LETTER: Remove law enforcement powers from the ABC
To the Editor:
Use the fields below to perform an advanced search of The Cavalier Daily's archives. This will return articles, images, and multimedia relevant to your query. You can also try a Basic search
26 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
To the Editor:
PUNDITS and politicians have blamed both Georgia and Russia over the recent explosion of violence in the contested Georgian province of South Ossetia. Regardless of which country is really to blame for the hostilities, it is clear that the policies of the Bush administration made it easier for Russia to escalate the crisis and damaged America's moral authority to stop the crisis once it started. Particularly, the invasion of Iraq by the United States in 2003 falsely legitimized the use of force as a credible way to resolve international disputes and damaged American prestige around the world.\nAs a result, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was able to justify the invasion of Georgia as a legitimate military action simply following in the model of the United States. The loss of American credibility at the international level also prevented America from being able to diffuse the crisis quickly. In order for the world community to confront possible aggressor states such as Russia and Iran in the coming years, the United States must regain its moral authority in the world and lead by its own actions at the international level.\nThe current crisis started on August 7 when Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvilli sent Georgian troops to regain authority over the pro-Russian breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia. Russia claimed that Georgia was committing atrocities against the South Ossetians and sent its own troops to defend the population. Russia went further by sending troops deep into undisputed Georgian territory and bombing cities including the Georgian capital. Almost all American politicians from both parties denounced this action as a disproportionate response and some went as far as to say that this was the first step in Russia reestablishing its former empire by bullying its neighbors.\nHowever, American supporters of the invasion of Iraq seem hypocritical when they criticize Russia over the invasion of Georgia and this hypocrisy hampers American and global efforts to stop Russian aggression. For example, John McCain criticized Russian actions by stating, "in the 21st century, nations don't invade other nations." President Bush also chided Russia when he declared, "bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century."\nSupporters of the Iraq war either don't realize or don't want to admit that many of these same criticisms were leveled against the United States during the Iraq war. These kinds of statements denouncing Russian action comes five years after the near-unilateral invasion of Iraq. They do not seem credible and limit the effectiveness of American calls for Russia to stop hostilities.\nPutin specifically mentioned the American invasion of Iraq and overthrow of Saddam Hussein as a reason why Russia could invade Georgia. He went so far as to mock American support of Georgia against Russian aggression. "Of course, Saddam Hussein ought to have been hanged for destroying several Shiite villages," he said. "And the incumbent Georgian leaders who razed ten Ossetian villages at once ... these leaders must be taken under protection."\nThe inability of the Bush administration to control the crisis became apparent when French President Nicholas Sarkozy had to broker the first ceasefire between Georgia and Russia. The United States could do little more than verbally support Georgia and had little legitimacy in trying to broker a peace.\nThe United States, by not living up to its own ideals in international relations, allows other countries such as Russia to break the rules of appropriate international behavior also. America cannot lead the international order under the mantras of "do what I say; not what I do" and "might makes right." The United States must return to principles that have guided American foreign policies for decades such as working closely with all of our allies and confronting hostile nations through the legitimacy of international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO.\nThe recent American experience in dealing with the crisis between Russia and Georgia demonstrates the importance of America regaining its moral footing in the world. It will be up to the next President to deal with various crises around the world such as the reemergence of an aggressive Russia and the development of nuclear technology in Iran. The only way the United States can effectively deal with these and other crises around the world is to rebuild its prestige in the world community and once again lead by example on the international stage.\nSam Shirazi's column usually appears Mondays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at sshirazi@cavalierdaily.com.
YOU MAY have seen posters around Grounds or have gotten an e-mail about an exciting summer job working for progressive causes, including an opportunity to work for an environmental advocacy group. Two similar organizations, the Fund for Public Interest Research and Grassroots Campaigns, have been recruiting heavily around Grounds with promises of a high salary and a worthwhile cause over summer.
IN ANCIENT Greece, the Oracle at Delphi was known for the ability to predict the future; at the entrance to the Delphic temple read a simple inscription: Know thyself. Indeed, this lesson remains relevant today; in order to channel the future, one first needs knowledge of himself.
MANY STUDENTS have experienced the frustration of trying to travel from the University to Northern Virginia and Washington D.C., especially those of us who live in the area.? Whether it is trying to find a ride or dealing with the traffic on Route 29, the transportation infrastructure connecting Charlottesville to Northern Virginia is clearly not adequate to meet the needs of these two expanding regions.
