The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 165, No. 11, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 17, 2003 Page: 2 of 6
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Tarleton State University.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Opinion
Page 2
The J-TAC
April 17, 2003
VIEW
The old adage goes,
"No news is good news."
Fortunately, that slogan could-
n't have been any further from
the truth, Monday, when seven
. American P.O.W.'s were found
after an undoubtedly traumatic
three-week experience.
Their survival is all the more
amazing given the distance five
of the seven covered as prison-
ers. after their convoy took a
wrong turn into an ambush near
Nasiriyah in southern Iraq.
There is no telling what their
fate would have been if they
were found a second time, after
escaping.
They were rescued well north
of Baghdad, in a small village
near Tikrit, a political and mili-
tary stronghold of Saddam
Hussein. With them were two
Apache helicopter pilots shot
down near Karbala, southwest
. of Baghdad.
Two of the seven had received
medical attention for gunshot
wounds, but the others were
remarkably fit. Roughed up
early on, their treatment
improved as they were moved
around.
Marines in Samarra were
alerted to the presence of the
POWs by Iraqi soldiers who'd
been deserted by their officers.
As a Marine captain noted,
"You've got to give credit to the
humanity of those Iraqi soldiers
for returning the POWs."
The safe return of the POWs is
a measure of shared joy for all,
regardless of opinion on the
war. Those coming home
include the parents of young
children and the sons and
daughters of parents who've
been worried sick.
jAs all of us were aware, but
too many of us naive to see, this
war was going to be costly. And
the country that was going to
pay the lion's share of that price
was the good old U.S. of A.
Quite fortunately, that price has
been moderate. In many ways,
this war has been more a dream,
and less of a nightmare like too
many of our previous military
engagements.
Wars, even successful wars of
political liberation, have only
the briefest moments of undilut-
ed joy. The return of seven
POWs is one of them.
The J-TAC
Editor in Chief
Caleb Chapman
Managing Editor
Cason White
Sports Editor
Kelly Tippit
Photography Editor
Andy Duncan
Advertising Manager
Rocky Miller
Crime Reporter
Dallas B. Sims
Director
Dr.Jacque Jebo
The J-TAC is published on Thursdays during
the fall and spring semesters with the exception
of University holidays and examination periods.
The J-TAC is located in Room 20 of the Barry B.
Thompson Student Center. Telephone; 25-4-968-
9056. Mailing address: BoxT-0440, Stephenville,
TX 7640I. Email; jtac@tarleton.edu. Opinions
expressed in The J-TAC are those of the writer
and are not necessarily those of this university or
The Texas A&M System.
Editorial Policy
The deadline for submission of viewpoints is
the Monday before publication by noon. Letters
should be typed and signed. Letters can also be
sent via email to jtac_opinion@tarleton.edu.
Writers must sign the letter and those names
will be published. Other information provided
should include a phone number, student ID num-
ber, classification and major. However, the editor
reserves the right to print letters with the note,
"name withheld by request," if the above infor-
mation is provided. Letters should be limited to
250 words. The J-TAC reserves the right to edit
letters for content, style, length, grammar and -
libelous statements. The J-TAC also reserves the
right to refuse to print any letter deemed to be
in bad taste.
Suggestions, comments or responses about
the J-TAC,Tarleton St?te University or world
events are always welcome.
Content is copyrighted material of the J-TAC.
Written permission must be granted for article
reprints.
ACTuALLY,THe PLAN
outs.PgRTHejHEAD
TO JUST SORT" OF
i I .MMm
i ?
Wl'l ?£■.
Brace for more terrorism
Increase inevitable after the war in Iraq
By John C. Bersia
Orlando Sentinel
Beyond the U.S.-led coalition's
battlefield successes in Iraq lies
an ominous specter - the coming
wave of terrorism. Americans
should brace themselves.
That warning aims not to
alarm people but to alert them
to real possibilities so that the
next attack will not surprise
them as Sept. 11, 2001, did.
Shock, disgust and anger, yes,
but not surprise.
It's impossible to predict when
and where the carnage will com-
mence, just as the timing and
targets of the 9-11 perpetrators
eluded the best efforts of terror-
ism monitors.
But an increase in terrorism
inevitably will follow the war in
Iraq - an ironic outcome of an
intervention that strives, among
other goals, to break the
decades-long connections
between Baghdad and various
terrorist organizations.
