Show tf w BEST AVAILABLE COPY i f' K iJ: I-- v '-:' :y : April 6 2604 4 - v:-f'- v vv-r: : 1 The Herald Journal National view 1 ' Cost of Medicare cannot be secret V: T he investigative arm of Con- - ' guess should look into whether administration officials intentionally withheld the correct figures on the cost of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit : Recently an actuary in the Health ' and Human Services Department claimed that he had correctly cqlcu- lated the cost at more than $500 billion before the bill was passed but his supervisor within the department prohibited him from sharing that information with Congress That kind of secrecy can’t be tolerated Lawmakers and the public should have known the cost of the program The correct cost should ' have been part of the debate over the lull It probably would have changed I nation Congress should investigate and take action against any violation of federal law ' Looking Commentary at Powell’s legacy ByJack Anderson and Douglas Cohn Nothing Powell said before the United Nations turned out to be true from the allegations of weapotis of mass destruction to die images of a van supposedly moving harmed weapons Even the intelligence interfor die occasion cepts proved bogus Still Powell’s speech was riveting More than anybody in die administration including die president Pow- ell brought a credibility of purpose to the looming confrontation with a Muslim country He turiied skeptics into believers solely on the strength of who he is and the stature he brought to the debate The last time anybody could remember a UN speech having such impact was when Adlai Stevenson President Kennedy’s U JJ sador stood before the assembled nations to present evidence of Soviet-missiles in Cuba Stevenson’s 1962' performance served as tire model for Powell’s presentation with one cru- cial difference Unlike Stevenson Powell did not have fully vetted and accurate intelligence to back up his case for war Stevenson briefed America’s European allies on the emerging crisis and former Secretary of State Dean Acheson went to Paris and offered proof to President Charles de Gaulle But de Gaulle made it clear that nothing further was required tire word of the president was enough v Look where we have Come since that moment of solidarity No foreign leader today would say the word of the US president is good without United Feature Syndicate 1 to the world By Nat Hentoff I was asked to speak in New York before graduate students from 71 countries study' ing in the United States tinder the which Fulbright Program promotes mutual understanding between us and other countries It was an honor since in 1950 1 studied in Paris tinder this program established by the late Sen William Fulbright The theme of this year’s sessions organized by the Institute of Intema- tional Education and funded by the State Department was an individfirst-ye- ual’s ttspon- sibilitv to ' society during an age when tire focus is op- - ar ' individual rights 1 told the students that in this consti- - - r tuuonal democracy itts the individ- yal s responsibility —especially in a wM- agamst such a ruthless elusive and widespread enemy as we now Tace - to help safeguard the rights that are the very definition of the United Stalest But our leaders are £ weakening some of these individual For example I pointed biit rights l tire president and attorney' general are omriivorously expanding elec- - ? tropic search and surveillance eroding our Fourth Amendment right not be arrested" To emphasize my point I cited the gathering bipartisan resistance in Congress and in cities and towns across the nation against government overreaching Another student said however that it’s necessary to restrict some liberties to disable terrorists My ' response was that there is a need to improve federal law enforcement not disable our liberties For instance the “new” FBI still doesn’t have enough agents who speak Arabic or translators who can read the language and many local and state police officers maintain that the FBI remains imperious and doesn’t fully cooperate in terrorism investigations Another example of incompetent investigatory techniques: I asked why alleged terrorist Jose Padilla was arrested at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport instead of being followed to learn the contacts he was making Also instead ofgaining the confidence and cooperation of those American Muslims opposed to the ' hijacking of their religion by 'the 11 was the post-SejihsdistSt roundup of hundreds of Muslims jtiough noncwere tied to terrorism some were deported for law violations and accordingly other Muslims have become fearful wheallte FBI knocks ontheijcdooh It is not necessary io limit civil liberties of Americans I said The v administration should 'demand more: resourceful investigative leadership pt -- ? v - A lopnViq--whiltimistiligth- Actions im wilhinlhe boun ' ' ofthe -f Constitution Is tt hot a citizen’s responsibility lb challenge them oh their responsible VMy to thtfl fundamental document? ' “If this is what your government is doing one student asked“how can: 'the United States credibly preach itsway of govemmeiit to pedpie in - countries whose leaders have no ' :J ' - respect for their rights?’’ ’ I “I am “Because responded speaking to you in criticizing my V ' gpvernment and when I leave ! will : ‘ - ' - ‘ egregiously yiolating the human rightspf their own people I agreed citing the resumption of black Sudaneseslayery and gang rapes in the Darfur region by Sudan’s Nation al Islamic Front government This despite American officials speaking confidently of an imminent peace ’’ See LIBERTY on A7 first demanding evidence Even Prime Minister Tony Blair Bush’s staunchest ally is in no position to fully vouch for Bush because of the distrust in Britain over hyping the reasons for going to war and the absence of weapons of mass destruction President Reagan used to say his attitude toward the Soviets was “This! but verify” words that seem apt today except in reverse It’s how foreign leaders feel about us Powell put aside his reservations about going to war with Iraq Now that he knows he’s most likely leav- ing the administration he should be more concerned about what’s best for the country rather than what’s best for the Bush White House That does- n’t mean he will have to turn on his friends in tire administration But he would be wise to concede some failing of Ins own or collectively for a halting response to terrorism before : Sept 11 and a subsequent preoccupa- tion with Iraq that critics say diverted resources from Afghanistan and allowed Osama bin Laden to esciqre ' What Powell does from this point forward will detennine his legacy He was tire first African-Americ- an to chair the Joint Chiefs and to achieve the coveted post of Secretary of State Will he be remembered for his : - : - meritorious climb to the top cwill thatone speech to tire United Nations tarnish his place in the history - - :''f books? -- V: Political correspondent Eleanor Clift contnDutoQ 10 mis column- - Lowmakors -- Here j a fist of addresses and phone nunjbereforsomeotCacheValley’s representatives in government ' - Doug Thompson 1567 Lynnwood ' Ave Logan’ 753-689- 9 COUNOL Lataine SwOnson 1150 E 50 South V-Logan 84321755-818- 3 LOGAN-MUNICIP- 753019 South PI 232-130- 4 716-710- ‘Attorney! George Daines11 W 100 North Logan 84321 4 718-836- 1 50 r- Steven C Taytor - 19QE Center Joseph 0 ter r - 84321753-752-9 - Executive: Lynn Lemon 179 N Main Logan 84321 717171 Assessor Kathleen Howefl 179 N 0 : Main Logan 84321 Paul Cook —representing the southAuditor Tamara Stones 179 Neast district — 445 Glenwood Clide Main Lpgan 84321 716-712-3 Providence 84332 752-196-4 ' Clerk: ‘M Zollinger 179 NiMMn Cory Yeates -- represe nting Logan r district Nq 281 S 100 East : -- Logan 84321 716-71v Logan 84321 752-902-7 Michael L Qleed 179 N Reopideh Kathy Robteqn —representing Main Logan 84321716-7180- Legan district No 2— 335 N 40Q Sherfff: Lynn Nelson 80 WL 200 : West Logan 84321 753-510-9 North 84321 750-740-0 Ugan — Petersen Craig representing Logan district No 3— 1440 E 1220 r V' Treasurer Karen A Jeppessen 179 ‘ NMairi Logan 84321 716-839- 4 North Logan 84341 752-677-8 SteyeThompson 37S200West 755-781- 6 38 84319245-658- ' 52-13- BRANCH Lewiston 84320 258-52v S Brian Chairibers representing the northeast cBstrict— 654 E 2160 North North Logan 84341 John A-- Hansen —ropresenting the south district— 252 EMain Hyrum 752-057- ? Logan 84321 : Tami Pyfer CACHE COUNTY EXECUTIVE Darrel LeeGibbons ' the north district -8- —representing 40 S 1600 West Mawiliww Several students criticized tire j Bu ain!stration for not calting sufficient intention to some of our allies in the war on terrorism who are - is widely assumed that Colin Powell will leave the Bush administration after one term even if PresiSome of his dent Bush is admirers think he should have resigned long ago As! lone dove in an aviary of hawks Powell pushed for greater emphasis on diplomacy in the after- math of Sept 11 and resisted going to war with Iraq without the blessing of the United Nations He was rebuffed at every turn Yet the key monrent on tire road to war was Pow- ell going before the United Nations and Ikying out in detail the urgent case for invading Iraq and disarming Saddam Hussein Without Powell putting his pres-tig-e on the line before the country and the world Bush would have had a much harder time persuading the American public that war was necessary If ever there was a moment whien Powell’s resignation could have averted War that was the time' He chose instead to advance tire administration’s case for immediate military action v' C Needham - 250 W Car(cell) ‘ : CACHE COUNTY COUNCIL Non - 'I T- v ' i v - me Opinion page U intended to acquaint readers with variety d viewpoint! on metteis ‘1 x Vi’ RtoN AND iw Horw Journal :' xjBTttRte-n-jMttEHN-rT'fe'Ar'- J Herald Journal vTCWccttwcv: 'WLL9tHGRLMW ' the outcome Federal lawmakers are using this as an excuse and as a coyer for their own duplicity Members of Congress knew that they had underestimated the cost of this new Medicare program But they were eager to pass it and create the appearance that they were helping elderly citizens afford their prescriptions Now it is helpful for them to have someone else to blame for the low cost estimates they used to justify the program That kind of thing happens all die time But if investigators find that employees were threatened to keep the cost information secret that behavior crosses the sometimes" ' fuzzy line between spinning the political debate and lying to the HerekKIoumal Spartanburg SC R ' TtLL :r I rt i i wMonisi-MM- v int dupe Potertkdy SmUus or dflamlvsletten:' wif not be pubWied however and IM edtor iMerves the right to edR al lettari to conform to ire length and Oytoraquire(Tianti of the " Personal eofamne cartoon end toners from Jyfwtttenand doUsMpeoed No more ttn450 words in Ipnglh readers reOeci the opinlone of (heir writori and creators' EdMoriato under toe hearing Our Addressed and include ttoyme phone ! 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