EDITORIAL Hussein’s survival mandates misery As has occurred so many times since the Gulf War cease-fire went into effect, Iraq thumbed its nose las! week at U.N. inspectors attempts to gather information on that country's weapons of mass-destruction re search, development and stockpiling. This is in direct conflict with the terms of the cease-fire. And as has occurred just as many times. Iraq backed down when confronted by the very real possi bility of renewed action by U.N. forces, most likely in the form of air-strikes launched from U.S. aircraft carri ers. That Saddam Hussein would continue to offer up his people to be sacrificed in the name of pride demon strates his true lack of concern for their well-being. His rationale, however, is quite clear. Without the threat of renewed military conflict with the West. Hussein would have no cause around which his people might rally, giving them cause to reflect on their domestic sit uation. Contrary to what many believe, the Iraqi people art; not suffering because of the U.N. imposed sanctions Rather, they are suffering and dying because their mis ery and death gives Hussein a powerful public rela tions weapon in his self-serving crusade against the West. Hussein would like people to believe that the sanctions are responsible for the widespread starvation and sickness that has run rampant through Iraq. He would have us forget that food, medical sup plies and other humanitarian items are exempt from the sanctions. Hussein points out that the sanctions prohibit the sale; of Iraq oil, thereby denying his conn try the much needed cash necessary to purchase food, etc. Yet, Iraq has refused a U.N. proposal that would al low St billion worth of Iraqi oil to be sold, provided the proceeds go rlirectly to providing food, medicine and humanitarian assistance. With virtually no economy except oil. which can’t be sold, and its international assets frozen, Hussein must decide where his priorities lie. He continues to spend money on a military whose only mission is to murder Kurds and other nomadic peoples.When can the people of Iraq expect to get on with their lives? Probably not for some time. Unless Hussein gives up his dream of uniting the Islamic world under his guardianship and realizes that he is the laughing stock of the international community. Iraq will continue to play the role of spoiled child, stubbornly refusing to do as it is told. And if Hussein's strategy is to wait-out the elec tion. he may be disappointed. Both Clinton and Gore were supporters of the Gulf War and continue to pub licly support Bush's handling of the situation. Some people just never get it. LETTERS POLICY The Oregon Daily Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing comments on topics of interest to the University community. Letters to the editor must he limited to no more than 250 words, legible, signed and the identification of the writer must lie verified when the letter is submitted. Commentaries should be between 750 and 1,000 words. legible and signed, and the identification of the writer must be verified upon submission. The Emerald reserves the right to edit for grammar, style and length if necessary. Oregon PO BOMJ1S9 EUGENE ORE GO*1 9740.1 The 0*00*’ OaiS 1 itwatt a pubtteheo daily Monday through I may during !ha tchool year and Tuesday and Thursday during ma tuama t>y the Oregon Da«»y Emerald Putwalwrg Co Inc . at me Urvverafy o* Oregon I ..gene Oregon The ( meratd operam independents o' me Unvaey with duos at Soda 300 o' the EtS Memorial Union and » a mamBat at the Associated Press tha E meraM a onvaia property Tha unlaw*..! removal or me o' papers a proaecul atve By law Etfaoc In Chief Pal Marach Aaaociaia Edaote Tun Net. 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COMMENTARY Libertarians offer real third party My lonie Nathan One hoars a Ini of talk about third party candi dates recently, but Koss Perot's retirement from the Presidential rare makes an im portant point there Is only one real third party in this na tion and that is the Lilrerturiun Party The LP Is the only genu ine alternative for voters led up with the machinations and cor ruption of the other two parties Let me explain win Historically, third parties arise for three reasons be cause of the attrat tlon of a pow erful candidate, a powerful Is sue, or a powerful ideology. Ex amples of candidate oriented parties (similar to Perot’s group) are those of Teddy Roo sevelt's Hull Moose Party, George VVallai e's Independent Party and John Anderson's American Party When the can didates stopped running, the parties withered away examples 01 issue-orienieu parties are the Prohibition Party and the Peace and Freedom Party When prohibition was repealed and the Vietnam War elided, the parties disappeared. Examples ol ideological par ties are the American Commu nist party, the Croon Party and the Libertarian Party Through the years, (lie ideas disseminat ed by such parties uro either partially accepted or repudiat ed Marxist economic ideas have greatly influenced the po litical scene in this country, (while) ai the same (time) those ideas are iieing repudiated in other countries, just as environ mental ideas are influential throughout the world. Libertarian ideas am also in fluential throughout the world (Candidates for President of Peru and Poland Mario Var gas L1 o s a and S t a n i s I a w Tyminski — were Libertarians.) Two Libertarian ideas that have had a political impact world wide are privatization (a word coined by a Libertarian) and burden sharing, and end to the American taxpayer defense subsidy of such rich countries as Japan and Germany. The Libertarian Party was or ganized in 1972 to offer an al ternative to the failed policies of both the Kopublicuns and Democrats Its ideology was built around the Jeffersonian ideas of limited government ("That government is best which governs least ") It has been on the ImIIoI in every state in the nation and more than 200 Libertarians have held pub lic office It bus fielded six dif ferent sets of Presidential can didates all well-qualified to hold office. In 19HH. the LP presidential ticket won more votes than ALL THE OTHER MINOR PARTIES COMBINED' In ltlKH, the LP Presidential candidate was a four-term for mer Congressman who had the foresight to resign from the Re publican Party because he lie lieved the party system was corrupt and ineffective. In 1090, the LP ran 3H Libertari ans on 4:i 4 percent of the bal lots nationwide who won an average 7 percent of the votes cast. This year the LI’ Presidential lickot is former Alaska state leg islator. Andre Marrou, and physician-lawyer, Nancy Lord, Ml), a former candidate for Washington D.C. mayor. They are running on a platform cull ing for repealing the personal income tax (36 percent of the federal revenue), abolishing the IKS, reducing regulatory agen cies by attrition, limiting Con gressional terms, stimulating job opportunities, privatizing education, charitizing welfare and allowing choice in all mat ters. Recently. Marrou camo in first in Uixville Notch. New Hampshire, the first precinct in the nation to hold a Presiden tial primary. He beat George Bush by two votes because the voters of that town had a chance to hear what Marrou and Lord hud to say and they preferred the Libertarian ideas In contrast to any other party in the nation, this year the LP will be running 600 candidates for state and local offices. Every candidate has signed a written pledge not to advocate a tax increase. to those of tfie other candidates. In New humpshiro. two He pub lican state legislators switched to the Libertarian Party, a fore boding of things to come When politicians and voters get fed up. they discover there is only on place to go the Libertari an Party, the party of principle and inheritor of Jeffersonian ideas. In contrast to any other party in the nation, this year the LI’ will be running 600 candidates for state and local offices Every candidate has signed a written pledge not to advocate a tax in crease or violation of citizens' "Inalienable rights." The LP ex pects to have more Congres sional candidates running than any other minor party in U S. history. Now that is a REAL third party — not a one-shot publicity stunt! It offers the public the only real alternative to establishment politics. Perot and Brown supporters ought to take note. Tonie Nathan is thn first woman in U.S. history to win an electoral college vote und is the former Lllwrtariun I’urty na tional director of media rela tions.