DATE=02/19/98
TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST
NUMBER=6-10580
TITLE=THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS
BYLINE=ANDREW N. GUTHRIE
TELEPHONE=619-3335
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS
CONTENT=
//// EDS: DATED AFTER 10 P-M E-S-T ////
INTRO: SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE CONFRONTATION WITH IRAQ CONTINUE
TO DOMINATE THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF MANY U-S NEWSPAPERS THIS
THURSDAY. ONE IS KOFI ANNAN'S TRIP TO BAGHDAD; ANOTHER IS THE
UNRULY DEBATE AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY OVER THE EFFICACY OF THE
PROPOSED ATTACK; ANOTHER IS THE STORY OF THE
TWO-BILLION-DOLLAR-"STEALTH" BOMBER WHICH APPARENTLY CANNOT BE
USED IN IRAQ BECAUSE OF PENTAGON POLITICS.
TURNING TO OTHER TOPICS, WE FIND COMMENTARIES ON SUCH SUBJECTS
AS: THE DECLINING ECONOMY IN INDONESIA; A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK IN
BRAZIL; THE ATTEMPTED SHEVARDNADZE ASSASSINATION IN GEORGIA AND
GLORY FOLLOWED BY DISGRACE IN OLYMPIC ICE HOCKEY. NOW, HERE IS
_____________________WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL
DIGEST.
TEXT: YESTERDAY'S RAUCOUS PUBLIC MEETING AT OHIO STATE
UNIVERSITY IN COLUMBUS, WHERE SECRETARIES OF STATE AND DEFENSE
ALBRIGHT AND COHEN, AND WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER
SANDY BERGER DISCUSSED THE ADMINISTRATION'S IRAQ POLICY, AND GOT
SEVERELY HECKLED BY SOME ANTI WAR PROTESTERS IN THE AUDIENCE,
DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES."
VOICE: THOUGH NOT WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE EXPECTED, THE EVENT WAS
A FASCINATING BAROMETER OF A COUNTRY DIVIDED, OR AT
LEAST UNCERTAIN, ABOUT WHETHER TO USE MILITARY FORCE
AGAINST IRAQ. THERE WERE MOMENTS DURING THE 90-MINUTE
TOWN MEETING IN THE OHIO STATE BASKETBALL ARENA THAT
WERE EERILY REMINISCENT OF THE PROTESTS AND PASSIONS
GENERATED BY THE VIETNAM WAR. OPPONENTS OF A MILITARY
STRIKE, WHEN THEY GOT THEIR MOMENT AT THE MICROPHONE,
COMPLAINED ANGRILY ABOUT AMERICAN AGGRESSION OVERSEAS.
THOSE WHO FAVOR ATTACKING IRAQ SAID WASHINGTON SHOULD
NOT SETTLE FOR AIR STRIKES BUT SHOULD MARCH TO BAGHDAD
AND REMOVE SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM POWER. ... IT IS CLEAR
MR. CLINTON STILL HAS A GOOD DEAL OF EXPLAINING AND
CONVINCING TO DO.
TEXT: TURNING TO ANOTHER FACET OF THE STORY, "USA TODAY"
COMMENTS ON THE FORTHCOMING LAST-MINUTE TRIP TO BAGHDAD OF THE
U-N SECRETARY GENERAL TO TRY TO AVERT AN ATTACK WITH A
COMPROMISE. BUT THE PAPER APPEARS SKEPTICAL AS TO ITS VALUE.
VOICE: THE UNITED STATES WEDNESDAY SIGNED OFF [APPROVED] ON
THE LATEST GIMMICK TO MAKE U-N INSPECTION OF WEAPONS
SITES MORE PALATABLE TO SADDAM: DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS.
UNDER THIS NEW WRINKLE, [ARRANGEMENT][ SECURITY COUNCIL
REPRESENTATIVES WOULD SHADOW [FOLLOW] INSPECTORS AS THEY
CHECKED SENSITIVE IRAQI SITES -- NOT INTERFERING WITH
DESTRUCTION OF BANNED BIOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL, AND NUCLEAR
WEAPONS BUT INJECTING A GEOPOLITICAL BALANCE INTO THE
PROCESS WHICH [MR.] SADDAM INSISTS IS NEEDED. IF THAT
BENIGN ADDITION IS ALL IT TAKES TO AVOID A WAR, SO BE
IT. [HOWEVER] ... THE TIME [MR.] ANNAN HAS TO MAKE THE
GAMBIT IS AND SHOULD BE LIMITED.
