRussian parliament. In many ways, it was the same in the United States. START II wasratified by USS.Senate in 1996, but only a few people actually seemed to care. Reagan andhis predecessors did such a fine job convincing Americans that the Soviet Union was the only source ofevil in the world, they actually started believing that. And when the Soviet Union finally imploded in 1991, everybody concluded that’sit. The evil is gone. Nothing to worry Despite loud Communist objections, STARTII wasratified by the Russian parliament three weeksafter the presidential election. Putin actually wants to get the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty ratified soon, too. That mayput Clinton in a tough spot during his first summit with the new Rus. sian leader June 4-5 in Moscow particu. larly since the U.S. Senate killed the nu clear test-ban accord last October. Armscontrollikely will be the central topic of the cummit, with Clinton seeking toovercome vociferous Russian objections to a proposed U.S. missile defense system. The United States wants Russia to permit modifications to the 1972 Antiballistir Missile (ABM) Treaty so it can build a defense against “rogue” states such as North Korea Russia fears that the U.S. plan would undermine the detérrentvalue of its owh missiles. Putin has said thatif the United States backs outof the ABMtreaty, he will tear up the STARTII arms agreement and all other arms control agreements with Washington as well. Actually, he may not have to tear up anything — one of the STARTII 1997 protocols is directly connected with the ABM Treaty provisions. If Senate Majority leader TrentLottsets aside some time from his attempts to make Elian Gonzalez stay in this country, he maylead the Senaté Republicans toward killing the protocol, and, consequently, STARTII accord. Lott already said he maydoit Maybe it's time to start paying attention to armscontrol again. Michael Nakoryakov is aneditor at the Tribune's World News Desk. Until 1991, he was a journalist in Moscow, Russia. Nakoryakov welcomes email at michaelun@sltrib.com Mayor Anderson Is Demanding — andSalt Lake Is Lucky to Have Him children and wife's needsfirst and for appointed keystaff positions. tions the campaigner had accom- My concern is that if reporters really is a well balanced candidate. from the mainstream media continue to coverelected officials or candidates in a tabloid fashion, The appointed staff positions aren't meantto be a career, with our tax dollars for the residents of plished. I have since accomplished a great deal working with this individual, even though find the worka clash of conscience. There have been manyoccasions that I It was healing to work with Jim Bradley, but afterwards I missed indecent separation benefits that greatly harm the taxpayers of Salt aren't appointed and provide the will any self respecting citizen de- the feeling that I had doneall I sire to run for public office? An could, making a difference for de- article appeared just before the mocracy, even if the race is lost. the one whogivestheirall, at the expense of everything elsein their LakeCity. Mayor Andersonhashis priorities straight for the city at this critical time. He is a hands on manager, which is better than a handsoff, out of sight, out of town lives, unless they can afford the high cost of media. Termlimits and campaign reform are needed in order to have a_ healthy mayor. I’m thankful for the attention to fine details that the mayor puts forth, knowing that he will be able to take full responsibility for individual, stating the contribu- BY TAMERA CHERI BAGGETT Mayor Rocky Anderson will give anyonea chance,ifthey desire to do the work. Unfortunately this leads to higher turnover than ifthe mayor were exclusivein his hiring practices. Political operatives aren't al- have witnessed Rocky peacemaker among employees. ways able to makethe transition playing diverse The first candidate I had worked for was the mayor’s chief ofstaff, Deeda Seed, whois just as dedicated to social justice. I then worked on Anderson’s 1996 cam- from an adversarial position to a public servant. Rocky values the work that employees and volun- teers putforth. Thefact that Rocky was elected in a wide talented field of candidates, is because there are thousandsofpeople, whobelieve in the mayor’s vision for Salt LakeCity. They know heis a rare individual, who has the knowledge, dedication, ethics, along with the desire to do the work ofcreating a city thatis inclusiveofall residents. I don’t agree with everything that Rocky has donewith hisstaff in the past, I think he’s too soft! There have been times when I thought he should have kicked someoneto the curb in a heartbeat! In one case,I've even threatened Rockywith quitting unless he disposed of a campaign worker who lacked ethics. Rocky begged meto forgive the paign and Seed wasstaffing our opposition in the primary. I've worked on several races since then, only to becomedisillusioned with candidates that aren’t willing to put in a grassroots approach to elections. I once stacked up