Newspapers / The Pilot (Southern Pines, … / May 6, 1981, edition 1 / Page 26
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l’af>o lO-B THE PILOT—Southern Pines, North Carolina Wednesday, May 6, 1981 UN Report: Secrecy Of Nuclear Operation BY JAMES BOYD The First Committee of every General Assembly since around the mid-fifties has confronted the risk of nuclear war by accident. Many versions have been put forward. One typical event is what would a nuclear power do if a nuclear missile struck New York? Most military experts have concluded that the United States would “retaliate” assuming the strike came from the Soviet Union. The two super nuclear powers, the United States and the Soviet Union, it has been said, have taken extraordinary precautions to make such an accident all but impossible. Still, as any mechanic knows, machines can malfunction in spite of all kinds of back-up machinery to prevent this from occurring. Two weeks ago one of the most advanced, American nuclear submarines, the George Washington, which carried enough nuclear ballistic missiles to wipe out a single, large city, hit and sank a Japanese freighter. The captain and a crew member were killed. The other members managed to survive in liferafts. The submarine, according to press releases, briefly surfaced, surveyed the damage and sub merged again making no effort to save lives. It took the U.S. Navy 36 hours to report this accident to Japan. The United States Government belatedly issued an apology. Today, the U.S. Navy said payment would be made of the damages in order to avoid a long court battle. Aside from the fact that this is no way to treat a friend and an ally, this incident raises some very serious questions. These huge submarines have perhaps the most advanced detection, sonar, radar equip ment made. How then was it possible for the George Washington to hit a Japanese frieghter, rip out its bottom, and not know this ship was there? According to news accounts. the American submarine was travelling through a heavily congested shipping lane just below the surface and therefore out of sight. But the top of the periscope raked the bottom of the Japanese freighter causing the ship to sink almost immediately. It is inconceivable that the George Washington deliberately rammed the freighter. This was an accident, but why? Someone was not paying attention. And that someone, including the skipper, will probably'never be revealed because of the absolute secrecy that the U.S. Govern ment keeps regarding nuclear armaments. Not only will there be no explanation but if anyone tries to find out they will be silenced. The Japanese Government, it is said, is very angry and outraged by the manner in which the United States has acted and continues to act. This incident could cause a rift between our two countries. But what is profoundly more disturbing is Lii: m ■■ ^ INSTALLING CURBS — Members of the Southern Pines Horticultural Crew work on the new curbing along Board Street. The curbing is designed to prevent parked cars from killing the roots of the trees along the railroad tracks, and to hold in water during the summer. They are (left to right): Fred Robinson, Louis Umbenhower, Shawn Winters, and E.J. Vaughn, Town Horticulturist. —(Photo by Liz Huskey) Plain Talk About Law BY BILLY ARONSON Ode To A Hospital Bill This poem deals with a widespread ill. That cancerous crippler: the hospital bill. But if a low income is all that you’re paid I have some advice about hospital bill aid. The special program to which I’m alertin’ Goes under this name- memorize it: Hill-Burton. When Uncle Sam gives a large grant of capital To some corporation to build up a hospital The hospital’s got to do this in return: (Read the rest of my poem and you will learn!) First, it must give some free help to the poor, "niough it’s up to the hospital just what they’ll give it for. Some provide help at reduced cost, some free, Some not for outpatients, some just emergency. DRiED FRuns 157 NE Broad St. Phone 692-9413 Southern Pines GREAT GIFTS FOR MOTHER'S DAY GOURMET TEAS & COFFEES Fruit Flavored, Spice & Herbal Teas Mocha-Java, Kona, Brazil, Dutch Almond Coffees Melitta & Chemex COFFEE MAKERS & FILTERS COFFEE GRINOERS TEA POTS ACCESSORIES “Wide Assortment To Choose From” DRIED TROPICAL FRUITS & NUTS Natural Pineapple Slices, Sundried Turkish Apricots, Banana Chips, Dates, White Greek Figs, Imperial