Even if the U.S.-led coalition
succeeds in winning the war,
securing the peace and - ideally
with U.N. assistance - establish-
ing a stable successor govern-
ment in Baghdad, terrorists
have found new inspiration to
lash out at American interests.
Part of the threat springs from
Saddam Hussein loyalists, who
should be expected to use every
weapon at their disposal. For
them, death looms in virtually
all directions, whether from
U.S.-led forces or Iraqis yearn-
ing for retribution. That bleak
outlook makes the loyalists
extremely dangerous.
Another threat comes from al-
Qaeda operatives. They slipped
into Iraq long before the war
started, not in the interest of aid-
ing Saddam but to advance their
group's influence.
Ultimately - and this extends
the terrorism threat from Iraq to
the entire world - al-Qaeda'
seeks to remake civilization
according to its narrow, restric-
tive vision and perverted inter-
pretation of Islam.
Al-Qaeda had a global strate-
gy long before Sept. 11. But after
the United States declared a war
against terrorism, the group
expanded its own efforts to
develop a multinational coali-
tion of terrorists.
For evidence of al-Qaeda's
plans, one need look no further
than a recently revealed audio-
tape purporting to feature
Osama bin Laden. Whether the
voice on the tape belongs to bin
Laden or not, the danger is clear.
He and his cohorts wish to cre-
ate the perception that the
Next up:
Syria?
The following editorial appeared in
the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday,
April 15:
Even before the guns have
gone silent in Iraq, the drumbeat
to bring shock and awe to Syria
seems to be getting louder by
the hour. On Monday, White
House spokesman Ari Fleischer
called Syria a "rogue nation"
that "needs to cooperate."
Defense Secretary Donald
We wish to give a great big
"thank you" to the young
Tarleton students who came to
our home last Saturday and
cleaned up a fallen dead tree in
our back yard. These students
are part of Tarjeton Round-up
who volunteer to help senior cit-
izens do things they are unable
to do themselves.
This was a great help to us and
we are indeed grateful.
W.H. and Jo Berry
Rumsfeld said the United States
has "intelligence that indicates
some Iraqi people have been
allowed into Syria," He didn't
name names, but it's likely he
was talking about high-ranking
Iraqi regime officials. Rumsfeld
also accused Syria of carrying
out tests involving chemical
weapons over the past year or
so, a charge the Syrians deny.
Even the usually more reticent
Secretary of State Colin Powell
said there was a "new environ-
ment" in the region and that the
Syrians would do well to
"review their actions and their
behavior, not only with respect
to who gets haven in Syria and
weapons of mass destruction
but especially the support of ter-
rorist activity."
To some ears, all that sounds
like the beginnings of a case to
invade Syria. U.S. officials have
not threatened military action,
but they've made it clear that all
options remain on the table.
Is this more than saber-rat-
tling?
Those who fear that U.S. tanks
in Baghdad will make a quick
left turn and roll to Damascus
should remember this: The Bush
administration took most of a
United States heads a global
campaign against Muslims,
essentially a modern crusade.
Bin Laden thus invites Muslims
to join in what he has termed a
struggle between Islam and the
infidels.
That kind of inflammatory
rhetoric intends to agitate the
vast majority of Muslims who
want nothing to do with vio-
lence and who have chosen
peaceful coexistence with
Western practices and beliefs.
Virtually all of those Muslims
should hold their ground.
However, some - especially
those who are unemployed, dis-
illusioned and or angry over the
United States' policies and uni-
lateralist impulses - will'
respond, including to bin
Laden's call for more suicide
bombers.
The audiotape also attempts
to sow suspicion about U.S.
intentions by suggesting that
the war in Iraq marks simply the
beginning of an American cam-
paign that eventually will
engulf both U.S. adversaries
such as Iran and traditional
partners such as Saudi Arabia. It
further tries to paint the United
States in a negative light in asso-
ciation with issues ranging from
the status of Palestinians to
Israel to Afghanistan.
Ramakrishnan [Ram]
Thiagarajan
Graduate student, CIS
Mumbai [Bombay], India
There is a war going on in
which the United States is try-
ing to transform a brutal dicta-
torship into the world's newest
democracy. It will be interesting
to see what kind of democracy
will evolve in Iraq. Will it fol-
low the presidential democracy
system of the worlds' oldest
democracy or will it follow the
parliamentary system of the
world's largest democracy,
India.
India is a diverse country,
home to over one billon people
with a minority population of
over 150 million Muslims, the
second largest concentration of
Muslims in any country after
Indonesia. India is also home to
over 700 million HindL(s and a
diverse population of
Christians, Jews, Buddhists, etc.
