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OPINION 4A Founded in 1873 STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager Resisting the revisionists: A irst step with NATO By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER Washington Post Writers Group CARL EARL, Systems Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager HEATHER RAMSDELL, Circulation Manager Can we trust Union Paciic? Wyden and Merkley stand up to the railroads T here was a time in America when railroads were a sov- ereign power — close to being a fourth branch of gov- ernment. Through their enormous land grants and economic clout, they made and broke communities in the 19th century, and they held sway in Washington, D.C. the National Even today railroads have accident, the power to hold communi- Transportation Safety Board did not investigate, because ties and regions hostage. In the wake of June’s oil there were no injuries or train derailment at Mosier, it fatalities. Union Paciic con- is encouraging to see Oregon ducted its own investigation U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and and identiied loose links Jeff Merkley standing up to between rails and ties. Wyden offered a useful the railroads. The senators last week introduced legisla- observation about the UP tion that would call for man- investigation. Having rail- datory investigation of oil roads investigate their own train derailments. accidents is like “Colonel The Mandate Oil Sanders guarding the chicken Spill Investigations and coop,” the senator said. Emergency Rules (MOSIER) America’s freight railroad Act of 2016 calls on the network is essential to our National Transportation transportation economy. But Safety Board to investigate railroads historically have oil train derailments and shown they sometimes can- gives the Federal Railroad not be trusted with commu- Administration the author- nity health and welfare. That ity to put a moratorium on oil is an especially important trains until the investigations factor as giant oil unit trains are complete. move through places such as Following the Mosier the Columbia River Gorge. Few excuses not to vote One more attempt to make Oregon’s innovation universal O regon has led the way in eliminating cum- bersome and overly restric- tive processes for getting citizens registered to vote. Versions of the state’s auto- matic voter registration sys- tem ought to be extended nationwide. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer have introduced legislation to compel states to move to vote by mail. Oregon’s homegrown system of voting by mail deserves universal adoption. We should make it as conve- nient as possible for people to exercise a citizens’ right, not erect an obstacle course in their path that discourages all but the most engaged from participating. Any election-related inno- vation brings meaningless chatter about the potential for introducing fraud into the process. Disenfranchised felons and noncitizens might, under this theory, slip a vote in for someone who they perceive as being more amenable to their con- cerns. Such a worry is quaint to the point of nearly being amusing. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether Oregon’s most recent innovation — nearly universal voter regis- tration — will make a differ- ence in voter turnout or who gets elected. The choice by political parties to restrict who votes in partisan pri- mary elections means that unafiliated voters are left on the sidelines at that vital stage in the process. Only 18.7 percent of automati- cally registered voters turned in ballots in the Oregon May primary, well below the overall voter turnout of 53.7 percent, while 76 per- cent of automatically regis- tered voters that month were unafiliated, The Oregonian reported. Keeping people from vot- ing is a key way in which elections are rigged by the powerful and the politi- cal consultants who do their bidding. Voting in suficient numbers is the main way that citizens have a sense of control over their destiny. In Oregon at least, there remain very few excuses not to vote. THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016 W ASHINGTON — “The most signiicant rein- forcement of our collective defense any time since the Cold War,” President Barack Obama called it. A bit of an exaggera- tion, perhaps, but it was still an achievement: Last week’s NATO summit in Warsaw ordered the deployment of troops to Eastern Europe, the alliance’s most serious response yet to Russia’s aggression and provocations on its western frontier. The post-Ukraine economic sanc- tions have been weak; the declama- tory denunciations, a mere embar- rassment. They’ve only encouraged further reckless Russian behavior — the buzzing of U.S. ships, intrusions into European waters, threats to the Baltic States. NATO will now deploy four bat- talions to front-line states. In Estonia, they will be led by Britain; in Lithua- nia, by Germany; in Latvia, by Canada; in Poland, by the United States. Not nearly enough, and not permanently based, but nonetheless signiicant. In the unlikely event of a Rus- sian invasion of any of those territo- ries, these troops are to act as a trip- wire, triggering a full-scale war with NATO. It’s the kind of coldblooded deterrent that kept the peace in Europe during the Cold War and keeps it now along the DMZ in Korea. In the more likely event of a “lit- tle green men” takeover attempt in, say, Estonia (about 25 percent ethni- cally Russian), the sort of disguised slow-motion invasion that Vladi- mir Putin pulled off in Crimea, the NATO deployments might be enough to thwart the aggression and call in reinforcements. The message to Putin President Obama’s cher- is clear: Yes, you’ve taken ished Russian “reset,” parts of Georgia and instilling backbone in Ukraine. But they’re not NATO and resisting Putin NATO. That territory is are signiicant strategic sacred — or so we say. achievements. It leaves a This is a welcome devel- marker for Obama’s suc- opment for the Balts, who cessor, reassures the East are wondering whether Europeans and will make they really did achieve Putin think twice about irreversible independence repeating Ukraine in the Charles when the West won the Baltics. Krauthammer Cold War. Their appre- However, the Western hension is grounded in order remains challenged Putin NATO’s laccid