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Show Page A28 The Salt Lake Tribune PINION FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2000 OUR VIEW The Salt Lake Tribune’s Editorial Position DOE Goofs Again Energy SecretaryBill Richardson and the department’s counterintelligence chief Edward Curran don’t think spies are behind the disappearance of more nuclear secrets from the Los Alamos National Laboratory. “There is no evi- dence that. espionageis involved,” says Curran. “The indicators just aren't there.” A typically thorough job by the DOE gang. Because no Chinese cigarette was found burning in an ashtray, they have ruled out espionage. The fact is, while they are praying that spies weren't involved, they have no idea what happened to two small computer hard drives filled with plans for disarming nuclear bombs. But whether they were taken or just misplaced doesn't matter. This latest security lapse should convince everyone that the DOE can’t be trusted with nuclearsecurity. DOE's history of security. incompetence offers some hope that the hard drives have only been misplaced. Perhaps the card-size units are being used as. coasters’ in the lab coffee shop or as wedges to stabilize a wobbly desk. But since research on perfecting nuclear weapons was downloaded to a nonsecure computer andprobablysentoff to Chinajustlast year, the FBIis taking no chances. It is giving polygraph tests to several employees. One might have expected the DOE to take a little more care after last year’s trouble, but as the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board reported last summer, the agency has mishandled thenation’s nuclear secrets for 20 years. China built its first neutron bomb in the 1980s using stolen U.S. secrets, then improved the design with information filched in 1995. The board’s report blamed a “dysfunctional bureaucracythat has proven incapable of reforming itself.” and it » recommended thatthe DOE turn nuclear security over to someone else. Richard- son resisted. He claimed internal reforms were working. Thenhesaid what must now have him aching for a time machine: “Americans canbe assured; our nation's nuclear secrets are today safe and secure.” Safe in the pocket of someforeign spy or secure in somecluttered Los Alamos drawer? At this point, it doesn’t really matter. Richardson and the DOE should be stripped of responsibility for U.S. nu- clear secrets. The Senate tooka half-step in that direction Wednesday, confirming. the CIA's No. 2 man to head a new nu- Cie “\OW! FROM UP HERE ALLTHELITTLE PEOPLE Wi @OT ME BCTED look EVEN UTHER!"| clear weapons agency within the DOE. The trouble is, the new agency won't be completely free of the DOE’s “dysfunctional bureaucracy,” and the new chief THE PUBLIC FORUM will still answerto Richardson. If America has any nuclearsecrets left, they aren’t safe yet. Letters from The Tribune’s readers Save Dumbo Animal-rights extremists long have been noted for their wackyantics,so it comesas no surprise that some of them now are demandinga federal ban onelephants in the circus. Elephants in the circus? That's right. If they have their way, there will no longer be elephants at the circus nor, probably, circusesatall. Recently, a coterie of these folks was on handinthenation’scapital to testify to the crying need for a bill soberly introduced by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., to outlawthe use of elephantsin circuses or for rides. Naturally, the approach was oblique; no frontal assault. Instead, the argument wasthat circus and zoo elephants are potentially dangerous because they occasionally can go berserk bathtubs. As a practical matter, circus elephants haveit pretty good. Their lives are not ones of mundanedaily existence, but onesfilled with activity. They are well cared for, even loved. Indeed, the familiarity with elephants gleaned by millions from circuses and zoos doubtless figures greatly in public acceptance of international bansontheillicit trade in elephant ivory. Manywill suspect the activists are less concerned about elephants(theyare, afterall, the symbolof the hated Republican Party) than they are about circuses and zoos. They probably are not wrong. The whines put forth by the animal- rights activists are not dissimilar to Exactly when and howdid the psychiatrists pull the woolover the eyes of the American people? Why do legislators keep fundingtheirfailing treatments and why do reporters keep writing about the plight of the Utah mental health budget? A recent Tribuneeditorial,titled “Adoption Subsidies Crisis,” has the soundofa broken record. The adoptive parents are distraught over not being able to pay for psych treatments and The Tribune's recommendationis for legislators to dish out yet more moneyto the psychs. Thefactstell a different story than the one presently portrayed. The Utah Department of Mental Health is far from suffering a financial crisis. In fact,it al- and bowlover or trample most anything grumpy complaints about the evils of in their path. Sure, it can happen. Not often enough to worry about, notoften enough tomake even the slightest dent in the waxing rodeos,horse races and mosteverything else in which animals figure. yet to prove themselveseffective or even Whateverthe eventualfate of circus human population, butstill, it infre- no dearth