editorial
CIA book shows
true U.S. policy
On Monday night Ralph Nader told a packed audience
in the EMU Ballroom that Pres. Ronald Reagan is a
dangerous leader who offers words over deeds when it
comes to peace and justice in the world. With the recent
discovery by the Associated Press of a CIA psychological
warfare manual given to Nicaraguan rebels, Nader’s words
become all the more hard-hitting.
The manual was passed on to the House Intelligence
Committee by AP on Oct. 1. As with the CIA mining of
Nicaraguan waters, the Committee was not aware of the
manual until after it had been put to use in the field.
According to AP, the CIA gave the manual to the rebels
sometime last year. The contents of the manual and the faci
that Committee members were never informed about it have
led to serious political questions and calls for a congres
sional probe. In the words of Committee chairman Rep. Ed
ward Boland, D-Mass., the manual “ makes a mockery of
American championship of democratic values.”
The manual, like the invasion of Grenada and the illegal
mining of Nicaraguan waters, shows the world that while
the United States pledges to uphold international law, it will
not hesitate to break those laws when it comes to self
interest.
Reagan has repeatedly called on all nations to join in the
struggle to stop international terrorism. Yet the CIA, under
the direction of Reagan appointee William Casey, openly ad
vocates in the manual that political assassination,
blackmail, and mob violence are effective ways to under
mine “unfriendly” governments, in this case the
Sandinistas.
How is it that Reagan can call for an end to terrorism,
while permitting the United States to advocate terrorism in
its attempts to destabilize the government of Nicaragua?
Did Reagan know about this manual beforehand? Is he
ignorant about the operations of one of America’s most im
portant organizations? How long will Americans continue to
tolerate a president who breaks international law and then
denies it?
These are serious questions that deserve attention.
United States credibility in the world is at stake when its
highest leaders distort the truth about American aims in sup
porting the covert war against the Sandinista government.
Reagan, who calls the Nicaraguan rebels “freedom
fighters,” has continuously said that the U.S. government is
assisting the rebels solely for the purpose of stopping
Nicaragua from sending arms to revolutionaries in El
Salvador. Where is the proof of these weapons shipments?
As yet there is none.
Instead, what Americans now have is a CIA manual
which spells out how to effectively overthrow the govern
ment of Nicaragua. According to Committee chair Boland,
the manual “should have never been produced by any ele
ment within the U.S. Government.”
The fact is that the manual was produced by an
organization of the U.S. Government under a president
whose politics are morally and legally in question. That the
manual outlines ways to “neutralize” certain individuals
with “selective use of violence” is deplorable.
Americans are being told by Reagan that the country is
once again standing strong and proud. But there is no pride
in overthrowing governments and advocating acts of
terrorism.
As Reagan continues to support the covert war against
Nicaragua, the world watches in shock and wonders about
the principles of a nation which claims to stand for peace but
promotes war.
letters
Citizen’s right
A number of letters have
recently appeared in the
Emerald commenting upon
plans made by the Democratic
Party to register prison convicts
to vote. I feel many of these
have expressed concerns and
raised points which are not tru
ly relevant to the issue.
Of course rape, murder, and
other crimes are deplorable
acts. Who among us would not
agree? But the heinous nature of
crime is not the issue. The issue
is the right to vote.
All American citizens are
guaranteed the right to vote.
Period! The Constitution does
not provide for any exceptions.
This is rightly so, since if we as
a society begin to disenfran
chise some segment of the elec
torate, who is to say where it
will stop? Today an attack on
convicts’ right to vote, tomor
row what group will be singled
out?
I believe that in order for the
American democratic process to
work for the good of our nation,
we must all exercise our right to
vote rather than attempting to
deprive others of that precious
right. In the 1980 presidential
election a little over half of the
eligible voters participated.
Clearly something must be done
to redress this appalling lack of
participation in the governmen
tal process which affects us all.
If you or anyone you know is
not currently registered to vote,
there is still time to do so. The
OSPRIG office in Suite 1 of the
EMU can assist you in register
ing to vote in the state of Oregon
or in obtaining an absentee
Oregon doily
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ballot for voting in other states.
If you don’t vote, they don't
listen.
Jeb Bianco
OSPIRG
Red herring
1 was amused by Professor
Brettauer’s letter entitled
"Reactionaries." The best way
to describe his letter is with two
words: red herring.- This is evi
dent when the professor said, "1
wonder whether the youthful
Reagan followers at least have
brains.” Why is the professor
attacking the messenger and not
the message? •
The issue that the professor
avoided was: Why is it that so
many “youthful Reagan,
followers” refused to support
recent demonstrations against
the military by illiberals in the
EMU lobby?
My argument is it is not
liberal to restrict the rights of
others. What the protesters were
saying may have been true, but
there was a more important
principle to be considered. The
protesters had the right of
freedom of speech as long as
they didn’t obstruct or deny the
freedom of others. When the
protesters set up their
demonstration within a few feet
of the recruiters, they violated
the freedom of the recruiters
and the rights of interested
students. Therefore, the pro
testers lost any legitimate rights
that they once held.
What the protesters did was
no more right than what
students in southern California
did against Walter Mondale.
Students who disagreed with
Mondale’s message created
such a disturbance that Mon
dale was denied his right of
freedom of speech.
letters policy
The Emerald will attempt to print all letters con
taining fair comment on topics of interest to the
University community.
Letters to the editor must be limited to 250
words, typed, signed and the identification of the
writer must be verified when the letter is turned in.
The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for
length, style or content.
Letters to the editor should be turned into the
Emerald office, Suite 300, EMU.
Fridav. October 19, 1984
In the future. 1 hope that the
professor will respond to the
message, and not change the
subject by attacking the
messenger.
Ron Munion
Political Science
Waiting too
long
• Sandwich at the EMU? Best of '
luck obtaining one. On second,
thought, 'obtainment ■ is possi
ble. It's the interval' between
ordering and eating, time' that!
blocks rationality. • ■ '
My opinion may be clouded
by the fact that I have, twice ■
stood for over' 20 minutes
awaiting a roast beef delight:
imagine my disappointment
when a completed masterpiece •
casually fell to the floor: tack on
another 10 minute waiting time. ‘
Anticipating a comfortable sit
down feast, 1 was forced to
resort to unlady-like man
nerisms. I shoved down half the
sandwich on the way to class,
and then sat savoring the aroma
of the remaining half calling to
me loudly from my backpack
during Women’s Studies.
Fishbowl sandwich vendors
might increase productivity (is
this what they fear) if a
regulated system was establish
ed. Maybe the order forms
could be collected in a priority
fashion, preference given to
those who have already stood
10 minutes. The fellow who
makes one sandwich as com
pared to Ana’s five in the same
amount of time, definitely
needs some production skills.
Improvement demands in
itiative, a challenge to the EMU
sandwich-makers.
P. Hadgson
Concerned student