IN THE past few weeks, riots and demonstrations have taken place in Tibet, a region of China that has sought its independence for over 50 years. The protestors in Tibet are certainly aware of the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games this summer and are using the event to increase international pressure on China to grant them greater freedom. Unfortunately, with little direct support for the Tibetan causes from the international community, the Chinese government has been able to brutally crush the resistance and restore their undemocratic rule over the region.
OVERSHADOWED by the near panic over the specter of apossible recession, the principle of limited government intervention in the economy has gone out the window. The recent actions of the Federal Reserve such as interest rate cuts and the increase of nearly $200 billion in the American money supply have done little to improve the economy and instead have led to the grim prospect of high inflation which has many negative effects on the economy.
RECENTLY the University introduced a new program toencourage victims of sexual assaults to report any occurrences of sexual violence. The Survivor Support Network, which debuted earlier this month, brings professors, administrators and graduate students together to create a network to encourage students who were sexually assaulted to overcome the stigma that exists and, in turn, encourages them to seek help.
IT WAS going to be a revolution: a Ron Paul revolution of libertarianism and constitutionalism. The Texas Representative running for President raised massive amounts of money in the neighborhood of $28,000,000 and had a groundswell of grassroot support. Last fall with these impressive fundraising numbers, many people were wondering just how far the revolution would go.
BENEATH both the perceived negative aspects and real positive aspects lies a problem with Greek life that people often overlook. Fraternities and sororities are held to different standards of behavior because fraternities are often able to do far more things and get away with far more. Many of the regulations and norms governing sororities are shaped by antiquated notions of what is appropriate for women and they should change to reflect a more contemporary reality.
I never intended to write aboutthe current presidential electionspartly because I felt that I did not have anything substantive or different to say. I was also worried that my words would turn into partisan rambling unworthy of my readers' time.
AT ITS first meeting of 2008, Student Council reviewed possible amendments to its constitution. The most controversial of the proposed changes include removing the voting power of the transfer student liaison and the First-Year Council president. Student Council must still approve these proposals, and the student body as a whole will consider the amendments in a University-wide referendum during spring elections.
THE RECENT subprime mortgage crisis and the slump in the housing market are starting to take their toll on the American economy. Last week Citigroup, the nation's second largest bank, posted its largest quarterly loss in history: $10 billion.
LAST MONTH, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer dropped his plan to give driver licenses to illegal immigrants. He stated, "I have concluded that New York State cannot successfully address this problem on its own." In reality, Spitzer's proposal met large scale resistance and it proved impossible for Spitzer to pass the bill through the state legislature.
RECENTLY the Office of Admissions launched a new program to attract more low-income students to the University. The efforts will include a cross-country trip to several high schools in high-poverty areas to promote the University's financial aid program, AccessUVa.
THE PAINFUL memory of endless hours of studying for midterms is quickly fading away for most students at the University. Students and professors should take this moment of calm between midterms and finals to rethink one aspect of studying: study groups.
Earlier this month, Students Defending Democracy hosted University Law Prof. Robert Turner, who delivered a lecture titled "Warrantless Wiretaps, FISA, and the Constitution: Is Congress the Real 'Lawbreaker'?" Turner argued that the executive branch has traditionally had complete sway over foreign policy and that Congress does not have the authority to set limitations or investigate the president in this field. As a result, President Bush has every right to conduct warrantless wiretaps as part of the war on terror, and Congress does not have the right to investigate or regulate such activity.
CITIES ACROSS America, including Newark, New Jersey and Atlanta, Georgia, are currently beginning to consider banning baggy pants. Proponents of such ordinances claim that wearing baggy pants is part of the "gangster culture" and promotes juvenile delinquency. They also claim that the baggy pants cause an eyesore by revealing the underwear of those who wear the fashion.
CONSTRUCTION is up and running on the much-touted South Lawn Project, which is supposed to be completed by 2010. Major construction is taking place in front of Cabell Hall with crews often working late into the evening. Yet for the residents of Jefferson Park Avenue, the construction is not only a big headache, but also a safety hazard.
WHEN THOMAS Jefferson designed the University, he placed a library at the very center. This symbolic move demonstrates the important place libraries have to the University as a whole. Libraries at the University provide students with great tools to do research and provide a relaxing atmosphere that is conducive to studying and socializing.