TEXT: THE PAPER GOES ON TO MENTION THE OHIO STATE MEETING, AND
ITS RAUCOUS TONE, NOTING; NOTHING WRONG THERE. CONFLICTING VIEWS
EXPRESSED WEDNESDAY AND RECENT POLLS INDICATE QUESTIONS REMAIN
ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES SUCCESS IN IRAQ.
THEN LASTLY, THERE IS THE SURPRISING STORY ABOUT THE
TWO-BILLION-DOLLAR APIECE B-2 STEALTH BOMBERS WHICH, "THE
WASHINGTON POST" REPORTED WEDNESDAY, CANNOT FLY IN ANY ATTACK ON
IRAQ FOR POLITICAL REASONS. "THE POST" SAYS THE AIR FORCE IS
WORRIED ABOUT EITHER LOSING ONE OR MORE OF THE COSTLY PLANES, OR,
IF IT DOES VERY WELL, RENEWED DEMANDS IN CONGRESS FOR MORE OF THE
COSTLY AIRCRAFT, AT THE EXPENSE OF MONEY TO PRODUCE THE 21ST
CENTURY PLANE, THE F-22. SAYS "THE NEW YORK POST" OF THE STORY:
VOICE: THAT LOGIC IS BIZARRE, IF THE STORY IS TRUE. SENDING
LESS CAPABLE AIRCRAFT INTO COMBAT FOR ANY REASON IS
WORRISOME; SHOULD IT BE DONE TO PROJECT FUTURE
PROCUREMENT PROGRAMS, IT WOULD BE UNCONSCIONABLE. ...
[IF] IT TURNS OUT THAT THE B-2 WAS NOT USED, THE AIR
FORCE HAD BETTER HAVE A CONVINCING ALIBI.
TEXT: TURNING TO INDONESIA'S CRUMBLING ECONOMY, "THE WASHINGTON
POST" WORRIES:
VOICE: THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM IN INDONESIA NOW IS POLITICAL AS
MUCH AS ECONOMIC. WHEN THE STOCK MARKET AND CURRENCY
WERE COLLAPSING LATE LAST YEAR, PRESIDENT SUHARTO, 76,
AGREED TO A SERIES OF REFORMS IN EXCHANGE FOR THE
PROMISE OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN EMERGENCY LOANS FROM
THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, THE UNITED STATES,
JAPAN AND OTHERS. ... THESE CHANGES, IF IMPLEMENTED,
WOULD CHALLENGE THE CRONY CAPITALISM THAT HAS ALLOWED
MR. SUHARTO'S CHILDREN AND FRIENDS TO GET RICH WHILE
WOULD-BE ENTREPRENEURS WITHOUT CONNECTIONS ARE STIFLED.
... WHAT INDONESIA NEEDS, IN ADDITION TO FOLLOWING
THROUGH ON PROMISES ALREADY MADE, IS POLITICAL REFORM --
THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS THAT COULD
PROVIDE SOME CONFIDENCE IN A PEACEFUL, POST-SUHARTO
TRANSITION. INSTEAD, MR. SUHARTO'S POLICE ARE ISSUING
SHOOT-ON-SIGHT ORDERS TO COMBAT HUNGRY DEMONSTRATORS,
AND HIS REGIME IS INTENSIFYING THE SURVEILLANCE OF
POLITICAL DISSIDENTS.
TEXT: NOTING SOME BRIGHTER ECONOMIC NEWS FROM BRAZIL, VARIOUS
BANKING AND BUDGET REFORMS PUSHED THROUGH CONGRESS RECENTLY BY
PRESIDENT FERNANDO HENRIQUE CARDOSO, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" HINTS
OF THE WORK STILL AHEAD.
VOICE: THE POOREST HALF OF BRAZIL'S POPULATION MUST MAKE DO
WITH BARELY A TENTH OF THE NATIONAL INCOME, WHILE ABOUT
HALF THE NATIONAL INCOME FLOWS TO THE RICHEST TEN
PERCENT. SOME 58-THOUSAND LARGE LANDOWNERS HOLD HALF
THE COUNTRY'S FARMLAND WHILE THREE MILLION SMALL FARMERS
MAKE DO ON TWO PERCENT. MR. CARDOSO'S REFORMS HAVE
BROUGHT AUSTERITY FOR ALL BRAZILIANS. THESE SACRIFICES
ARE ALMOST SURE TO PAY DIVIDENDS FOR THE BETTER-OFF.