Fruit Mix, California Dried Mixed Fruits And Nuts...Plus Much More. Even if you cannot pay. They have to treat anyway. that if such an advanced naval vessel can have such an ac cident, what does this mean to how well these very deadly ships are being run, navigated, and operated? The United States Govern ment, of course, will assume that the American people have complete and utter trust in military nuclear systems. And yet, perhaps this blind faith is beginning to tarnish at the edges. The people living downwind from the Nevada Nuclear Test site learned twenty years later after many had died and others were sick that the U.S. Govern ment had lied about the fallout as being harmless. The bland assurances perpetuated by the nuclear utilities supported in large measure by the U.S. Government came in for some soul-searching after the Three Mile Island nuclear accident near Harrisburg. And yet, it is a fair assumption that the nuclear- industrial complex has not been blunted much. They count on the people having short memories. But they also count on the fact that much of what they do is hidden under the blanket of secrecy. President Reagan campaigned to make America strong' agin. Since he has been in office, the President has submitted the largest defense budget ever before Congress. A major part of the billions requested will be spent on more nuclear weapons. Between President Reagan and Secretary of State Haig, about the most belligerent confrontation rhetoric to be heard has been launched against the Soviet Union. So much so that American allies in Western Europe have become skittery and are refusing to go along. Nor are American allies in the Middle East ready to meet the Russians eyeball to eyeball. The idea, one can only suppose, is to scare the hell out of the Russians so that they will shake in their boots and never lift a finger to do anything the United States does not like. The chances of the Russians acting in this manner is very remote. Rather the chances are Oiey will be a bit scared, arm themselves even more and, above all, keep an extra careful eye on every little blip on the radar screen. The Russian people do not have much of an idea of what is going on. But neither do the American people when it comes to the American nuclear arsenal. There are the extremists, the big mouths who talk tough, ready to lay their lives on the line, they say and face down the Russians but the vast majority go about their business. A little uneasy perhaps but with a feeling they cannot do anything about it so why bother. Five star General Omar N. Bradley died two weeks ago. He was one of the finest generals America had in World War II. A man trained in the tactics of war. Yet he was also a man of eace. He saw the incredible langers that nuclear weapons posed for civilization. Twenty-three years ago when nuclear bombs were still not too bad compared to the megaton monsters of today. General Bradley spoke at St. Alban’s School in Washington on November 5, 1957. As quoted by The New York Times, Op Ed page, April 10, 1981: “If I am sometimes discouraged,” General Bradley said, “it is not the magnitude of the problem, but by our colossal indifference to it.” This “colossal indifference” is what the late Senator Humbert H. Humphrey found back in the early sixties each time he tried to warn the people and members of Congress about the dangers of nuclear weapons. Very few people listened. The news media almost stopped covering such speeches given on the Senate floor. No one was interested. And not a great deal has P' ds happened since. There are the momentary scares, the concerns, then things die down and it is business-as-usual. Back to that American nuclear submarine. Can Americans be so sure that all is right in the American Nuclear Strategic Command if one of its most powerful components can have such an accident? The point has been made over and over again. There can be no accident in the equipment handling nuclear weapons. This navigational incident should worry Americans. It is certainly worrying the Japanese. And, yes, it has to be worrying to think that these enormous ships are at sea, lurking in the depths, moving under the oceans stealthily, always moving so the enemy is never certain where each submarine is. And, of course, the Russians are doing the same thing. A hard look at what is really going on in the nuclear gamesmanship is