OPINION
University Daily Kansan, June 19. 1985
Page 4
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News staff
Jeff Craven, Editor
Michael Grotty, Managing Editor
Chris Lazarcino, Editorial Editor
Andrew Hartley, News Editor
Janeve Eagle, Counsel
Susanne Shaw, General Manager, News Advisor
Brett McCabe...Business Manager
Mark Schick...Retail Advertising Manager
Eric Scheck...National/Campus Manager
John Oberzan...Sales and Marketing Adviser
Contra-aid switch
A most interesting development has been taking place within the Democratic ranks in the House of Representatives ever since the House approved humanitarian aid to the Nicaraguan contras last Wednesdav by a vote of 248-184.
Seven weeks ago, the Democrat-controlled House decided that we should not give any aid to the contrasts. Immediately after that vote, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega visited Moscow. That visit stirred up some of the House Democrats, who had second thoughts about denying aid to the contrasts.
Most of them didn't have second thoughts about the vote because of any great ideals about helping the rebels. They were scared because they could be damaged politically by being labeled as "soft on communism."
All of a sudden, aid that would be tantamount to going to war with Nicaragua, as some Democrats would have us believe, is approved to save political careers. It is good that the aid was approved, but it should have been approved in April.
It is not surprising that the Democrats have been hypocritical as of late, because they are being led by House Speaker Thomas O'Neill.
O'Neill said his Democratic legions deserted him because they were scared of the power of Ronald Reagan. O'Neill had been left high and dry because of political fear and he didn't like it. He wanted them to vote his way out of fear of his political power.
Rep. John Murtha, D-Penn., gave a moving speech and helped lead the Democratic surge to the side of the Republicans, even though he was a close friend of O'Neill's. Murtha knew that he had to do what he thought was right, even if that meant he had to go against his powerful friend. O'Neil should have granted Murtha that right, but he didn't. He considered Murtha's defection a personal betrayal.
"He is one of my dearest friends in the House." O'Neill said. "I am unset. I am very, very unset with him."
Watch out. Rep. Murtha, someone is out to get you, and it isn't Ronald Reagan.
Rep. Dave McCurdy, D-Okla., also helped with the Democratic switch. For that, he is certain to face hard times in the House.
"He put the knife in us," O'Neill said. "I put him on the Intelligence Committee because Eddie Boland (D-Mass), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee) asked me to. What does that tell you about his judgment?"
Don't pass the buck, Mr. Speaker. What does that tell us about your judgment?
Curious spy case
There is something about the incredible Walker spy-scandal that isn't right. Those accused of spying haven't been convicted in any court of law, but they have been convicted by popular opinion.
Popular opinion wasn't formed out of nothing. The whole case has been fueled by intense coverage from the media, which in turn was fueled by government officials, including the FBI and the military.
John Walker Jr. has already been labeled as the ringleader of the spy ring. That is without qualification. He hasn't been convicted legally, but he is still called the ringleader.
It used to be that a person was innocent until proven guilty, but that is apparently suspended when the integrity of America is on the line.
It seems obvious in this case that what appears to be the truth may simply be a deception. Military leaders have announced to the world that this spy ring has done great damage to America.
Why tell the Soviets that information they may have in their possession is indeed valuable? It seems likely that we want the Soviets to think that their information is good because it actually isn't.
Consider this possibility: Some American intelligence agency discovers the spy ring, long ago. We decide to counter any damage, including any future damage, by intentionally letting the ring continue while feeding them false information. Put the sailor-spy on the U.S. aircraft carrier Nimitz in a secret code room and give him bad information. Correct transmissions are made by someone else, but Michael Walker is sure he has the correct information.
The Soviets would then have a warehouse of information that is useless, information they think is extremely valuable.
Another possibility is that the Walkers did relay good information to the Soviets, but American officials want the Soviets to do the same double-think that is being offered here. Is their information good or not? If the FBI kept quiet, they would know their information was good.
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Lawrence isn't so bad after all
Red neon light blanketed the tiny tavern. A skipping record on the jakebox refused to go down without a fight. The television was tuned to Saturday Night Live, but the sound was turned off, which didn't seem to bother the guys at the bar who were watching it.
They laughed anyway, apparently oblivious to the fact that there was no sound coming from the TV.
Our booth was cramped, but no one seemed to mind. We were in familiar territory.
"You know, this place is getting old," observed an occupant of our booth, after a couple of beers. "Not just this bar, but this whole town. I'm sick of seeing the same people every day and drinking beer in the same place every night.
"I'm sick of going to work, coming home and lying around all evening. This place is so boring. I've just got to get out."
We nodded in agreement as he stood up to buy another pitcher.
The idea had been kicking around in our heads, but once it had been stated for all to hear, it seemed at once to be a simple truth.
