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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 2015)
VIEWPOINTS Saturday, February 14, 2015 Quick takes The Kitzhaber controversy I voted for him but I think it’s time for him to go. Continuing to support his girl- friend and her underhanded tactics brings into question his decision making skills. He can either choose to stay with her or stay in RI¿FHEXWWKHWZRDUHQRWFRPSDWLEOH — Alice Gilson Hepburn He’s turning into the Governor from Blazing Saddles. — David Campbell I didn’t think recreational pot was legal before July 1. — Mike Navratil :K\ ZRXOG KH WDON WR KLV ¿DQFpH" 6KH would have been the last person I would have talked to--she was the one who is heaping embarrassment daily on him with each new allegation. — Rod Wayne Nixon 'RHVKHUHDOO\WKLQNVKHORYHVKLP"/RRN at her history. Just go! And then see if she’s still around. I could take a guess. — Linda Cole One of the great lessons of the Twitter age is that much can be summed up in just a few words. Here are some of this week’s takes. Tweet yours @Tim_Trainor or email editor@eastoregonian. com, and keep them to 140 characters. East Oregonian Page 5A 5HTXDZRUWK\%URZQ¿HOGWKHULJKWVSRW By DEAN FOUQUETTE Pendleton Linebackers Club T he Pendleton Arts Commission and the Pendleton City Council approved the Requa bronze and the siting at %URZQ¿HOG3DUNLQ-DQXDU\RI7KH 3HQGOHWRQ/LQHEDFNHUV followed the protocol that is required for placing a bronze in the city of Pendleton. The people who are on the Pendleton Arts Commission are experienced volunteers LQWKH¿HOGRIDUW The Pendleton City Council is selected by vote by the citizens of Pendleton. They work hard and long hours at making the best decisions for the city, which is us. 2QFHWKH3HQGOHWRQ/LQHEDFNHUVUHFHLYHG this commitment from these two entities we started fundraising for the Requa bronze. We have the full support of the Arts Commission and the city council. We hired Rip Caswell, a world- renowned bronze sculptor from Troutdale, Oregon. Google him, you will see what he has accomplished. He sculpted Admiral Renew clean fuels program for region’s economy and jobs By TOM KOEHLER Pacific Ethanol T KH2UHJRQ/HJLVODWXUHLVFRQVLGHULQJULJKWQRZWR whether to reauthorize our state’s nascent Clean )XHOVSURJUDP7KHSURJUDPZKLFKEHJLQV¿QDO implementation this year, will increase access to cleaner burning fuel sources to provide more choices for Oregon consumers and expand opportunities for Oregon’s businesses. Without clean fuel options, Oregonians are sending PRUHWKDQELOOLRQRXWRIVWDWHHDFK\HDUWRLPSRUWJDV and diesel. By capturing even just a small fraction of those fuel dollars and keeping them here at home, we can create thousands of MREVDQGKDYHDVLJQL¿FDQW impact on our local economy. Across the Northwest, our burgeoning clean fuel sector is demonstrating innovation and leadership: We have everything from biofuels to electric vehicles to natural and renewable gas, propane, all ready and able to offer cheaper options to Oregonians while reducing harmful air pollution. But nowhere more than Eastern Oregon can demonstrate how the clean fuel industry is taking off and what opportunities we have to expand further. Agriculture and timber byproducts are supplying the next generation of renewable fuels for reduced pollution and cleaner air — and creating jobs and putting money into Oregonians’ pocket while doing so. When we talk about economic development and opportunities for Eastern Oregon, clean fuels ought to be at the top of any list. Growers are becoming enthusiastic about the new market opportunities for their products, with clean fuel technology advancement. Companies like 3DFL¿F$JLQ+HUPLVWRQSURYLGHLPSRUWDQWFRQQHFWLRQV LQWKHFOHDQIXHOVVXSSO\FKDLQ$QG3DFL¿F(WKDQROLV generating 40 million gallons of low carbon ethanol fuel each year. 2XU%RDUGPDQIDFLOLW\SURYLGHVGLUHFWOLYLQJ ZDJHMREVZLWKEHQH¿WVDQGVXSSRUWVPRUHWKDQMREV servicing the production, marketing, maintenance and operations of our plant. Our clean fuel economy — which supports responsible, clean fuel consumption and creates local, good-paying jobs — can continue to grow. But this expansion requires the consistent market signal that Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program can provide. 