Editorials
September 13,1900
^ Page 2
The Pendulum
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Jim Bush
Pat Hobin
The Pendulum, founded in 1974, is published by Elon
College students each Thursday during regular school
terms. The Pendulum welcomes your opinions, with letters
limited to about 250 words, if possible. Letters must be
signed and a phone number given for verification. Deadline
for submissions is 5 p.m. Monday.
Frankly Speaking
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A squirrel grabs a bite for lunch
Photo by Scott Lansing
All quiet on liberal front
Defense bashers have practically disappeared
{©CREATIVE MEDIA SERVICES Box 5955 Berkeley, Ca. 94705
Isn't it amazing that ever
since the invasion of Kuwait the
defense bashers have practically
disappeared. Only weeks before,
many in Congress were discussing
ways to carve up the defense
budget. Then reality set in.
Man has for millions of
years, resorted to violence when he
has felt provoked, threatened, or,
in Saddam Hussein's case, just got
a little greedy. The fact that the
Soviet threat is all but over does
not mean the end of armed
struggles. There will always be a
need for the military.
The billions of dollars spent
on the defense budget over the past
40 years was paid off when the
walls came down on the "iron
curtain." Without Hring a single
shot, without losing a single life,
the United States (and NATO)
defeated its most deadliest enemy.
Within weeks after the "liberation"
of Eastern Europe, people began
calling for a "peace dividend." It
seems that some people believe
Wmk
Pat
Hobin
another war, never going to be
another greedy dictator.
Currently, Saddam Hussein
controls about 20% of the world's
oil. If he had been allowed to
occupy only a couple hundred of
miles into Saudia Arabia, Hussein
would have had about 40% of the
oil. This would have meant
blackmail to most of the industrial
nations. Keep in mind that
Hussein had used chemical
weapons in the past and should
have nuclear weapons in a few
years. These are the main reasons
for the massive build up in the
Saudi desm.
Now even some of the most
_ „ r libera! members in Congress have
that there was neVer'^^oing^tc^ tJe^ ihrb\Srn^ their Siipfwrt into behind
the defense of Saudia Arabia. Alan
Cranston, who has rejected many
weapon sales to the Saudi military
in the past, was shown on a CNN
report at a Saudi airbase agreeing
with the need for more weapon
sales to the Middle East. Could
this mean the Conservatives were
right after all? It is a scary thought
to think what may have happened
to Saudia Arabia if the defense
budget had been cut back as much
as some members of Congress
wanted.
There are going to be some
tough decisions to be made in
Congress this year. The budget
and the deficit are going to be
difficult to handle with our
presence in Saudia Arabia. Maybe
peq)le realize what a well trained,
well equipped military can do. I
only hope that our Allies will
begin to assist us. We have bailed
Europe out of two crises this
century already. It's about time for
them to help themselves.
Remember to wear your red,
"whiifc^dbliie ribbons. ^ ■'
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