Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 1990)
‘Misleading’ column criticized My letter is in response to a col umn by Amy Edwards, titled “Ameri can Watchdogs in place” (DN Aug. 27), the first day of school — a perfect day to publish a misleading column. There are several objectionable things so I have addressed them in a numerical order. I start from the sec ond paragraph in which Amy writes: 1. We are going to war. Are we really? Until Aug. 27,1990 there has been nodirectconfrontalion between U.S. troops stationed in Saudi Arabia and the Iraqi forces in Kuwait and Iraq. This statement almost sounds like you wanted to say, “We are looking forward fora war.” Despite the increasing buildup of troops in the Gulf (both U.S. and Iraqi), there are important signs that there are efforts on way to diffuse tension between Washington and Baghdad. The families of the diplo mats arc on their way home via Tur key. Whereas these significant changes arc taking place, your statement that we are going to war is quite contra dictory or maybe it reflects your un realistic perspective of an already “trigger-happy” U.S. foreign policy (remember Panama, Grenada or Vi etnam). 2. In your article you state and seek to elaborate on the most obvious of geopolitical facts. I am curious about the audience of such kind of writing. For example you state: “Saudi Arabia has oil” and that “Americans crave to maintain their way of life.” OOOH! Please slop! You are hurt ing my intelligence and that of the 2,000 new students who have joined UNL this fall. Don’t you think every Tom, Dick and Harry is aware of these above stated “universal truths (if I may).” 3. You state and I partly agree with you here that “Washington manufac tured a protest letter for the Kuwaiti emir to sign? . . . Kuwait sent this letter to other nations to enlist their help.” Rumor has it that when a day after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the Kuwaiti emir (actual spelling is ameer) was asked to read a letter of protest (in Arabic) on TV, he had trouble reading it (My sources are C-SPAN, Lincoln cable channel 21). If this in fact is correct, don’t you believe it is outrageous that the king who had billions slashed away in Swiss ac counts (which now stand frozen) could not read. Maybe the honorable king did not get lime from his 60 wives (approximately) and countless chil dren (exact). I know this is an exag geration and I also know that the personal life of the (former) Kuwaiti king is not the issue on trial, but if the Kuwaiti rulers say that they tried their best to resolve the border and oil production problems with the “mad man” of Iraq, can we really believe in what they say? 4. You state that the United Na tions believes the “use of force could be used to stop vessels.” I am sorry, but your statement is only partly correct. The United Na tions only allowed the use of “LIM ITED’ ’ force. To you, maybe, force and LIMITED force do not mean a whole lot of difference. A question for you though, maybe you can answer it in your next col umn: Would you advocate stopping of shipping vessels carrying food and medicinal stuff? 5. And finally the classic example of the worst piece of column writing I have had the willpower to go through. Here I have to write exactly the entire paragraph about your father’s insight into foreign policy and understanding of world affairs. Y ou state and I quote: “My dad told me last week that he thought we would use nuclear weap ons against Iraq. I disagreed. Turning Iraq into a parking lot would leave us with a long walk to work. But who knows? Maybe dealing with a mad man requires tactics that arc just as mad. His willingness to take on world outrage leaves a large question about rational talks with the Iraqi leader.” Give me a break lady? How hypo critical can you get? You do not agree with your dad about the use of nuclear weapons but then maybe to get things over with quickly you think it is not such a bad idea after all. I am curious. Did you write this Friday night before school started? Did you watch a lot of Rambo movies this summer with your dad? Or maybe those Chuck Norris movies where Arab “terrorists” hijack and slaughter all American and Israeli passengers and towards the end Nor ris kicks some Arab butt. He destroys all Arabs from the face of the earth. Is that the world you envision? Is that the prophesy you have for us on the first day of school? Are you aware of the geographical location of Iraq if we really believe President Bush will authorize the use of nuclear weapons. You will destroy Iraq for sure, but devastate Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Kuwait as well. In case of a bigger disaster Israel, Russia and Egypt too. Yes, I said Israel. Ooh, maybe now you are concerned about a nuclear solution. World problems can be quite mind boggling. Before you embark on a trip to explain them to us, be sure you have some vision of them yourself. Let us all pray that the crisis is over with and all U.S. troops come home safe and Free and that there is abso lutely no wasting oF lives. Naveed Siraj Memon Graduate Student Industrial Engineering. BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO WILL BAZZlf YH Wim OVER MJOO PLAYS’ From our strong line-up of over 10,000 videos in more than 30 different categories, you II be able to get your hands on the best video selection around. And you'll like our strategy, too. BLOCKBUSTER lets you keep your videos for three evenings! So, if you want to score some points with your family, bring 'em into BLOCKBUSTER Video, where everybody comes out a winner. ! I • 1990 (HOCK ftUSTft tmertnwwwnl Corporator! | NIKE AIR LA GEAR REEBOK AVIA ' (Includes Entire Stock) Buy one pair of brand name shoes at our everyday low price, get the second pair- FamOUS Footweai of equal or lesser value- 6810 P Street for half price! Bring a friend! Lincoln, NE 6850J Now thru Labor Day! (402) 464-3138 ...-. i