Editorial
Soviet’s proposal
is fair, realistic
Despite disparaging accounts from some who accuse the
Soviets of manipulating public opinion in order to better
their bargaining position, the upcoming Gorbachev-Reagan
summit in November should be considered a stepping stone
to a possible arms control agreement.
The Soviets have indicated they are willing to
realistically negotiate an arms control agreement with the
United States, and regardless of politics, the Reagan ad
ministration must bargain and compromise with Gorbachev
before further escalation of the ever precarious arms race.
Recently, 80-year-old Soviet Prime Minister Nickolai
Tikovov resigned his post, and was replaced by 55-year-old
Nikolai Ryzhkov in just one of a series of moves to replace
the old Stalin stalwarts, most of whom are in their 80s. The
Politburo is bringing in young and dynamic loyalists, many
of them with backgrounds in economics, in order to shore
up the ailing Russian economy. A comprehensive arms con
trol agreement would bring their massive military expen
ditures down to realistic levels.
One major stumbling block to the refurbishment of the
their economy is the massive outlays that would be required
to match the U.S. space weapons research. They are deman
ding that the United States halt alt research and develop
ment of the controversial Strategic Defense Initiative, or
“Star Wars.” missile defense program. Many American
strategists believe the United States should continue the
research despite the Soviet’s threat to match any program
with one of their own. If the past is any indication, it is not
an empty threat, regardless of what it will mean to their
economy.
Secretary of State George Shultz recently said the
United States will refuse to give up the program, in spite of
the Soviet offer to cut their nuclear missile forces ip half in
return for limits on its research.
Some administration officials have charged that the
Soviets just want to stall an American.“Star Wars” system,
so they can bdild a system of their own. Some Soviet
watchers even speculate they are already working on it, even
though they are thoughf.to be several years behind the
United States in knowledge of the electronic and com
munications know-how which would be needed to build an
effective system.
Even if each side built a halfway successful defense
system, which is highly unlikely, there would then be a race
to build an anti-defense system, which would eliminate any
usefulness from the system as well as throw additional
billions of dollars down the drain.
In a speech before the United Nations, Soviet Foreign
Minister Eduard Shevardnadze outlined what he called
“Star Peace.” He said the Soviet plan envisions the creation
of a world space organization to supervise cooperation in the
exploration and use of outer space for peaceful use. In addi
tion, he said the world must work to prevent an arms race in
outer space and to terminate one on earth. Although their
sincerity cannot be guaranteed, it certainly appears that the
Soviets are looking for a peaceful solution.
The Soviets have outlined two proposals for the Geneva
conference. First, they are calling for a total prohibition of
space weapons, and a 50 percent reduction in strategic
nuclear missiles. Secondly, the Soviets would unilaterally
reduce their medium range SS-20 missiles in Europe within
two months.
Because the Russian strategists calculate the United
States has about 3,360 strategic nuclear delivery systems, in
addition to the Soviet’s 2,504, the 50 percent cut would be
from those figures. In addition, an upper limit of 6,000 in
dividual nuclear explosive devices will be set for each side.
The Soviet plan would limit to 60 percent the number of
delivery systems each country could have in any one branch
of the "triad,” which includes land-based, sub-based and
bomber-based nuclear systems. This last proposal would af
fect the Soviets the most, because they have such a large pro
portion of their strategic arsenal in land-based weapons.
The Soviet plan seems fair and realistic. Although, even
if the summit is succesful, both sides would still have
enough weapons to destroy the world many times over. But
it would force the leaders of both nations to reach out their
hands in friendship and realize how much we really do have
in common with each other.
Now it’s up to the Reagan administration to look at the
proposal, and think about the good they can do for humani
ty, or the results that will occur if steps are not taken to stop
the gears in the machinery that could destroy our very
existence.
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Letters
Overt terrorism
The Reagan administration
seems bent on making the
United States appear as lawless
to the rest of the world as the
Palestinian Liberation Force hi
(ackers who seized an Italian
cruise liner last Tuesday. Our
withdrawal from the World
Court on Oct. 7 says, in effect,
that we place ourselves above
all laws, save those we
choose to obey. Thursday's hi
jacking of an Egyptian airliner
by U.S. Navy F-14 fighters con
firms the administration's posi
tion that the only rule is “might
makes right.''
The unjustified interception
of this plane after the PLF
members had already released
their hostages and surrendered
to the lawful authorities of
Egypt is as deplorable an act as
the original hijacking of the
Achille Lauro. There is little
doubt that had the plane refused
to cooperate, its “escort" would
have shot it down.
It seems we have gone from
the covert terrorism of mining
Nicaraguan harbors to the overt
terrorism of air piracy. Those
who practice terrorism have no
right to be outraged by terrorist
activities.
Hiawatha
Graduate, Music
Forum worked
I found it in keeping with the
spirit of the fall symposium,
•‘South Africa: Crimes Against
Humanity," that rather than
separately developing the issue
of apartheid from other means
of repression, this symposium
was a forum which spent three
days demonstrating how all
forms of repression work
together to support one another
1 rejoice that the Oct. It rally
did not segregate apartheid
from other crimes against
humanity. Instead, it integrated
the concerns of Central
America, women. Native
Americans and other minorities
into a unified voice protesting
the dehumanizing actions of all
supremacists. Such integration
might have depressed the
spirits of some who wanted to
feel positive about opposing
apartheid. To elatedly oppose
one means of repression while
ignoring others, only en
courages one's opposition of
apartheid. It becomes instead, a
means of remaining self
righteously oblivious to the
universal nature of all crimes
against humanity. Political
rallies ought not to simply
generate enthusiasm. They
ought to empower us. When
rallying in protest of crimes
against humanity, the mere we
know about those crimes and
their victims, and the more our
knowledge, coupled with our
passion, empowers us to act.
1 submit this letter in protest
of the editorial opinion express
ed in "Rally is marred by
overload of issues.” (ODE, Oct.
14) and In gratitude for the fall
symposium * profound depth
and breadth.
Bill Woolum
Graduate Teaching Fellow
English
Tunnel vision
The tunnel vision exhibited •>
by the Emerald in the editorial
on. the Soiith- African rally
(ODE. Oct.. 14) is amazing. Your
inability to make connections is
most unfortunate. World .events
do not exist in neat little, boxes
apart from other events. What is
happening in South Africa is
one manifestation of a. disease
that affects millions of people
throughout the world.
I am glad the organizers of
Friday's rally were able to link
the struggles of the people of
South Africa with those of :
Native Americans; blacks in the
United States, women and other
oppressed people. l am curious,
though, as to why you have.the
impression that President
Olum's speech at the rally stuck
to the narrow track that you ad
vocate. Did you fail to hear
Olum's references to Vietnam,
El Salvador. Chile and the
Soviet Union?
It is only through understan
ding the complexity of the prob
lems we are faced with that we
can move toward change. It is
especially important for those
who work in the media to open
their eyes and see the big
picture.
Gordon Roberts
UO student
Oregon Daily
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