3DFL¿F(WKDQRODORQJZLWKKXQGUHGVRIRWKHU&OHDQ Fuels Work businesses members, is proud to support the Clean Fuels Program. We strongly encourage all Oregon /HJLVODWRUVWRYRWHIRULWVUHDXWKRUL]DWLRQ Ŷ 7RP.RHKOHULVD&R)RXQGHURI3DFL¿F(WKDQRODQGD PHPEHURIWKH&OHDQ)XHOV:RUNDOOLDQFH3DFL¿F(WKDQRO¶V Oregon facility is located in Boardman. To learn more about the Clean Fuels Program visit www. CleanFuelsWorks.com Our Boardman facility provides 35 direct living- wage jobs with benefits and supports more than 700 jobs. Chester Nimitz of the U.S. Navy, Governor Tom McCall of Oregon, Sergeant Tommy Tucker of Madras, and many more. Rip is a real pro. When we spoke to Randy Gundlach, he said, “You have the right guy.” 7KH/LQHEDFNHUVKDYHUDLVHG for the Requa bronze through private donations and foundation grants, LQFOXGLQJIURP the Pendleton Arts Commission — money that is earmarked for art in the city of Pendleton. Caswell has been to Pendleton twice to look at and measure WKHVLWLQJDW%URZQ¿HOG Park. The dimensions of the base for the statue, the tilting of the head of Req, the posture of Req, and the gaze of the eyes of Req KDYHWREHVSHFL¿FIRUWKHORFDWLRQRIWKH EURQ]H(YHU\WKLQJLVYHU\VSHFL¿FLQWKH sculpting of the Requa bronze. 7KH/LQHEDFNHUVFRQVLGHUHGWKHKLJK VFKRRO5R\5DOH\3DUN%URZQ¿HOG3DUN and other locations. We understand the thought process for each location. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Don Requa was a very important citizen in our community for 37 years — he is enshrined in three Halls of Fame. :HIHOWWKDW%URZQ¿HOG3DUNORFDWHG just south of the Main Street Bridge and on the northeast corner of Main and Byers, was the best location for the Requa bronze. We think more of our citizens of Pendleton, our visitors, and our bus tours would be able to view the bronze. We are just a few months away from the completion of the Requa bronze. We are in discussion with the planning commission for the base of the bronze, the wiring of the lighting system, and the camera security system setup. These things take a lot of time and energy. Don Requa was a math teacher, a football coach, a driver’s training instructor, an athletic director, a mentor, and a very LPSRUWDQWFLWL]HQLQRXUFRPPXQLW\IRU years. On top of that, he developed one of the best high school football programs in the state of Oregon and he had the most wins in the state of Oregon. That record has since been surpassed. He is enshrined LQWKUHH+DOOVRI)DPH'LGKHKDYHIDXOWV" <HV'LGKHKDYHGHWUDFWRUV"<HV:DVKH SHUIHFW"1R+HLVWKHJUHDWHVWIRRWEDOO coach in our long and storied history. Req VDLGWKLV³7KHIRRWEDOO¿HOGLVDQRWKHU classroom where real life lessons are learned.” Ŷ Dean Fouquette is chairman of the Pendleton Linebackers Hall of Fame. Succession in Saudi Arabia I n the midst of multiple DJHZKRZDVDIDYRULWH Middle Eastern crises, the of King Abdullah and served long ruling King of Saudi most recently as his special Arabia, Abdullah bin Ibn Saud, advisor and envoy. Since his died in January. Determined mother is Yemeni, his naming to assure a smooth transition, as deputy crown prince in the $EGXOODKREWDLQHGLQD VXFFHVVLRQGHFUHHZDVD succession decree to two half- surprise, bypassing Salman’s brothers and it has held. Harriet half- brother, Ahmad. One The Kingdom: The ruling ZRQGHUVKRZ¿UP0XTULQLVLQ Isom monarchy was established future succession. Comment LQE\,EQ6DXGLQDQ New Deputy Crown alliance with the ultra-hardline Prince: 7KH¿UVW,EQ6DXG Wahabi branch of Sunni religious grandson in the succession is clerics of the Arabian peninsula, an 0RKDPPHGELQ1D\HIDJH DOOLDQFHVWLOO¿UPO\LQSODFH)URP another member of the Sudairi faction. oil production, the al-Sauds are the He is particularly powerful as Minister world’s richest family. No parliament of Interior. Of note is that he attended exists.Succession has traditionally EXWGLGQRWJUDGXDWHIURP/HZLVDQG been to one of Ibn Saud’s many Clark College in sons from multiple wives. Few sons Portland. remain. He has been Succession: Given the advanced