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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1998)
_National_ Spotlight Clinton prepares America for airstrikes against Iraq WASHINGTON (AP) - President Clinton, preparing Americans for possi ble airstrikes against Iraq, said Tuesday that military force is never the first answer, “but sometimes it’s the only answer.” Cautioning that an attack would not be risk free, the president said, “I know that die people we may call upon in uni form are ready. The American people have to be ready as well.” Clinton used a Pentagon setting and a nationally televised speech to define military goals and a rationale for action. He said airstrikes would leave Saddam “significantly worse off than he is now.” And if one attack does not achieveUS. goals, “we will be prepared to strike him again,” the president said. Clinton said U.N. inspectors charged with dismantling Saddam’s biological, chemical and nuclear weapons have encountered “lies, stonewalling, obstacle after obstacle after obstacle” in the seven years since the Gulf War. If Saddam is not stopped now, Clinton said, “He will conclude that the international community has lost its will. He will then conclude that he can go right on and do more to rebuild an arsenal of devastating destruction.” “And some day, some way, I guaran tee you, he’ll use the arsenal,” the presi dent said. He said Saddam “could end this crisis tomorrow simply by letting the weapons inspectors complete their mission.” “Iraq must understand that our patience is not infinite,” Defense Secretary William Cohen said. “And at some point we will have to act to reduce the menace posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and to reduce Iraq’s ability to threaten its neighbors. Clinton is expected to continue his public focus on Iraq in coming days, and theWhite House said he may even tually address die nation from the Oval' Office. £ Quality Jobs bill questioned Recent criticism of the Nebraska Legislature spurred new debate on an economics bill in its final round Tuesday. LB939, a bill sponsored by Omaha Sen. Pam Brown, would restructure the state's Quality Jobs Act to attract a $50 million Caterpillar plant toOmaha. The Quality Jobs Act was a failed attempt to lure a computer software plant to Omaha in 1995. But on Tuesday Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha introduced a measure that would essentially kill the bill for this session. Chambers said his motion was in response to criticism from a group of 49 Nebraska business leaders who said they no longer have confidence in the Legislature's effectiveness at cutting the state budget Earlier this month the group announced it would seek to bring a constitutional amendment to voters in November. The amendment would set guidelines for die Legislature and governor in planning the budget Chambers said their criticism was “inappropriate and off-base.” “What they’ve done is at least ungrateful... and it’s unfair,” he said. Several other senators, including Sens. George Coordseo of Hebron, a co-sponsor of the bill, and Jennie Robak of Columbus said they were confused and perplexed by the group’s criticism and would support postponing the bill until understand ing between the business community and senators could be reached. The Legislature adjourned before voting on die motion. Provisional licenses debated The Legislature debated LB320, a bill sponsored by Sen. ArdyceBohlke of Hastings, that wodd create aprovisional driverfe license for teen-age drivers. Instead of a full license, a provi sional operator’s license, or POP license, would be issued to 16- to 18 year-old drivers. The license would be valid for one year, during which the holder would be limited to driving between 6 a.m. and midnight, unless traveling to or from work or school. License holders would be required to complete a driving course or 50 hours of driving practicewith a licensed driver before receiving a full license. An amendment introduced by Chambers would lessen die charge for violation of a learner’s permit or farm permit from a misdemeanor to a minor infraction, which would match the penalty for violation of the POP license.. Under another amendment intro duced by Sen. Curt Bromm of Wahoo, licenses issued to minors would expire on their21st birthday. A new license would be issued with a different colored background, and the word “minor” would be removed, indicating the holder is old enough to purchase alcohol. Both amendments passed and the bill moved to final reading. Compiled by Assignment Reporter Todd Anderson j “I live paycheck to paycheck just like you do, but people appreciate a politician who goes through the good times and bad times just like everyone aIca ” CISC. An easy choice Shoecraft said his stepfather con centrated on molding him into a responsible, disciplined man Shoecraft said his stepfather saw something in the young high school athlete - something different than in t’s two older brothers who out to lead a life on Munciefc “He was an ex-military man,” Shoecraft said, “I didn’t figure out until after I graduated from high school and got a scholarship - he was always yelling at me and focusing mi me -then I realized he was trying to instill disci pline and focus in me, and it worked.” On his fast recruiting visit to UNL, Shoecraft said, he experienced culture shock because people were so friendly. Shoecraft quickly called home to tell his family he would accept NU’s scholarship offer. He told his parents he accepted the scholarship not because of the coaches or the basketball arena, but because of the people. “I was walking down O Street, and people kept saying, ‘Howdy,’ and ‘Hi, how are you?’ and I was just shocked, thinking, ‘What did they want from me?’ because I wasn’t used to that” When it can’t be done Though most of his time here has been positive, Shoecraft said, he has experienced adversity in Lincoln - including racism. “I’d be foolish to say some people here don’t look at your skin color, because I know they do, but not so much as other communities” te said , Shoecraft was met with skepticism when he announced his candidacy for r—-■ 1 ■ ... ' ' ■- ■ >■■■■ ■ ■ I’m young, and I’ve got a lot of skills and talent, and I’ve got to keep focusing those in the right direction and keep working hard.” Jerky Shoecraft Lincoln city councilman an at-large city council position. He said people told him a black man would have no chance in a city that hadn’t elected a Mack person in more than 20 years. “When someone says it can’t be done, that’s what motivated me in poli tics,” Shoecraft said Ed Wimes, a senior assistant to Mayor Mike Johanns, has known Shoecraft for more than 10 years, and worked with him in the city council “He stays involved with what’s going on in the community,” Wimes Said. Wimes said Shoecraft was an “instrumental” leader in the cityls mul ticultural advisory committee - a group that reports on the cultural climate of Lincoln. Some of Shoecraft s greatest accomplishments in city council, Shoecraft said, include raising $100,000 in six months to build an indoorplayground at 27th and A streets, making child care more accessible and securing a$l million grant for commu nity-based policing. “I hope I give people - other minorities - encouragement to nm for public office,” he said. “Andthatis one of the biggest things I hope tiiat came about by me being an elected official here in Lincoln, Nebraska.” Confidence for the future Shoecraft said he was considering a run for the Lincoln mayor’s seat, but with a real estate venture he is pursuing, hefe put future politics cm hold. But the Legislature may see Shoecraft in its chambers one day, he said. For now, Shoecraft is concentrating on completing real estate school, after which he will work for Lincoln’s HOME Real Estate. This real estate position, along with a plan to market basketball T shirts through Shoecraft, Me., will help Shoecraft meet his goal of “build ing capital wealth” for him, his wife of eight years and his four children. “I don’t have everything I want in life yet,” Shoecraft said. “I’m young, and I’ve got a lot of skills and talent, and I’ve got to keep focusing those in the right direction and keep working hard.” The real estate business will go well, Shoecraft said, because of his honesty, integrity and sales skills. “It will work out,” he said. “I can sell an Eskimo a swimsuit. It will work out - I’m confident about that” In anything Shoecraft does, he said, he has a confident, cocky atti tude, something he tries to pass along to his children. Buchanan said his old friend h^$ always been a “go-getter.” “He wanted to make a statement in life,” Buchanan said, “and these are the things he’s done to make that statement” Through racism, political adversi ty in the city council and negative media coverage, Buchanan sai4 Shoecraft has “kept his head up and kept moving on.” Shoecraft said, “People throw punches, but no one will never, ever knock me down - ever. v.; -. f. \0&&‘ -- - . . - - ^