enough to give anyone nightmares. But all the more reason that no American President or Russian leader beat the drums of war and military confrontation. Now is the time to cool it, talk sense, try to get some of this really bad stuff under wraps before a submarine accidently fires a missile or a plane drops an atom bomb by mistake. It is time the American people wake out of their stupor and take stock at what all this tough belligerent talk by President Reagan and Secretary of State Haig may get them. A visit to the U.N. Library will find it all documented there. The volumes and volumes of debates, fears, concerns as expressed over the years by leaders, scientists, and knowledgable people. War, nuclear war, is not inevitable. It will come about because either a nation got scared or someone misread a radar screen or through an accident. Did you know that we sell medical gases and supplies? Sales-Service-Rentals ' Everything For Welding-Cutting R & R WELDING COMPANY 111 Knight St. Phone 944-2062 Aberdeen SPRAYING? We Spray Shrubs & Flowering Trees Gulley's Garden Center, Inc. Phone 692-3223 Southern Pines Licenta No. 310 “Residential & Commercial” In 5 seconds the sound of thunder will travel 1 mile. fTIUW Visit your hospital about Hill- Burton money. Ask the receptionist if they have any. Request an application, fUl it out neat and clear. Be prepared to report what you earn in a year. Hand it in when you’re finished, and if aid is denied The hospital must tell you its reasons why. Second, Hill-Burton means this guarantee To everyone living in the community: If you have any means at all to pay The hospital can’t turn you away. And if you can’t pay the pre admission deposit. They should acWit you first, then, over time, let you pay it. Finally, Hill-Burton rule number three: Whenever you have a true emergency remembers Mother*s Day rrwnryTTTi^^ Sunday, May lOtfa I—_Lau—^1^ with special savings all week long! IxiXi Beauty Soap. NETVS/rSOZ 2.,79* Aluminum Foil Each roll 12”x25’. Limit 2, please. 5-Oz. Lux Soap Bath size beauty bar. Limit 4. you These are three things certain hospitals must do. Find out if there’s a Hill- Burton hospital near you! For more information about all of this Call your local Legal Service. And remember when you’re ill or hurtin’ To ask about the program named Collins Manager Irvin Hubbard, manager of the Collins store in Town and Country Shopping Center, has served as manager there for the past two years. He became manager upon the death of Thad Lowder. An article in the April 29 issue of The Pilot reported that Hubbard had been manager since 1975. He has been associated with the Aberdeen store since 1975 and has been associated with the Collins Company for 47 years. The article told of the acquisition of all Collins stores by Peebles Department Stores, a retail chain with headquarters in Lawrenceville, Va. UtTlMM U8TEMNC "’'Jaid/ Each Listerine Or Pert • 18-oz. Listerine mouthwash. Limit 2. • 11 -oz. Pert shampoo, Reg. 1.99! Limit 1. Woven Dresses Border prints with piping and shirring details. S,M,L. Other Styles Including Sundresses And Jacket Dresses 6.99 Each Skirts And Blouses • Pleated, circle, dirndl and wrap skirts in solids, prints and plaids. • Cool sheer blouses in floral prints. 3 styles. Tee Tops .Combed cotton in summer ’brights and pastels. Rounded v-neck. S,M,L. ^ Massengill 2’Pack Twin pack disposable douche. Total 6-oz. Nabisco Chocolates Pom Poms, chocolate covered raisins, more! j Pair Ladies’ Fashion Sandais Including leather- look cushioned wedge style (shown) and more! •«5S> I'd jy r 1 REINFORCED RNfrYATK WNTYMOK 'Tip Set 16-Piece China Set Rose pattern porcelain china! Includes 4 cups, plates, soup bowls and salad plates. Famous Name Looks In low heel san dals or colorful slide thongs. Ladies’ sizes. ^ Gifts And Accessories For Mom! Loop Knit Terry Shifts 5.99 Nylon Gowns ^ $3 Full Slips ; $4 Half Slips $2 Poly/Cotton Gowns 4.99 Ladies’ Panties.. 599 Summer Handbags $3 And 5.99 Ladies’ Wallets $2 And 4.99 Fashion Pantyhose ..779 Extra Size Queen & Control Top Panty Hose 1.59 ^ - Prices Good At All Family Dollar Stores Through This Weekend. No Sales To Dealers. Quantities Limited On Some Merchandise. Sandhill Shopping Center
The Pilot (Southern Pines, N.C.)
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May 6, 1981, edition 1
26
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