| OCR Text |
Show Ag The Salt Lake Tribune OPINION Tuesday, January 30, 1996 Peace Often Depends on Using Military wrong with peacemaking? Would GEORGIE ANNE GEYER you warmongers rather have him talk eternally about waging war? Before we answer the hoary warmonger accusation, let us listen to the president. Thereis ‘not a single Russian missile pointedat America’s children.” North Korea has “frozen its dangerous nu- clear weapons.” InHaiti, “the dic- tators are gone.” We “stood up UNIVERSAL PRESS for peace in Bosnia.” added the chilling, WASHINGTON — Manyobvineed in the always revealing ate of the Union address. It did not escape attention that this There he ‘Remember the skeletal prisoners, the mass graves, the cCAmpAIBUE OLE De and torture have given way to the promise of peace. Yes, Russian missiles are, at least momentarily, not stalking our every footstep when we goto don't they? Oddlyenough, the foreign polivy part of the speech — in which the grocery store. Nonetheless that welcome reality is almost entirely due to the massive military strength that the United States displayed unwaveringly for 70 years. North Korea? The 1994 agreement was built on the basis of 37,000 American troops in the South, plus, of course, the cr South Koreanforces. his ideas have not changed — has Our actions in Haiti I surely ap- vear’s message, from the same man who only two years ago would have given us one of the most centralized health-care tems in the world, is now: “The era of Big Governmentis over! So, all right, leave the poor guy sione — smart people change gone almost unnoted. Andthere he showed unequivocallythat we have the sameBill Clinton as always when he beganthat section of the address with: “We must not be the world’s policeman. But we can and should be the world’s ery best peacemaker One can hear the other peacemakers tsk-tsking here in antici- pation. “What.” they will ask, “is plaud. But the miserable two-bit military thugs there thumbed their noses at even the United States of America, until we sent the troops in (and then, most unfortunately, paid the generals to leave). It is concerning Bosnia though, that I “loseit” altogether Forthefact is that this administration for three years studiously ignored and denied all those skeletal prisoners and mass graves.” when arms to the Bosni ans and a strong and convincing use of NATO airpower could have all those skeletons walking around today. Again. it was the reality of Western airpower, plus the exhaustion of all parties on the ground, that led to this won drous “promiseof peace” in Bos- nia It is not that we should be stomping aroundthe world looking for trouble. To the contrary! American power should be used wisely, but unmistakably The problemwith Bill Clinton's prognosis is that he sees America somekindof wonderfully well-meaning peacemaker whereas real peacemaking canoc curonly after military power has been shown. Oftenin history, mil- itary powerhas deterred conflict In many w the president's foreign policy approachis equivalent to what is happening inside America today. We want the bud get balanced, we want welfare reformed, wewant the deficit cut — but we don’t wantto haveto use the world, too. we want everybody to behave, and wewant to offer MIAMI — Winningisn’t every thing,” said Vince Lombardi. theonly thing.’ “It's He regretted that I sure as hell didn't mean for people to crush humanvalues and morality Even so, he was a winner, and the epitome of the hard-slugging coach. (“There are three important thingsinlife: family, religion. and the Green Bay Packers.) Hence the most popular word in the languageof menfolk: coach He(and of late there are many female coaches) can do no wrong His pronouncements make instant news. His rewardsareakin to the ransom of kings. Sports enthusiasts can name every coach of every important team engaged in a ma- jorsport. Football writers in par- ticular invoke his name as the quintessential leaderandearly on lead their stories with “Coach Blank’s Blinkers as though he were a collective noun He is permitted anexcess ofexaggeration, such as Coach Tad Jones, speaking to the Yale team: What the president did nottell tons will work in Bosnia popularly as gems of wisdom. He is as well a psychologist who is able to appraise character and when the quarterback is tiring andshould be jerked Coach is almosta termofrever- forth on the greatest mission of is it. In his omniscience. he always Harvard in football.” Old Yalies Harvards. In New Haven and Cambridge only onecollegefoot ball game is recognized: YaleH d. It is referredto as “the game. Great coaches are legendary Knute Rockne, of course, and his ‘Gipper,” played in a “B” movie by someone whose nameescapes mefor the moment; “Bear” Bry- ten Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment — “Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican — so completely that the nomina will not work at home, any more than mediating among the skele ence. If there is a seculardeity, he yourlives —youare about to play ble. But Republicans have forgot- us in his speech was the most important part: that painless