4 Thursday, November 21, 1974 University Daily Kansan THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN OPINION TODAY, AN UNDISCLOSED BUT USUALLY RELIABLE SOURCE REPORTED THAT THE ARMS TALKS HAVE FAILED...' Neutral stands on Cuba, PLO garble U.S. policy In both cases, the United States took a neutral attitude on an important issue where a more definite stand was needed. Two incidents last week indicate that U.S. foreign policy remains as inconsistent as ever. Last Tuesday, the Organization of American States (OAS), of which the United States is a prominent member, rejected the lifting of 10-year-old economic and political sanctions against Cuba. Liberation Organization (PLO), unleashed a scatching attack on Israel and urged the members of the organization to intervene between continued violence or peace with the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. In both cases, the response by the United States was one of inaction. The vote to end the isolation of Cuba was 12-3 with six abstentions, one of which was the United States. Fourteen votes or two-thirds of the members of OAS were needed. The official U.S. policy at the conference was one of a "neutral attitude." The U.S. delegate, Undersecretary of State Robert S. Ingersoll, insisted that he believed because there wasn't clear evidence that Fidel Castro's regime had stopped exporting violence. The neutral stand seems inconsistent with the stand taken by President Gerald Ford earlier, where he favored improved relations with Cuba And in light of the Central Intelligence Agency's alleged involvement in Chilean politics, intimating the Castro regime still exports violence and security seems somewhat absurd. Considering the United States led the fight for isolating Cuba and is the avowed leader of OAS, a stand for or against isolation should have been taken. Reader praises coverage To the editor: After reviewing the letters to the editor in Monday's Kansan, I think the letter writers argue that a reprimanding argument in reprimanding the Kansan for publishing a quote by Doug Walker, assistant county attorney, about the Club murder-kidnap case. The Kanan performed an obvious duty to its readers in calling attention to the flippant The statement by Walker was presented as a direct quote and reference to Bravery and honesty in reporting were exemplified by the Kansas in printing such a controversial statement by the Kansas. attitude of the county attorney's office toward such serious crimes as murder, kidnapping, rape and sodomy. I congratulate the Kanans for exemplifying responsible journalism in the reporting of the attack on the US embassy was distasteful and outrageous. Furthermore, I wholeheartedly support the stand taken by reporter Janssen toward the sanctuary against the Sanctuary Club. These incidents exemplify the tolerable incompetence of the office of the county attorney, and that incompetence was rightfully presented in the Kansan. Pentagon arms race ridiculous 1 The B-1 supersonic bomber is the latest contraption unveiled by the Pentagon in its pursuit of world peace. According to one Pentagon spokesman, the B-1 can "fly rings around the B52." At a projected cost of $76.4 million a plane, the B-1 should fly rings around Saturn. Instead, the B-1 has a range of 6,100 miles, a speed two times that of sound and the ability to KANSAN attack from treetop level to above 50,000 feet. The Pentagon wants 244 of these bombers. In addition to the B-1, the Pentagon is due Harrier, AWACS, Minuteman III, etc., etc, etc Onward our insanity marches. We mustn't let the Russians catch us, so we pump more money into new weapons systems. There is an entangling alliance between the Pentagon and industry that drains valuable resources, and fuels inflation as few areas of government spending can. Defense spending does not provide goods that satisfy Americans' real needs. Lately, many members of Congress have been talking much of "cutting the fat" from the defense budget. Don't be fooled. There is more "fat" in the defense budget than most of these members. Yet they are nevertheless, they are staggering in the right direction and we should encourage them onward. THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN An All-American college newspaper Publicized at the University of Kansas weekdays during the academic year exhibit holidays and excerpts from historical accounts. Lawrence, KA 69452. Subscriptions by mail are $1.35 a semester, paid through the student activity fee. Kansan Telephone Numbers Newroom—UN-4 4810 Business Office—UN-4 4358 Accommodations, goods services and employment opportunities are available for students seeking a post-secondary degree. The university has an active year-round presence of those of the St. Louis School of Nursing. Editor Eric Meyer Associate Editor Campus Editor Jeffrey Sitson Jill Willis Copy Chiefs Kurt Weiss Wichita sophomore Associate Campus Editor Associate Campus Editors Denise Sawyer Al and Manager Chief Photographer Wide Editor Makeup Editors Mark Mitchell and Sports Editor Associate Spot Editor Sheldon Rimsky-Teller Editor Business Manager Carol Gwinn and Bunny Miller Kurt Weiss Shaun Hagan Advertising Manager Assistant Business Manager Alice Murray Dave McVeen Classified Manager Gail Johnson National Advertising Manager Deb Dantles Marketing Manager Deb Dantles Assistant Classified Manager Steve Brownbush Promotions Director Terry Kara Sales Director Yuri Sukhov News Adviser Business Adviser Susanne Shaw Mel Adama Indeed, defense spending is an abyss: As soon as some weapons system is developed, it is obsolete. The government is spending an incredible sum of money to create things Americans cannot consume and to pay wages to workers who don't work. It costs $31 billion a year to produce. As a result, inflation is aggravated. In reaction to those who are calling for defense cuts, the Pentagon is sounding the "Red alert." Pentagon strategists are warning that the Russians will be able to knock out the entire U.S. land-based missile force in a single blow in the 1980s. These strategists also are warning against the psychological effects that a "second class" American military force might have on our allies. There's nothing like an all-expenses paid trip to Clouduckcooland courtesty of Pentagon scare tactics. Napoleon would feel right at home with a soldier who knew the minds remain mired in conventional warfare. The "overkill" feature of U.S.