BUT BRAZIL WILL NOT LIVE UP TO ITS POTENTIAL UNTIL THE
BENEFITS ARE MORE JUSTLY SHARED.
TEXT: TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL" TAKES NOTE OF THE RECENT
ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF GEORGIA'S PRESIDENT EDWARD SHEVARDNADZE"
AND WHAT HE FEELS WAS BEHIND THE AMBUSH, RUSSIAN INTRIGUE DUE TO
THE REGION'S OIL RICHES.
VOICE: IF A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHAT ROLE THE RUSSIANS
ARE PLAYING IN THIS LATEST FERMENT IN THE CAUCASUS, THEY
HAVE REASONS. THE NEIGHBORING CASPIAN SEA REGION IS
REGARDED AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S RICHEST SOURCES OF OIL
AND GAS, WITH DEPOSITS WORTH TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THIS
IS NOT A PRIZE THAT OLD RUSSIAN IMPERIALISTS ARE PLEASED
TO SEE CONTROLLED BY THE LIKES OF AZERIS, TURKMENS AND
KAZAKHS. ... OF COURSE, NO ONE CAN PROVE THAT THE
ATTEMPT ON MR. SHEVARDNADZE ...WAS ORCHESTRATED IN
MOSCOW. ... [BUT] ONE WAY FOR RUSSIA TO DISPEL SUCH
SUSPICIONS AND ALLEGATIONS WOULD BE TO PROVIDE FULL
SUPPORT TO GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING THE
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ...SILENCE FROM MOSCOW WOULD BE
OMINOUS.
/// OPT ///
TEXT: THE REAPPEARANCE OF THE U-S FLAG IN TEHRAN, AND NOT IN A
DEMONSTRATION WHERE IT WAS BURNED BY ANGRY PROTESTERS, IS DRAWING
A RESPONSE FROM "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES."
VOICE: THE OCCASION -- A WRESTLING TOURNAMENT TO WHICH A U-S
TEAM HAS BEEN INVITED -- IS ABOUT AS FAR REMOVED FROM
THE WORLD OF DIPLOMACY AS IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET, BUT THE
POLITICAL SYMBOLISM OF THE EVENT IS NOT LOST ON ANYONE,
LEAST OF ALL IRAN'S MOST VOCAL AMERICAN-HATERS. ...THE
GAME OF DIPLOMACY VERY OFTEN TURNS ON SIGNALS AND
NUANCES, ON HINTS AND GESTURES AND WINKS AND NODS. SO
LET THE GAME BEGIN.
/// END OPT ///
TEXT: LASTLY, SOME THOUGHTS ON THE GLORY AND DISGRACE OF
AMERICA'S TWO ICE HOCKEY TEAMS IN THE WINTER OLYMPICS FROM "THE
MIAMI HERALD."
VOICE: THE FOG OF INDIFFERENCE TO THE 1998 WINTER OLYMPICS
LIFTED BRIEFLY THIS WEEK, BLOWN ASIDE BY DISPARATE
RESULT IN A SPORT THAT BLUE-COLLAR [WORKING MEN AND
WOMEN] FANS CAN RELATE TO: ICE HOCKEY. FIRST, A U-S
WOMEN'S TEAM OF HIGHLY MOTIVATED AMATEURS DEFEATED
CANADA 3 TO 1 TO WIN THE GOLD. ALAS, U-S FANS' PRIDE IN
THE WOMEN'S VICTORY WAS SOON ECLIPSED BY DISGUST AT AN
UNDERACHIEVING MEN'S TEAM THAT COMPRISED PRO'S
(PROFESSIONALS) DRAWN FROM THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE.
THIS U-S 'DREAM TEAM' LOST ITS FIRST TEST, FELL INTO THE
LOSERS' BRACKET, AND SANK. ... THE UNITED STATES MIGHT
BE BETTER OFF NEXT TIME SENDING ANIMATED AMATEURS
INSTEAD OF WORLD-WEARY PRO'S.
TEXT: ON THAT ATHLETIC, PHILOSOPHICAL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS
SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM SOME OF THURSDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
19-Feb-98 10:38 AM EST (1538 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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