a leading force, age and poor health of the new King originally with his and Crown Prince, speculation on father, the former future rulers has not abated. Which hard-line Interior JUDQGVRQVZLOOXOWLPDWHO\JDLQSRZHU" Minister from It could be messy in a monarchy that LQ has 25,000 princes and princesses. But preserving stability the grandson just chosen by the new by fending off a king as number three is already in a hostile al- Qaeda key position and well known to U.S. within Saudi Arabia RI¿FLDOV DQGVWLÀLQJGRPHVWLF New King: Salman bin Abdulaziz political dissent. He DO6DXGDJHLVSDUWRIWKH protects a vital oil powerful Sudairi faction within the al- infrastructure. Saud family and is a former governor He works of the capital of Riyadh, overseeing closely with the its transformation from a desert town White House to a modern metropolis. He has been and American Defense Minister since 2012 and intelligence on recently approved Saudi participation counter-terrorism in air strikes against the self-named and is credited with providing ,VODPLF6WDWH,6,6LQ,UDT6\ULD intelligence that foiled at least two al King Salman is reportedly less Qaeda plots against Western targets. interested in Saudi-style political He has led Saudi opposition and social reform than Abdullah and to the Muslim Brotherhood in the more oriented towards the religious 0LGGOH(DVW0(EHFDXVHWKH6DXGL leadership. Hence Saudi women are monarchy sees it as a political form unlikely to gain permission to drive of Islam that could threaten its power. anytime soon! Yet, mindful of social In that regard, not all Arab states media, Salman has the fastest-growing support the Saudi call to wipe out the 7ZLWWHUSUR¿OHLQWKHZRUOGDVKHXVHV Brotherhood. it to get out the message he wants Saudi Gain: While Saudi Arabia Saudis and the world to hear. has deplored the Arab Spring Cementing his Sudairi family movements in the ME, it has actually power base, Salman swiftly appointed EHQH¿WHGIURPWKHZHDNQHVVRU KLV\HDUROGVRQ0RKDPPHG collapse of many ME states. Today it bin Salman as Defense Minister and is considered the leading Sunni voice, another son as Deputy Oil Minister replacing Egypt whose new military New Crown Prince. Next in line regime relies on Saudi economic is the affable Muqrin bin Abdulaziz largess. Saudi Aim: Saudi Arabia uses LWVLQÀXHQFHLQDVLQJOHPLQGHG DQG¿HUFH0(SRZHUULYDOU\ZLWK Iran that is both religious in content 6XQQLY6KLLWHDQGKLVWRULF$UDEY 3HUVLDQ,QWHUHVWLQJDUHWKHKLQWVLQ the press that Israel and Saudi Arabia DUH¿QGLQJFRPPRQFDXVHLQWKHLU antagonism to Iran and might become allies of sorts in the future. U.S. Relations:7KH¿VVXUHV in outlook are more apparent now that the U.S. is less reliant on Saudi Arabian oil. The Saudis hate any U.S. promotion of democracy in the ME HJ(J\SWRU,UDT7KH\ZDQWWKH86 willing to bomb their Shiite enemies in Syria and Iran. They strongly REMHFWWRFXUUHQW86(XURSHDQ negotiations with Iran over nuclear development. For years they have ignored U.S. demarches on human rights issues within Saudi Arabia, the most recent one protesting a sentence of 1,000 lashes for a journalist. And a troubling sub rosa factor to us LVWKHLQÀXHQFHWKDW Saudi Arabia’s ultra conservative Wahabi religion has long had in fueling extremist Sunni movements worldwide — at the expense of more moderate strains of ,VODP,QFRQWUDVWWRRI¿FLDOO\GHFODUHG Saudi government policy, individual Saudis support extremist groups, including ISIS, with plentiful amounts of money. Still, neither the U.S. nor Saudi Arabia can abandon each other as evident by President Obama’s visit to Riyadh after Abdullah’s death. The U.S. and new Saudi leadership will likely continue to cooperate in countering terrorism, protecting Saudi RLO¿HOGVDQGNHHSLQJDVWURQJGHIHQVH bulwark against Iran. Ŷ Ambassador Harriet Isom grew up in Pendleton and has retired to the family ranch. She was a career diplomat serving in Asia and Africa from 1961 to 1996. Neither the U.S. nor Saudi Arabia can abandon each other, despite troubling influences from Saudi Arabia’s ultra conservative religion. Be heard! 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