response by the other two members to Putin’s aggressive of the troika of authoritar- was revanchism, particularly ian expansionists: China in Ukraine. Obama still Brexit’s and Iran. Their provoca- won’t provide Ukraine tions proceed unabated. with even defensive weap- Indeed, the next test for big onry. This follows years of the United States is Chi- American accommodation winner. na’s furious denunciation of Putin, from canceling a of the decision handed Polish-Czech missile defense system down Tuesday by the Permanent to, most recently, openly acquiescing Court of Arbitration in The Hague — to Russia’s seizure of a dominant role a blistering, sweeping and unanimous in Syria. rejection of China’s territorial claims And what are the East Europe- and military buildup in the South ans to think when they hear the pre- China Sea. sumptive presidential candidate of Without American action, how- the party of Reagan speaking dismis- ever, The Hague’s verdict is a dead sively of NATO and suggesting a pos- letter. Lecturing other great pow- sible American exit? ers about adherence to “international The NATO action takes on even norms” is ine. But the Paciic Rim greater signiicance because of the nations are anxious to see whether we timing, coming just two weeks after will actually do something. Brexit. Britain’s withdrawal threat- Regarding Iran, we certainly ens the future of the other major pillar won’t. Our abject appeasement con- of Western integration and solidarity, tinues, from ignoring Tehran’s serial the European Union. NATO shows violations of the nuclear agreement that it is holding fast and that the vital (the latest: intensiied efforts to instrument of Western cohesion and obtain illegal nuclear technology in joint action will henceforth be almost Germany) to the administration act- entirely trans-Atlantic — meaning, ing as a kind of Chamber of Com- under American leadership. merce to facilitate the sale of about The EU, even if it doesn’t dis- 100 Boeing jetliners to a regime that solve, will now inevitably turn routinely uses civilian aircraft for inward as it spends years working military transport (particularly in out its new communal arrangements Syria). with and without Britain. Putin was The troop deployments to Eastern Brexit’s big winner. Any fracturing of Europe are a good irst step in push- the Western alliance presents oppor- ing back against the rising revisionist tunities to play one member against powers. But a irst step, however wel- another. He can only be disappointed come, 7 1/2 years into a presidency, is to see NATO step up and step in. a melancholy reminder of what might After the humiliating collapse of have been. Cartwright Pump Track a community celebration By SUE CODY For The Daily Astorian M ountain bikers rejoice! There is a new pump track for bicycle enthusiasts near Seaside’s Cartwright Park. “Years ago, Cartwright Park was just a bunch of blackberries and a phone booth where people made their deals,” said Seaside Mayor Don Larson. Now, the new pump track is adjacent to a park that already has a picnic shelter, swing sets, restrooms and play structures. “The pump track is a real neat addition,” Larson said. A pump track, which opened Saturday, is a looping bike track with bumps and berms where bik- ers can “pump” their body up and down, creating momentum without pedaling over the bumps. “Pump tracks are gathering places for the community,” said Chris Quackenbush, a North Coast Trail Alliance member. “Riding the track gets kids and adults off their phones and computers for great exercise outdoors.” “The pump track idea came as a stepping stone to promote more bike riding in the community,” said Morgan Soller, one of the driving members of trail alliance. “We came up with a location that we thought would accommodate a bike track on city property,” said Quackenbush. The location is in an area easily accessible by bicycle. After developing a basic track design for the space, the trail alli- ance approached the Seaside Parks Advisory Committee with the idea. Seaside Public Works Director Dale McDowell was impressed with the meeting. “The presentation fea- tured members from ages 7 to 70, who explained to the board with photographs and concept drawings how they would like to develop the space.” “It was an unsightly space near the park that was simply lat ground breeding invasive species,” said Quackenbush of the space behind the Seaside School District Admin- istration Building. After talking to Kiwanis, which Sue Cody/Submitted Photo River Quackenbush catches some air while riding on the new pump track in Seaside. ‘Pump tracks are great exercise and a chance for kids and older people to improve their bike skills.’ Morgan Soller one of the driving members of trail alliance has adopted Cartwright Park, a neighborhood survey, redesigns and more presentations to Seaside’s Planning Commission and the City Council, the project was approved at the end of April. “The Seaside City Council is pleased to see this group of men doing something upbeat for their kids, families and visitors,” Larson said. Brush clearing, rock loading, sifting through materials to pack into the curved surface of the track were all tasks that were accom- plished by the trail alliance and community volunteers. Materials and supplies were donated by All Rents, Keith Keranen Excavating, Teevin & Fischer Quarry, Erickson Excavating, Osburn/Olson LLC, Angelina’s Pizza, Seaside Coffee House, Fairweather Press, Terra- Com Web Design. Northwest Coast Trails Coalition donated funds for the sign. Volunteers spent many hours building, packing and reining the track. “Moving tons of rock by hand was back-breaking,” Soller said. “Pump tracks are great exercise and a chance for kids and older peo- ple to improve their bike skills,” said Soller. McDowell said he likes the idea of families participating in outdoor activities together. “More experi- enced riders can teach younger rid- ers how to ride the track, bring- ing the community and neighbors together. “I have witnessed irsthand the use of the pump track — especially young children on their bicycles — they are having a blast. I feel this is a great asset to our park system and to our community.” Sue Cody is communications lead for Way to Wellville in Clatsop County. She is also a former dep- uty managing editor of The Daily Astorian.