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From: cramer@kontron.UUCP (Clayton Cramer)
Newsgroups: net.college
Subject: Re: Re: E.g. Student Gov't Project.
Message-ID: <570@kontron.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 4-Mar-86 19:24:17 EST
Article-I.D.: kontron.570
Posted: Tue Mar  4 19:24:17 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Mar-86 07:39:20 EST
References: <229@bu-cs.UUCP>
Organization: Kontron Electronics, Irvine, CA
Lines: 53

> 
> Re: CIA recruiting ban, democracy etc
> 
> I was listening to a talk radio station and a caller summed up the
> frustration in this matter very well:
> 
> If congress can vote that Nicaragua (eg) presents a threat to our national
> security, as required in the Constitution, then let's send in the 82nd
> Airborne and be done with it. If they cannot or will not vote, then let's
> get the hell out of there.
> 

This argument boils down to the catchy slogan, "Central America: In Or Out --
The Foreplay Is Killing Us!"  However, the problem is that a big chunk of
America (and a big chunk of Congress) see Nicaragua as a threat.  Another
big chunk either disagrees or thinks that invasion is too extreme a step.
It's frustrating that the country can't make up its mind, but consider
the general level of ignorance on the subject.  Last year one of the major
news organizations commissioned a poll that found only 12% of the American
public could correct identify which side our Government was supporting in
both Nicaragua and El Salvador.  (Ah, the joys of democracy.) :-)

> Vietnam, Granada, Nicaragua, Chile, etc etc, there is just something
> very strange going on in our interpretation of warmaking powers in this
> country and I think it has made a lot of people both angry and scared,
> we never know what's next or who is going to authorize it (or WHY!) And
> it seems damn clear that the intent is to suppress open discussion and
> anything even vaguely resembling democracy on this most important issue
> (I mean, let's face it folks, people are being killed over there in your
> name.)
> 

Something strange?  This is how it's been since the Barbary Pirates were
burned out by the U. S. Navy shortly after America started.  U.S. troops
fighting in Central America for decades has been without a declaration of
war.  (I'm not saying it's good -- just the way it is.  It's NOT an
innovation.)

> Given this situation, various protests such as banning recruitment on a
> campus by a group may be about the only vote we are going to get. No matter
> where you happen to stand on the issue of whether or not Nicaragua (eg) is
> a legitimate government, aren't you a little concerned about the decision
> making process that is going on here? What happened to all those resolutions
> that came out of Congress as a result of the same protestations over Vietnam
> that gave the President X days (90 I think) during which s/he could exercise
> emergency warmaking powers after which it would be brought before congress
> for a declaration of war or else stopped. Seemed sensible to me.
> 
> 	-Barry Shein, Boston University

No, we have a vote.  The very strong opposition that you feel is just not
shared by most Americans.  The vast majority either don't care, don't care
very much, or support the Contras.