We each silently thought of the weeks that were awaiting us, weeks of relentless sameness. Summer school and summer jobs had taken a
Our buddy returned from the bar with a pitcher of beer and reclaimed his spot in the booth. He appeared to be confused by the silence of his drinking buddies, so he decided to try once again to get the conversation over.
"I can't wait to get to Padre," he said in a proud voice.
We were staring into our beers, absorbed in deep thought. But once the
EDITORIAL EDITOR
"When are you going? How long are you going to stay? How much is it going to cost?"
word Padre hit the air, we were brought back to life.
Curiosity abounded
"I'm leaving Monday and I'll be there until Sunday. A solid week. Just think, a week of nothing but beaches and girls. That's why I don't enroll in summer school, so I could take a road trip whenever I felt like it."
In a matter of minutes, it was evident that Padre Island would be the vacation destination of about one quarter of the people in the tavern.
Curiosity was replaced with serious thought.
Everyone began drinking beer and talking of getting out with renewed vigor.
"I'm going to lie around on the beach for days on end," our friend continued, talking of his trip just as a father talks about a newborn son. "When I get hot, I'll just jump in the pool and swim." He swims in the pool at my hotel!
"So you already have hotel reservations and everything?" asked the member of our group who was a stickler for detail.
He began sipping his beer as if it were a margarita.
"Well, not exactly, but I'm sure going to stay in a nice place. No use go
ing all the way down there and staying
in a dump, answered the Lone
Bob who had already leased feele
the sand between his toes.
The bathroom door behind us opened, which flooded the dim room with an obnoxious light and an even more obnoxious odor. One of the Saturday Night Live fans stumbled out, still adjusting his belt, and asked his buddies whether he missed anything good.
"How much is this going to cost you,Mr. Padre?"
The stickler was stickling
"Not much, not much at all," replied the future beachcomber with confidence. "How much can it cost to lie around on the beach? Besides, I'm saving up for it. I'm going to do it right."
"Well how are you going to get down there? That poor excuse of a horse carriage you call a car can have broken all alone the way to the Texas coast."
Dreams don't stand a chance against good stickling.
"My car isn't a poor excuse for a horse carriage. It may not look so nice but it runs just fine. Anyhow, I go to go eight hours for the trip to Padre."
"If it only makes it eight hours on the road to Padre, you will be spending your vacation somewhere between the middle of nowhere, to be exact."
The jukebox kicked up a record that was scratched and again refused to go down without a fight from the bartender
The stickler was relentless.
The dreamer wasn't quite as hardy is the jukebox.
"You mean Padre is more than eight hours away?"
The sound of crashing dreams startled one of the Saturday Night Live fans, who dropped his beer to the floor.
We chuckled, but the stickler let out a laugh that boasted of victory. Visions of the beach were replaced with visions of a desolate highway parked only by a broken down car, smoke pouring out from under the hood.
"You know, Dallas ain't so bad," the dreamer said in a slow, mournful voice. "Dallas is actually pretty nice. Anyhow, it's way too hot to go to Padre this time of the year. The sand will be scorching.
"Yeah, I think I'll go to Dallas. Or maybe Oklahoma City. I know a guy there who I could stay with. He'd sure show me a good time."
His voice rose as his confidence was being slowly rebuilt.
"Yeah, sure you could have a good time in Oklahoma," the stickler shot in. "I guess someone has had a good time in Oklahoma before, so I don't see why you can't."
"But you know, Oklahoma City isn't any better than Wichita, so why bother?"
"Why would I want to go Wichita?" the dreamer asked indignantly. "I'd just as soon stay here as go to Wichita. In fact, that is exactly what you do."
"Just think, a solid week of lying around the house, doing nothing but watching TV. What could possibly be better than that?"
The Saturday Night Live gang laughed in agreement.
Collapse of UPI would hurt us all
There is an irony to this. We are supposed to be in the midst of the Information Age. America is supposed to be in the midst of an unprecedented way.
And yet perhaps the most significant of all stories about the flow of information in the United States and what it means to the news media—and to all of us—is apparently of no particular interest. People never seem to talk about it; if they are aware of it, it doesn't strike them as important enough to discuss
What is at stake is the future of United Press International, UPI is the nation's second biggest wire service and has filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code UPI reportedly owes creditors as much as $45 million to the wire service has owed estimated $20 million in assets. UPI has said that it was unable to honor paychecks that were dated April 26; about 30 employees were laid off on that day.
Clearly, UPI faces serious troubles. Its executives have vowed to fight back, and to use the Chapter 11 proceedings as a means to reorganize and try to strengthen the company. But UPI reportedly has not turned a profit for 23 years — and the question that has to be asked is whether the wire service will be able to survive.