several boxes of brochures on a candidate’s front filled with other causes. general elections in October of 1999, that consisted of the most despicable questions. Rocky’s opponent refused to dignify the questions with any answers. Rocky, on the other hand, courageously re- sponded to the insulting questions frori the press. At the sametime, another newspaperdid an in depth story on Rocky's personal quali- porch,right up against their front door, leaving no room for them to get in or out. This is how I feel about candidates who neglect the voice ofthe peoplein the process of a campaign, they leave the people with no wayto participate. When this candidate decided in the final hoursto get out and hear the voice of the people, I did what I could to help, but by then my schedule was ties. I was quite impressed with the candid responses, asI felt he shared way more than I would have. Rocky has been oneof the mosthonest candidates that Utah has everbeen witnessto;his forthright honesty is one of the factors that lost him the 1996 race for Congress. I had planned to work on Rocky’s 1999 campaign, but due to cancer and majorsurgery,I had to decline. I knew his expectations and I wouldn't have been able to measure up. I worked for another candidate who enjoysthe political process, but he put his young The candidate that wins is often democracy. Jim Bradley commented often, “whoever winstheelection will be taking on Salt Lake City at the worst time in history — burdened with enormous debt, years of neglect of the infrastructure, and the the campaignof Rocky. Our police officers, firefighters, publicservice workers and the manyothers who keep the city running seven days a week, 24 hours a day deserve a mayor who will fight for ple, the the abandoned grocery carts: I spent three weeks calling valiant public servants they represent. The people elected the best the neighborhood grocery -store candidate for the job. The media asking them to pick up an aban. must report the news andleave the gossip to the tabloids. We electeda fighter, but underneath that tough exterior is a kind hearted compas- doned cart on myfront lawn. My landlordended up throwing it into the trash dumpster,after the grocery cart was used bya thief to get into my apartment. When a mayorsets a standardforthecity, have both Mayor Rocky Anderson and DeedaSeed ashischiefof staff at this time. Only those who are able to put forth the dedication, team effort and energy need apply necessary services, we need in or- der to thrive — were fully behind whatthecityis doing. For exam- world for the Winter Olympics of 2002.’ Bradleyhasdifferent priorities public servant. We'reprivileged to this city. The employees — who them to have a living wage and benefits. The mayormustinsurethat his appointed staff is worthy of the financial burden of hosting the than Anderson and I'm sure in the future, Bradley will continue to makea valuable contributionsas a mayor whowill fight to conserve thestaff and the habitants tend to measure up. sionate manwith a great sense of humor, Life isn’t a beauty pageant, let us notbe so superficial. Leave that to the cartoonist, like Bagley. So, we have a mayorfor the next four years whom I know will make a difference in behalf of Salt Lake City. Mayor Rocky would never win Mr. Congeniality, but running the city isn’t comparable to running in a beauty pageant. I want a Tamera Cheri Baggett has worked on several campaigns for candidates and issues, including welfare reform, childcare, housing, social and economicjustice and living wages. EZULIN Attention users of Rezulin has been linked to liver dysfunction. Rezulin use also has been linked to the need for liver transplants, and has even beenlinked to death. On March 21, 2000, the Federal Food and Drug Administration announced that Rezulin would promptly be withdrawn from sale. If you are suffering from any health problems related to Rezulin, you may have a claim against its manufacturer. Call us today for more information. 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Be of Good Cheer AuthorAllen Burgess discusses the fundamentaldoctrines the Whenyournextchild, grandchild, niece or nephew is born, make sure you reserve keepsakeeditions of the newspaperprinted the day your baby was born,as well as those editions featuring the birth (shows you how you can live a happier life by living those doctrines. announcement. Lighten Up! Chieko Okazakiinvites us to take @ Four packaged keepsake editions of the newspaperprinted the day your baby was born, sealed in polyurethanefor long-life protection. @ Fiveadditional copies of the issue containing your baby’s birth announcement. @ All nine copies are bundled and delivered right to your door. DeHaltLakeTribune To ordercall (801) 237-2932 or e-mail edillon@nacorp.com ® Ta OnMaaya wt Order period limited to 30 daysfrom the birth date and while supplieslast. Allow three weeks for delivery. Birth announcements are available from Salt Lake, South Davis, and Utah Countyarea hospitals only. 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