EDITORIAL Did he know? Gates can’t seem to recall Robert Gates is described by friends and associates as a meticulous man. The consummate detail oriented analyst, forever correcting the trivial inconsistencies that plague all government bureaucracies. Why then, at the more mention of the word ' Iran Contra.” does the nominee for the top post in the CIA go into a stammering ah-um routine that would make former President Ronald Reagan proud? Maybe it's because all of his deputies keep contra dicting his story. He says he knew nothing about the Iran-Contra affair until Oct. 1. 1986 — almost two months before thcn-Attorney General Edwin Mecse broke the scandal in a White House press conference. Gatus colleagues, testifying in front of the Senate Intel ligence Committee, said he was informed about the arms-for-hostages deal during the summer and early fall of 1986. But Gates doesn’t remember. Or so he says. Members of the Senate Intelligence Committee are understandably skeptical. They have thus far refrained from calling Gates an out-and-out liar, but such blatant statements can’t be too far around the corner. The sad truth is that the confirmation hearings have taken on the tone of a schoolyard argument. We told you about the scandal," Gates' colleagues chiine. “Did not!" “Did too!" And so on. The people contra dicting Gates ure not jealous subordinates looking for network air time. One, Charles Al len, is a senior analyst with the CIA, and the other, Richard Kerr, is the agency's acting di rector. Both have im pressive backgrounds. Both are pretty much IIn) doing so, (Oates) has also slammed Ms former boss, then CIA director William Casey, who makes a good scapegoat because he was aloof, imbureaucratlc,' and Is now conveniently dead. iciung me same story. Gates has been in this position once before. Reagan nominated him for the post in 1987, but furor over the Iran-Contra affair made him withdraw from the race. In the four years since then, more details about the scan dal have come forth, and Gates has changed his stance ever so slightly. While so far he has come up with nothing to dis pute Allen's and Kerr's claims, Gates has accepted some of the blame for the scandal, saying he should have taken warnings about the affair “more seriously." But in doing so. he has also slammed his former boss. then-CIA director William Casey, who makes u good scapegoat because he was aloof, "unbureaucratic,” and is now conveniently dead. Gates' memory lapses are damning, but probably won’t cost him the nomination. Committee member Alan Cranston, D-Calif., in support of Gates, said "You just can't be expected to remember everything you heard or did or said five years ago." That statement shouldn't come as a shock once you remember Crans ton’s own selective memory loss during the Keating 5 hearings. What makes the whole confirmation process ironic is that while Allen and Kerr have raised doubts about Gates through their testimony, both have endorsed him. Kerr said "I don’t think anyone else is as qualified to take the job.’’ Makes one wonder what qualifications are needed to be CIA director. Maybe we should check out George Bush's resume a little more. 'OUNG MAM/ I'M GIVING \bu TO THE, CouKT, OF three/ / *r'»LL / &A At i 'HrrHCA of . Act tlATTUS' ni am rrAHP v/F 'SMlOrrM‘ ^MlAAtP XXL COMMENTARY Measure 5 supporters should rethink vote THE FINE PRINT BY CATHIE DANIELS Hopefully Measure 5 sup porters will reconsider next time the ballot comes around Hurburu Roberts finished her ' Conversation with Oregon" Sunday in bugenc The gover nor traveled to six Oregon towns to meet with taxpayers and gather ideas on him to find replacement revenue for mon ies cist with last year's approv al ol Measure 5 Thu measure set a cap on state property taxes, which ended up decreasing money available lor state-funded oper ations One result stemming from the state's $750 million general fund loss was an almost one third tuition hike tor the state's eight higher education schools, a two-year phase out of 500 fac ulty and stall positions, the elimination or consolidation of OH degree programs and the trimming of 2,000 students It's understandable that vot ers would just suy no to taxes by approving Measure 5. Tired of seeing money disappearing into thin stote-und-natlonnl-tax system air, they figured if gov ernment hasn't gotten enough by now. loo bad They'll get no more However, there is one thing those voters should consider. Because the forest products in dustry is Oregon's largest seg ment of private employment. it's .1 good twt that nt least some til tht! stale's landowners work m this oreu And since Measure 5's pas sage would set )2 whether she will set a re formed tax package before the state’s voters. Should she do so, 1 urge taxpayers to vote for leg islation supporting school funding. In the end, it's our most viable hope during these changing times. Pres/pesr, aREn r VOU fie'NO /NCONi/iTEMT EXPRESSNC. COVCtRN FOR ~W6 ENVIRONMENT AND DRAGGING EEET ON GLOBAL WARDING ? -HE //^f>LICATlCA/i ACE A giO CUTBACK ES7p h,i>-n M ^Afc WCtLS — 1 B