Again: If people understood what this meant, it would be the fodder for dinner-table conversations all over the country. But that's not happening, UPI is in trouble? If anyone outside the journalistic community is aware of it, it is only a vague recitation of a business page headline
But the survival of UPI is important to all Americans because if it goes, that leaves only one all purpose news wire service in the country: the Amctheat Press. The AEP is perhaps the most successful news agency in the world — but to have it
This is a country that is fascinated with television, so let's think of it in television terms. How would you feel if you were suddenly told that there was going to be only one television channel? The answer, either CBS News or NBC News or ABC News? Chances are that would make you angry.
operating in a vacuum, with no real competition, would be terrible. Terrie for the AP itself, and terrible for the rest of us.
You would instinctively know that the prospect of only one TV news division serving the entire U.S. was a profoundly unhealthy one. You would instinctively know this because the thing that keeps the TV news divisions sharp is the competition from the other TV news divisions, CBS, NBC and ABC are as good as they are because they have to be that good—if they weren't, the others would shame them.
In a way, the UPI story is even more important than that. Because of the big TV networks — not to mention the local stations, the newspapers and the radio stations — depend on an enormous extent on the news they get from the wire services. No single network, newspaper or station can be all the places that UPI and AP are. The bread-and-butter work of the wire journalism is performed by the wire service reporters.
When a TV network or a major newspaper does decide to dispatch personnel to the scene of a breaking news story, chanenges are they have
found out about that story from the wire services.
Yes, the AP is great — and one of the reasons it is great is that it is in intense competition with UPI. There is a wire service cliche — "Deadline every minute." What that means is that editors around the country are always comparing the work of the two wire services; on virtually every breaking news story, the work of AP reporters and UPI reporters are evaluated next to each other by editors all over America. The true professionalism of wire service reporters is constantly being tested as they respond to emails and reports know that if they are late or sloppy on a story, it will show up, because the competition is likely to be not late and not sloppy.
The idea of only one major wire service to cover the United States is a terribly troubling one. If I PW were to be hit by a plane, my AP would vow to be better than ever.
But without competition, it's tough to maintain an edge.
If there's anything this country believes in, it is that true competition is the best way to make sure that an industry can be successful and duct. In this case, the product is news.
and there are few products for which quality is more essential to the brand.
Years ago, UPI had a slogan: "A UPI Man is On the Scene" You don't see that slogan much anymore, pro bably because it would be unwieldy to say "A UPI Person is On the Scene."
But the point remains the same. If a UPI reporter is on the scene doing a good job, then an AP reporter had better be there too, trying to do an even better job. That has been a basic premise of American journalism — and if it is allowed to vanish, all of us in this country, not just journalists, will be much the poorer for it.
Defense's sacred cows in danger
WASHINGTON — It looks as if the days of the blank check for the Pentagon at the Capitol Hill cashier's window are over.
A budget crunch, worsened some say by spending $1 trillion during the past four years on defense while cut off to nearly $750 billion during the past five
S six months ago, you probably couldn't find a soul in town willing to bet anything of any significance on that, but this year's defense measures in Congress will gore oaks thought sacred since World War II.
The reasons are as varied as the changes in the entire defense spectrum:
The revelations of overpriced goods, such as $400 hammers, $9,900 wrenches, $660 toilet seats, $7,000 coffee pots and the like.
The legal troubles of major defense contractors caught defrauding the government and billigering it, rather outrageous overhead costs.
A renewed drive for an arms control agreement.
The net effect of these and other factors has been a surprising turnaround on defense issues.
This year's defense authorization bill, now about halfway through the legislative process, is likely to grow only slightly over last year's level — "negative real growth" in the jargon — once you consider that less than enough to cover inflation is likely to be handled in.
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President Reagan went in looking for growth of about 6 percent, to $322 billion, agreeing to a 3 percent growth level of $121 billion, finally acquiesced to a 'zero real growth' figure and told the Fed to get stuck with something around $297 billion. Last year's figure was nearly $251 billion.
The Senate's measure has taken significant strides toward speeding the closing of outdated bases, a politically unpopular but financially wise thing to do. It remains to be seen whether the House also will take that action.
And both bills make important progress on such questions as reforms in procurement, building upon steps taken last year, and they are going after the "revolving door" of those who leave the military or civilian ranks at the Pentagon for a defense contractor.
And who would have thought that military retirement — one of the Pentagon's big oxes — would suffer so deep a wound? The final figures haven't been settled, but the gouge in the retirement fund will fall somewhere between $1.8 billion and $4 billion. Both the politically wise House and Senate, however, are insisting that program changes not affect those now getting checks or now in uniform.
On top of that, progress is being made in cracking down on the horror stories of what many call outrageous overhead billings by contractors. And eventually the system of tossing the bills is revealed. If you get paid regardless of whether it is legitimate, is likely to undergo severe revision.
All of this doesn't mean that huge bills for defense will automatically stop.
There are a number of chief weapons systems in the pipeline that will continue costing big bucks during the coming years. And replace systems, and new weapons are being designed that likewise will be costly.
Congress still will end up buying a lot of defense. But the changed mood does mean that members will be paying a lot more attention to what they are doing and tolerating excesses far less than they have in the past.