of that other circus staple — quently has occurred. Oneof the activ- the clown. These grave-faced animalrights activists bellying up to the witness ists, television game show host Bob Barker, claimed atleast 30 deaths since 1983, a number probablyexceeded by ac- cidents on pesky front porches or in tables at the House Judiciary Committee’s crime panelhearing on the Farrbill provethis. From The Los Angeles Times A Coda to Nixon’s Battles The government has ended 20 yearsof litigation by agreeing to pay $18 million to the Richard M. Nixonestate for the 44 million itemsit confiscated after Nixon resigned the presidency in disgrace in 1974. That might seem like a good deal given the estate’s demandfor $35 million plus compoundinterest, which brought its total claim to about $213 million. But most Americans probably wonder why the estate shouldbe paid anything. Nix: on, after all, was a public employee when he accumulatedthis vast archive. Theexplanationis that a U.S. appeals court held in1992 that Nixon wasentitled to compensation for the papers and tape recordings Congress had orderedconfis- cated out of fear that Nixon might de- helpful. Psychiatric treatments are horribly expensive yet do not require the use of expensive equipment or the expensive schooling of a highly trained surgeon. In 1994, psychs made up 17 percent of the doctors who received. Medicaid money but were responsible for 70 percentof the Medicaid fraud. Billions have also been spent on “research”butstill there is not even the hope of a cure for any mentalillness in sight, Those who undergo psychiatric treat- ANOTHERVIEW Presidential Records Act, making White Housepapers the propertyof the American people,butit appliedto future presidents. The appeals court left it to the lower court to decide what compensation Nixon should be paid. Theprivately funded Nixon Library is an anomaly.Presidents since Herbert Hoover have donated their papers to be held accountablefortheir actions, and promisesof help must be accompanied by hard evidence of workability before they are given another dime. One lady commented about the time the E Center opened up and ice hockey cameto West Valley City that it was only Whenmysister returned hometo visit shestayed with familyin the benches, She called one day and asked when was the e the pretty girl. He steals a loaf of bread from ‘an old woman's grocery sack and finds a way to meetthe pretty girl. Whatis really being taughtin this ad? Could it be thatit is OK to steal a loaf of breadfrom an elderly womanin order to make an impression ona pretty girl? How I find this very offensive and would like to see that ad discontinued.If we are can think of a better way to present this, Whynothavethe young mansitting down with his bagofgroceries and take his own bread to make the approach? The message is the same — “what wonderful peanut butter” but the element of stealing is gone. MARGARET NORBY Salt Lake City safest timetotravel to the westside area. Shefurther asked when the most patrolmen would be roaming the streets, keeping the peace. Old stereotypes and outdated impressions do go away but it seems ever so do own a shotgun and pistol. I do have some knowledge of weaponslearned the hard way. And now the purpose of this letter. A chuteh is a building set apart or consecrated for public worship (religious service). It aids the ecclesiastical govern: ment ofa particularreligious group, orits power, as opposed to secular government (check the dictionary). “When once thy foot enters the church, be bare. God is more there than thou: for thou art there only by his permission. Then beware, and make thyself all reverence and fear.” (George Herbert, English poet and parish priest, 1593-1633), Guns, or weaponsof any kind, should not be allowed in any place of worship. It is an affront to the worshipers and most certainly sacrilegious, Please do not allow this to happen. Let the lawmakers know how youfeel. And lawmakers should keep Dominic Welch webecome alandof voters, old worn-out impressions will cease, Our children will EDITOR James E. Shelledy growupwith an honest sense ofpride and in mind the provisions of the First successwill follow, Amendmentto our Constitution. JIM DAWES Salt Lake City have been within legal bounds it was not morally right. As long as the world and this community continue to accept the degrading gossip and trash that are ram- pantin oursociety through the media we are goingto continueourslideinto hell.Is this what you wantfor Milford?It is time the sheriff exposes all that he knows about the other Websites and pages. How about it, Ken Yardley? The world is DAVID and NANCY LAKE Parents of lan Lake ilford slowly. In the next 20-25 years as our people become moreformally educated and ; and Web sites they set the standard for whatis acceptable. Thetrashdid not start with Ian. No threats of violence were contained in Ian’s Website though he did use quotes from some objectionable sources for their shock value: The threats were contained in a previous Website thatIan did not author. The sheriff knows whoauthored these other Web pages, yet he has failed asofthis date to bring any of these to justice. Does this seem like selective prosecution to you? It does to us, Ian’s parents. Ian used the language hedid because its standard had been set by the previous Webpages