India is a diverse country with
over 25 states each with its own
distinct culture, language, tradi-
tion and most importantly food.
That is one of the reasons why it
is possible for the Indians to
adapt to any conditions any
where iri the world. When you
grow up with neighbors who
have different language, cul-
ture, and religion, a lack of
appreciation for differences in
people would doom you in the
playground at a very young
age. In fact I, like most Indians,
take advantage of the differ-
ence, go to my Christian friends'
houses to celebrate Christmas
and Easter (of course celebra-
tion involves a sumptuous
One detects a sense of urgency
in the audiotape, perhaps stem-
ming from a perception by al-
Qaeda that the United States
and its allies have enjoyed too
many successes in the war
against terrorism.
But Americans should not
delude themselves into thinking
that losses will discourage al-
Qaeda from returning to the
fight. Its operatives have vowed
to struggle against all odds, suf-
fer severely and even die. Along
the way, they exhibit extraordi-
nary patience, scheming in
terms of years and decades with
an unerring focus.
meal), invite them to our house
during Diwali, a Hindu festival
that is celebrated with fireworks
and eating a lot of sweets and
gather at a Muslim friend's
place for Id and Ramadan
evenings.
When I first came to the
United States, I was fairly confi-
dent that I would be able to han-
dle the cultural differences
because of my background, but
I guess you are never prepared
enough when you travel to an
all together different continent.
Also, there are subtle differ-
ences if not given great care
could cause huge trouble. This I
realized after nearly being hit by
a car when I was crossing the
road looking in the opposite
direction (Here people drive on
the wrong side of the road).
The United States is a great
country; very friendly, with
kind people, a land of opportu-
nities like no nation in the
world. That is why the recent
incidences of terrorism are so
tragic that that have hurt not
only the American people but
also the 15 percent of the people
like me who are born elsewhere
but live here now. 1
Tarleton State University is a
very good representative of the
United States, where we have a
very friendly and a supportive
atmosphere. I am very much
appreciative of the campus
organizations like the
International Student
Organization and the Baptist
Student Ministry. They provide
a friendly environment for peo-
ple to study and succeed in an
setting that is not really alien
but far away from home.
Sucfi a mind-set guarantees
the next attack and demands
ongoing American vigilance.
ABOUT THE WRITER
John C. Bersia, ivho won a Pulitzer
Prize in editorial ivriting for the
Orlando Sentinel in 2000, is also
the special assistant to the president
for global perspectives and a profes-
sor at the University of Central
Florida. Readers may write to him
at the Orlando Sentinel, 633 North
Orange Ave., Orlando, Fla. 32801,
or by e-mail at jbersia@orlandosen-
tinel.com.
The Looter
year, went to Congress and then
to the United Nations, before
launching military action on
Iraq. That assault came after 12
long years of failed diplomatic
efforts to disarm Iraq.
Precipitous action in Syria is
unlikely.
True, Syria is in some ways
similar to Iraq. It has been gov-
erned since 1968 by a faction of
the Arab nationalist Baath Party.
Like Iraq, it is a police state in
which power is concentrated in
the hands of a small clique,
headed by President Bashar
Assad, who inherited power
when his father died in 2000.
Syria has been a major sponsor
of international terrorism, in
particular backing Hezbollah
against Israel.
Nevertheless, Syria is not Iraq.
The Syrians supported coalition
efforts in the 1991 Gulf War, and
also reportedly provided some
valuable information about al-
Qaeda after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Last November, Syria voted in
favor of Resolution 1441,
demanding that Iraq rid itself of
weapons of mass destruction.
The United States may indeed
have a legitimate case that Syria
is harboring Iraqi military and
government leaders, reason
enough to ratchet up the diplo-
matic pressure on Syria to coop-
erate with the United States.
But after Iraq, the overarching
priority for the Bush administra-
tion is to help remake a region
that has had too much tolerance
for terrorism. That means con-
vincing nations that a brighter
day has dawned in the Middle
East.
We are more likely to make
that point by brokering a peace
deal between Israel and the
Palestinians than by airing our
frudges on a nation-by-nation
asis. If Syria deserves special
and immediate attention, so be
it. But the fundamental message
from Washington ought to be
one of renewal and mutual secu-
rity, not anger and threat.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 165, No. 11, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 17, 2003, newspaper, April 17, 2003; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth142053/m1/2/: accessed March 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarleton State University.