-Soviet defense systems is both curious and ominous. Our "overkill" menalty presumes the Russians have at least nine lives. I don't understand why an ability to wipe Russia off the map once is not sufficient. The significance today of being the most powerful nation in the world is a paper one. Clearly, the tremendous costs of being "No. 1" though the imagined penalties of being "No. 2." The only major deterrent force the United States needs is a fleet of nuclear submarines. At the present time, we have nuclear submarines equipped with Poseidon missiles that have a range of 600 miles and are capable of the Trident submarine, which will eventually carry missiles that have a 6,000 mile range. Of course, if we could wipe Russia off the map only once, we would be the second most powerful nation in the world! A lot of good this would do the Russians. The Trident submarine is one of the few areas of defense spending that makes any sense at all. Submarines can hide beneath the ocean until the need for action is clear. Land-based missiles must be fired before their silos are hit. We are not making ourselves any safer by piling weapons system upon weapons system. Today is as impossible as overkill is useless. Most Assists, of course, are just as deduced as we did. Dependence on a submarine-based deterent force would cost much less than what we are now spending on deterrence. The B-1 bomber, antiballistic missile systems and most other weapons systems are excess baggage. They are signs of a paranoid country. When will our minds catch up with our technology? Steven Lewis Contributing Writer New church We regret the article about our congregation, St. Peter Lutheran Church in Holyrood, that appeared in the Oct. 18 edition to deplore the falsehoods and the instrums it contained. To the editor: The article stated that "apparently blinded by the elder's failure to consult them in the matter, many have refused to donate funds for the construction of the new structure." First of all, this was a matter in which the elders were no more involved than any other member of the congregation. Secondly, all the members of the congregation were invited to at least four meetings for preparation before a decision was reached. A meeting to raise funds and rally support for the project wasn't scheduled, as the article stated. No doubt the fundraising meeting referred to was the regular quarterly voters' meeting Oct. 16. At this meeting were authorized to secure a loan from the Kansas District Church Extension Fund of the Lutheran Church for the balance needed for the new church. Many voters' meetings also were scheduled during this week. The election they didn't have an opportunity to express themselves and that the elders failed. This building doesn't under their jurisdiction. There naturally are some who are opposed to the new church, mainly because of sentimental ties to the old. We expect that, as we have seen in those kinds of feelings, But we don't sense a "widening gap" between the proponents and the opponents as the article suggests. In fact, the spirit of the congregation suggests that the direct opposite is true. The clergy will council and Building Committee St. Peter Lutheran Church, Holyrood Lawyer lauded To the editor: We, the parties involved in the robbery at the Sanctuary Club, would like to express our concern over irresponsible reporting of the events of the tragedy. It is our opinion that the newspapers disregard their requests to obtain factual information and to report the events without vestigation in a flippant manner, we think Walker has handled the investigation in a professional and conscientious reflection reflected in the being and feelings of all of us. We appreciate those efforts and think that the Kansan and other media should apologize to the county attorney's office and to the Lawrence Police Department. With regard to accusations that Assistant County Attorney Douw Walker handled the in- Names withheld by request Speech logic To the editor: Since Steve Lewis in the Kansan of Nov. 8 spoke from his "experience" in attacking the present language requirement, I feel free to speak from what I feel sure is far longer existent arguments. Having taught both German and English intermittently for over fifteen years, I have become increasingly convinced that the only way to prevent language from degenerating into little epileptic euphmisms (sc) and complementary jargon (both beautifully illustrated by Jack McNeely in the lead editorial on Oct. 30) is to require students to express themselves as precisely and succinctly as possible. And what we learn one is really saying in English than to try to express the same thought or concept in a foreign language. For example, one learns two of the meanings of "work" when faced with translating into German "the engineer working"; the "elevator engineer working". If space allowed, I could counter each of Lewis's arguments, but let me conclude by questioning his claim that the language study requirement argue that language study "promotes clearer thinking." The only claim most of us would make in language study is that we should promote the ability to express oneself clearly in any language. If anything, foreign language study points up the illogicalness (sic) but imagines it being less important. The English 'her eyes fell on the table' is perhaps more dramatic but certainly no more "logical" than 'de Iдее more did Iдее fall in need—to be jar.' Carol D. Worth Lawrence graduate student But inaction plagued any move at the conference. Irresponsible To the editor: I want to take this opportunity to clear up my statement