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The Pendulum Opinions Thursday, September 25, 2003 • Page S The North Korea debate: Is It a threat? A neglected Korea is now a present threat LeiRh Wiley Columnist During the war with Iraq, Americans seem to have put North Korea on the back burner. There was a time not too long ago when the Bush Administration was threatening to fight a war on both fronts. And after seeing how the war in Iraq went, people may not be ready to start a new one against North Korea. The last time America tried something like this was the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam wart which both txcured io the 50s and 60s. Now, in a time of panic, not against communism but ter rorism, the American government seems prepared to do the same thing again. Many people are already comparing Iraq to Vietnam, saying that America needs to pull out before more soldiers are killed. And sending the same forces that have been in Iraq since March across the globe to North Korea will not sit well with a coun try that’s started questioning Bush anyway. But is North Korea an actual threat? North Korea has eight million armed forces, combining active and reserve. This makes theirs the fifth largest military. But America isn’t talking about its mili tary, it’s talking about their weapons. Since Bush stopped the oil trade agree ment that Clinton activated in 1994, North Korea has pulled out of the Nuclear Leigh Wiley Nonproliferation Treaty and has activated old nuclear sites. Only in the past few weeks has North Korea shown any signs that they would set tle for peace. And only then it seems the fight will end on North Korea’s terms. But can Americans really blame them? North Korea signed an agreement for oil with Clinton - one that Bush revoked when he became president. Should a country trust the United States when one leader totally revokes what another put into place? If that is the policy that America is pre pared to set in place, then what good Is any treaty or contract with us for longer than four years, eight years at the best? As long as we keep changing our gov ernment and upsetting standing treaties, nothing will be accomplished. So in closing, yes. North Korea is dan gerous. But what set it off is the breaking of oil treaties that were set up during Qinton’s term. And while America is breaking its own treaties and then threatening war because North Korea feels that is unfair and wants to retaliate, I suggest Bush begin remedy ing the problem immediately. Bush was picking this fight. Contact Leigh Wiley at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247. enemy lurking and waiting to attack Rebecca Schley Columnist While our nation seems to be focusing on enemies such as Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden, we are overlooking another serious threat; a country we went to war against once before, a war also *‘forgotten”_ by many Americans. North .life in North Korea is brutal, with a lack of transportation and opressive government control. .—— - /% Korea is developing nuclear weapons that could be used against us in a future attack. My former Lessons of Vietnam class link, Lt. Col. Jim Zumwalt, has traveled several times to North Korea and other parts of Asia since April 1994. He has par ticipated in meetings to improve relations between the United States and North Korea and possibly open up the “hermit kingdom" to Western businessmen. According to Lt. Col. Zumwalt, life in North Korea is brutal, with a lack of transportation and oppressive government control. The government restricts citizens tn numerous ways, limit« ing where they can tt^vel and controlling the propaganda broadcasted on the radio and television. The government, led by Kim Jong II, is also corrupt, with no con cern for its own people, as famines have left two million dead, and re.sources are self ishly jwiaitized to the military arid government over Its starving countrymen. On Jan !0,2003, North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and on Feb. 5, Korea reactivated its nuclear power facilities. There are reports that North Korea currently has the capability strike the West Coast of the United States with its missiles and in the years ahead, will be focusing on increasing range and accuracy. Although ush has been opti mistic about peace talks, there is no way Kim Jong 11 could be trusted with any agreement to disarm. Additionally, in the event of war, Its mil lion-man army will immediately target U.S. soldiers guarding tlie demilitarized zone (DMZ), which separates North and South Korea. According to Lt. Col. Zumwalt, for several years now the North Koreans have been digging large tunnels under tlie DMZ in order to come up behind our forces with a surprise attack. Although a few of these tunnels have been discovered, there is no way to decipher how many exist. Because North Korea’s leadership is devoid of any logic, there is no telling if or when the attacks will occur or how they will hit us. While many problems claim the attention of the United States, North Korea, the quiet enemy, will eventually come out of the .shadows. Let’s hope we are prepared. Contact Rebecca Schley at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247. mailbox To the Editor, I am writing in response to an article that ran in last week’s issue. The title of the arti cle was “Overrated and overpriced.” The author made some good points in a well- written article, but I disagree with his main point. I believe that the 18 percent manda tory gratuity at Cantina and Varsity are nec essary. It is true that many college students don’t have a lot of money to spend when we have already paid for our meal plans. Even so, I would like to think that when most students go out to eat they would leave a fair tip for the servers. But in many cases that is not true. I have been out to eat with students and had to throw in extra money because a some of them didn’t care to leave a tip at all. I believe that the 18 percent tip is designed to protect the servers who are working hard to earn a fair wage. They are not getting rich. I have worked in restau rants in the past where the servers lose money in tips because the cooks don’t get the food out on time, the restaurant is extra busy or for some factor that is out of their control. Bad service should not be tolerat ed and surely some servers will get more money then they deserved in a given night, but in the long run their service will reflect the amount of business that establishment will receive. Elon has a wide range of great meal options. If you don’t like the service or food at one of them when you are there, pay the 18 percent gratuity and don’t go back. We need to factor the 18 percent into the cost of the meal. If the dinning experience is still worth it, then go and enjoy. If the price is too high for the level of quality, then go some place else. -Tim Dobson ‘06 To the Editor: I was very disappointed in the way you chose to promote Safe Rides in “Student apathy taken to sickening new level.” You made it seem like every student who does not take part is responsible for another student’s decision to drive drunk. I think Safe Rides is a great idea (I am considering volunteering myself), but I am not responsible for someone else’s failure to make a mature, adult arrange ment prior to a possible drinking and driv ing situation. There are lots of options: call a cab, designate a driver, or stay put. Do not point fingers at those who are not volun teering. Drinkers are 100 percent respon sible for ANY decision they make or fail to make; make no mistake about it. - Amber Rockwell ‘07 To the Editor, THANK YOU ERIC! You really artic ulated what I have been saying. I agree that an 18 percent tip is not proportionate to the quality of service offered at Cantina and Varsity. Personally, I’m not going to eat at Varsity again, because I’m not tipping 18 percent for food served in paper cups and baskets with plastic sil verware. There are other ways to create a “sports bar” atmosphere. Thanks for your article, I hope it sends a message to Aramark. - Sarah Umberger ‘04 Be Famous Write for the Pendulum Call X7247 write C.B. 7012 or e-mail pendulum@elon.edu
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