that he was protesting against. He reported in his Web pages whathad been reported to him byothers. Gossip is only funny if it is about someoneelse,Ian is a mirrored reflection of this community andhis school. If you don’t like what yousee it is time for this community to change and to change yourselves. We wantto makeit clear to this community wedo not condone Ian’s behaviorin this matter. Though he may waiting. PUBLISHER KEARNS-TRIBUNE CORPORATION, 143 8, MAIN ST. SALT LAKE CITY, S411T ¢ girl is tasting a “gourmet” peanut butter andthen dabsit on herself to attract men. Walking downthe street a handsome man is alerted by this smell and hurries after lamaretired God-fearing infantryman from World WarII, Korea and Vietnam.I right that West Valley got the hockey Jerry O'Brien(1983-1994) Promoting Theft On TV a current ad is inappropriate and dangerous to young people.A pretty (Tribune, May21). This article reminded meofa few choice commentsI have heard from eastsiders referring to the west side residents. building. She went onto say that hockey is a rough and tough gamewith plenty of fisticuffs. Hockey will fit right in over there because theylike to mix it up. John W. Gallivan (1960-1983) ing nothingto stop these previous papers Armed Worshipers ures that taxpayers’ support for the PASTPUBLISHERS John P. Fitzpatrick (1924-1960) submissions are Change Comes Slowly the private route. This week's settlement UTAH'S INDEPENDENTVOICESINCE1871 all @ Mail to Public Forum, The Salt Lake Tribune, P.O. Box 867, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110 @ Our fax numberis (801) 257-8950. T read Dan Egan’sarticle, “West East, Divided Valley’s Path to Equality” ing a lower court, the appeals court found that presidents since George Washington had regardedtheir official papers as private property and that no exception should be made for Nixon. Congress in 1978 had enacted the The Salt LakeTribune received, not published. Salt Lake City would pféclude such support, chose to go libi ry will be forthcoming anyway. At @ Letters are condensed andedited. ™@ Because of the volume of mail CYNDY WRIGHT taxpayer-supported libraries. Nixon, supposedly worried that public disgust least the public can take comfort in andhis peers at Milford High School. The manyyearsofselective discrimination he has been dealt by Walt Schofield along with some of the members of this community justified a response. The standard he used for his Website wasnot set by him but by the previous November Hilltop Echo column andthe previous Websites that he did not author. When the community, teachers, his peers, and Walt Schofield accepted by do- likely to be published. @ Please type and double space. tryingto influence our youngpeople to be honest,this is not the way. Even with my limited understanding of advertising, I incriminating or embarrassing knowing that Nixon's suit will be the last ofits kind, express his anger with this community developing a single theme are more seek help because they are well aware that oncein psych hands, their rights and dignity are at great risk. Funding psychiatry is a government waste and mustbe cut. The psychs must Watergate-related evidence. Overturn: stroy Public Forum, pleaseinclude your full name, signature, address and daytime telephone numbers. Information other than your nameand the city in which you live are kept confidential. @ Keep it short. Concise letters many times might this ad be shown and give that impression? no Calif. The Nixon family’s share will be onlyabout $90,000. This statement by the parents of Ian Lakeis in response to your May 26 and May27 editions. Thank youforbeingfair in reportingthis issue. Weare so very thankful that our son choseto use the pen ratherthan the gun to ments find themselves addicted to mindaltering drugs and often times worse off than before. The great majority of those whosuffer from mental symptomsdo not Nixondied in 1994, buthis estate continued the legal battle. Lawyers surprise here — will take the bulk of the settlement, while about$6 million will go to the Richard M. Nixon Library and Birthplace Foundation in Yorba Linda, @ When submitting letters to the ready claims over $66 million in state money and over $72 million in federal funds. What this meansis that taxpayers are shelling out over $134 million hardearned dollarsfor “treatments” that have elephants, one thing is certain. There is Modeled Behavior Where to Write Medical Charlatans? Q Marital Onus Regarding John Dunlap’s a male will have multiple sexual partners and children, but not be married to any of them, is commonin innercity neighborhoods. Frequently, the women are under 16 andhence statutory rape wouldalso be an issue, but these cases are not prosecuted under rape or polygamy laws. Should Tom Green be singled out because he actually married the women? Should he be legally better off doing what is com— in inner cities and just not marry them? GENE ROBERTS é HAL HEATON vO Ogden . letter (“Parasitic Lifestyle,” Forum, May 31) aboutthetrial of Tom Green(the polygamist), several weeks ago a 6-year-old boy shothis 6-year-old classmate in Chicago.” As I understandit, the boy's father (who was in jail at the time of the shooting) had six children by three different women — all of whom were on welfare. Apparently, such a situation in which r t |