reform proval. Coach is also a philoso pher whose inanities are regarded recruits thebest players possible His game planis always the work of a genius Noreasonably good coach is ever without a job. If he can't coach, he can sell bonds, If he can coach, he moves fromjob to job THE WASHINGTON POST WASHINGTON — In Iowa and New Hampshire. you cannot turn on the TV or radio without seeing or hearing one Republican presi dential candidate carving on an other one. Steve Forbes comes close to ¢ Bob Dole a liar and Dole assails Forbes for tested leadership’ ideas.” and The negative ads “un “risks have spread to Sen. Phil Gramm. R Texas, and former Tennessee iov. Lamar Alexander Rank-and-file Republicans are complaining about the meanness with which their hopefuls are treating each other But Haley sarbour. the Republican national sometimes falling back but usual- chairman, has not stirred himself jest restraint ly ascending. Thereis evera place for a Lou Holtz. that he wants to preserve his rep: Women, say some men, cannot When asked why. Barbour says utation for impartiality. implying that any jawboning on his part ant andhis great runner, Forrest understand all of this. One of themis supposed to have asked where on the field does the But man is forever the chauvinist wait nervously for his or her ap- pig and can root onlyfor himself are about policy and are factually based. I'm not going to try to keep. Gump: “Pop” Warner, etc Players who idealize himor her hunchback of Notre Dame play Instead, because of the success Barbour told me 3arbour has been brilliant in his first three years in the job. and his decision not to be a whistle: blower may keep himout of trou therapeutic peacemakers. Gentlemen, you are about to go understand this hyperbole. So do this pristine.” DAVID S. BRODER our services only as nice, positive Most Revered Title Among Men: Coach DON SHOEMAKER KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWSPAPERS Forbes Forces GOP to New Game Plan any kindof forceto doit. Out in would be interpreted as an effort to protect Dole’s early lead in the polls. “As long as the differences tion winner may be badly scarred before he ever has to step into the ring against Clinton With Dole’s response to the Clinton State of the Union ac dress drawing negative doubts are growing about his abil ity to wrap up the nomination ear ly. so the bloodletting could go on for a long time Meantime. the Republicans’ pet issue of 1996 is also taking it on the chin Barbour and other partystrate. gists have planned for more than a year to make radical simplifica tionof the tax codethe main eco nomic plank intheir platform and the foundation oftheir promise to improve take-home pay for mil lions of middle-class families But House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas. the congressional proponent leading of the flat tax idea. told me last week that he is worried the debate version of the flat tax. They call it a crazy idea” that would threat en “to shift the tax burden from the super-rich to middle-income taxpayers Armey. who is supporting fel low-Tex says he would have a hard time defending the Forbes flat tax. “It sounds like he took my 1994 prop said, Arme “and I'm sorry he sult with me.” after further didn't con because in 1995 analysis. Armey vised his plan to reduce revenue losses to the gov ent, and to make it less likely that middle class families would lose money in the deal Everydollar that Dole, Gramm and Alexander spend ‘orbes' flat tax is a boor to the Democrats. The flat tax may have so man holes shot in it by conventior time that it won't be available a the unifying ec nomic message for the fall cam paign need a new game plan publican presidential hopefuls We'vereducedour 14 day advance purchasefare, and So vou can Start saving today. Tati en: pees parermet arPF;‘the L-Ctew catalog discounted-50%-70% January 31, Bites February 1-3, 9am-9pm February 4, 9am-—Spm 355-9800 multi shooting at each other through February 7, we'll even waive that requirement 7ANGUARD AIRLINES self-financed. Without that cover. Republi cans risk a renewed focus on a so That's right, VanguardAirlines will fly you to Denver for just $19, one way. Andwith our 4 daily nonstops it'll be easy for you to take advantage of this great deal. Of course, our $19 seats are limited So call vour travel agent or Vanguardtoday Forbes’ moting the flat tax. Dole. Alexan der, Gramm and former television commentator and co! umnist Patrick J. Buchanan all have been slamming the Forbe the primaries is tainting that plan Thad hoped it wouldn't get too much discussion until after the primaries.” Armey said, “so it wouldn't become atarget’ of Re- ANGUARD TO DENVER FOR $19 Now, vou knowall airlines will show you their best prices At Vanguard, even if you can't plan ahead you'll never pay m¢ re than $89 to fly us to Denver. What other airline can say that? in of million-dollar ad campaign pro Cures Ryer ecog POOP ISSO)Sie CeCe ST es CL 801 261-0757 cial-issue agen¢ da that mobilizes the conservative b ase but costs them support among Perot back ers and other independents. The |