about sodomy in the Sanctuary Club murder-kidnap case, which appeared in the Kansas on Nov. 18, 2014. I was making humor out of a very grave matter, which certainly wasn't the case. The statement was taken out of context in a very negligent manner. The statement came in response to a question as to whether the sex crimes took place in Douglas County or Shawnee County, and my answer was that there was some significant difference in the field of criminal law since charges must be filed in the county where they occur. While I am concerned that the statement made me look foolish, I am more concerned with its effect on the victims' and future victims' attitudes toward prosecution of sex-related crimes. I know that this statement bothered the current audience, certainly didn't need further emotional trauma. I know that it discouraged the women at the KU Rape Counseling Center and that they lack confidence and awareness in past victims. It should have bothered every reader because of the obvious lack of judgment accuracy in placing it in a story for sheer sensibility effect. The statement wasn't made in a frivolous or jocular manner. I am upset that the reporter did not also indicate that I was reluctant to talk about details of the case for fear of jeopardizing subsequent prosecution. I am upset that the reporter did not mention anything. I felt there were more important things to do than talk to him. According to the editorial page in the Nov. 18 Kansan, the editor left this inaccurate statement in the article to convey my state of mind. It is indeed unfortunate that he did not question me on whether he would be so that we could settle our differences out of print and others would not be needlessly harmed. I think the media have a right to certain information to report the news but I also believe the news was not the criminal defendant to trial before a court, not a paper's readers. The Kansan was obviously upset that I refused to explain the relation to details of the case. Unfortunately, many reporters are more concerned with details of a crime than with apprehension of the criminal. At the time these reporters work on the case they working on the case for 15 straight hours and spent another 24 hours before apprehension. The conduct of the large number of press people covering the crime came close to hampering the investigation of the case. They attempted to interview victims who had been instructed not to publicize the facts until the trial was over. I along with countess other area law enforcement, with thousands of man hours in office, immediately being accused of "apparent frivolity," and not giving the public their money's worth. I hope I don't have to spend any more time away from my duties correcting a laboratory exercise for at the University of Kansas, where all is what the Kansas is. Douglas J. Walker Assistant County Attorney The Kansan must accept Walker's word that he didn't intend his comment to be frivolous. However, the Kansan still holds him responsible, as a stable official, to be extremely careful not to make statements about sensitive matters such as sodomy. As a lawyer, he should have realized that his "a little bit of" could be interpreted to be frivolous. The Kansan disagrees with Walker that the statement was taken out of context. Actually, it was virtually the only message he made in a lengthy interview about sex-related crimes. Editor The view that Cuba still possess a threat to the United States desperately needs revising. The economic and political sanc- ture by the OAS haven't isolated or hurt Cuba that much. In fact, lifting of economic sanctions would probably help the other countries more than it would help Cuba. In light of the recent five-fold increase in the price of sugar Cuba's chief export was with Cuba would help this country immensely. But the neutral stand by the United States plunged the conference as it also plunged into a rift at the United Nations. To the Israelis, Arafat symbolizes the head of a violent terrorist organization that isn't fit to participate in any peace talks, let alone a debate at the United Nations. And considering the United States is the biggest supporter To the Israelis, Arafat symbolizes the head of a violent terrorist organization that isn't fit to participate in any peace talks . . . of Israel, the same view should hold here. When Israel's U.N. Ambassador Yosef Tekesh spoke in rebuttal of Arafat's speech, the Russian, Chinese and Arab delegations walked out in protest. But during Arafat's speech, U.S. Ambassador John Scall seated throughout the room, in seat through the. Only the most important U.S. spokesman made that Arafat shouldn't have been escorted to the podium by the chief of U.N. protocol and that he wouldn't speak to speak because he wasn't the head of an existing government. Those were pretty petty criticisms concerning Arafat's action to thw And in so doing, the United States also seemingly condoned the violent ways of the PLO, the terrorist Munich in 1972, the murder of one Belgian and two American diplomats in Khartoum in 1973 and this year's raid on Ma'al oak in 21 dead schoolchildren. In remaining silent about Arafat's speech, the United States seemingly condoned the existence of the PLO as a legitimate bargainer in the search for a Middle East peace. Detente is the prevailing foreign policy today but the two incidents this past week show its incomprehensibles and follies. The detente has the United States should have voted for the lifting of sanctions against Cuba but instead a "neutral attitude" prevailed. A basis for detente is cooperation with the United States to attain peace. Araaf's speech clearly violates this need for cooperation and peace. But the United States again took no stand and let Arafat's demands and threats prevail. Clearly, these two instances of inconsistency can't be overcome the prevailing trend. We must start taking definite stands important issues and not let other countries make policies and decisions for us. Gerald Ewing Contributing Writer