The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, July 28, 1982, Page 4, Image 4
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iraq-iran conflict
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The war between Iraq and Iran threatens
Middle East security far more than the Israeli
invasion of Lebanon, and it deserves far more
attention from the U.S. government.
Although the loss ot life in Lebanon is horrible,
the seige of West Beirut is more a distraction
than a danger to long-range Middle East peace
and stability.
The United States has Phillip Habib shuttling
about the Middle East in an effort to bring a ;
resolution to the problem in Lebanon. In contrast .1
to this, the United States sits by hoping the Iraq- \
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iran war will work itself out m a manner |
favorable to the United States.
Although Israel's seige of West Beirut is
damaging to the United States politically, the
Iraq-Iran war has the potential to drastically
alter the future of the United States and to
destabilize the entire Middle East.
Iran's leader, Ayatullah Khomeini, has called
for the overthrow of Iraq's president, Saddam
Hussein, and the establishment of an Iraqi
Islamic Republic modeled after Iran.
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fundamentalist Shi'ite Muslim movement. In
recent statements, he has said the revolution will I
not stop with Iraq but will continue until
Jerusalem is liberated. i
His goals are not small. 1
The obvious danger to the United States in this c
crisis is the Middle East oil supply. Even though
the United States has reduced its foreign oil f
consumption in recent years, Middle East oil is r
still a significant part of the oil used in the United n
States and a vital part of the economy. And the
largest known oil reserves are in the Middle \
East. ?t
A second danger exists in the Iraq-Iran crisis: j
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between the United States and the Soviet Union. s
Many Soviet analysts think that the Soviet t
Union's ultimate goal in the region is to control *
the Middle East oil supply. Military moves by *
Soviet proxies in Africa lend credence to these '
suspicions. .
The Soviet Union also has better diplomatic
relations with both Iran and Iraq than the United
States does. For the first time since Soviet oc-,
cupation of Iran following World War II, Iran has
no troops stationed on its border with the Soviet
Union.
The Reagan administration needs to
reorganize its discordant Middle East policy by
recognizing that Middle East stability relies on
more than harmonious Arab-Israeli relations.
In 1917. the sweeping ideological movement
was Marxism. In the 1980s, it could be the Shi'ite
ik m i; - - - -
iviusum movement. Although the movement
does not possess a nuclear capability, it could
eventually control something as damaging: the
world's largest known oil supply.
j ?Gamecock- 1
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Drawer A. USC, Columbia, S.C. 29208.
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.letters
S.C. vies for I
iy Nancy GrdenEllson
Industrial development specialists ?
ationwide are infatuated with the
ewest industrial location prospects car,
- high technology and research and firir
evelopment (R and D) firms. vani
These operations have been touted d
5 the nation's growth industries;
irther, they have been more stro
icession-proof than traditional pr0j
lanufacturing. mar
It is then not surprising that state. (2
overnment officials are courting tech
ich firms in an effort to benefit from dra\
le employment and income that will abili
e generated from their facility such
ca tion decisions. tron
SOUTH PARftl lMA ic amnno tho
tates competing for the facilities of Maj
lese growth industries. It is true that res<
outh Carolina has already dep<
stablished a reputation for attracting scie
lanufacturing firms, and several (4
tudies of business climates in the 50 autl
tates rank South Carolina near the autl
op of the list. However, does success pro1
n attracting manufacturing firms higl
guarantee success in attracting high the
ech and R and D operations? this
Firms with basic research
Derations and innovative Ti
echnological processes typically
ocate in well-known centers of ^
esearch because of the "critical ^ar
nass" that develops as the required a s'
aliber of labor, R and D firms and
iniversities attract one another. S1"(
On the other hand, firms that Pa*
:onduct extensive product or process' es^
mprovement research tend to locate
hose activities near their ^ar
nanufacturing operations, while ^or
:ertain production processes that 18 N
lave become mechanized, such as the (i
nanufacture of computer com- this
>onents, can be located outside of prol
vell-known R and D centers. tec!
Innovation lacking
Editor:
In this month's issue of Broadcast Cor
Vlichael Scheiback writes about MTV: Music
lis report is anywhere close to accurate,! woul
im impressed. To me. finding out that this von
)f cable broadcasting is already being airec
systems and being received in 2.5 million horn
surprise. Unfortunately, I've never seen it but 1
ead and heard from others, I have come to t
)oon for the cable medium in advertising
tudience potential.
I mainly state this because I think it does ap
ieeking alternative outlets for increasing their
lew music (aesthetically and technically bec<
lookup capabilities).
I doubt, however, that any Columbia cabl
ittempt to program MTV for at least three or n
vere to recoin a phrase?(it seems to me) T1
tural South'?that in bringing any new am
;ntertainment to Columbia, television and ra
lay, even theaters in the Deep South?are alu
Iiigh techno
guest editorial
} WHAT does this mean for South
alina's efforts to attract such
is? The state's locational adtages
include:
) Strong industrial base. The
late for industrial development is
ng, and the state has made
?ress in diversifying its
mfacturing base.
) The TEC system. The state's
nical education system is a
ving card, particularly with its
ity to provide training in fields
i as robotics and microelecics.
) Presence of USC and Clemson.
or universities that conduct
sarch and/or have strong
artments in engineering and
nces are critical.
I) Proposed state research
writy and research parks. This
lority, when operational, will
vide the focus for the attraction of
1 tech/R and D firms. Further,
existence of a park designed for
activity is crucial to the state's
rts.
HEN THERE are South Carolina's
itional disadvantages:
L) Perception problems. South
olina is generally not perceived as
Late strong in high tech/R and D.
;n when the Southeast is con;red
alone, the Research Triangle
k in North Carolina has already
iblished strong name recognition.
S) Scarcity of skilled labor. South
olina ranks No. 41 of the 50 states
its percentage of population over
vith a college education.
0 "Critical mass" missing. While
situation is a ''chicken-egg"
blem, the clustering of highl/R
and D operations does not yet
in city's entei
their thinking,
nmunications, I would tend to th
Television. If from a more techni
d have to say I the United States wo
r-old fledgling after viewing or listc
I on 300 cable media.
es was quite a
:rom what I've Perhaps that is a 1
>elieve it is a about had it with th
revenue and Southern retailers w
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uiv, IIUI ^cpill|
ipeal to people help them realize b
knowledge of group mentioned as
luse of stereo At any rate, tho<
concerning new mus
e system will most innovative ic
lore years. If I demands heard wl
le Code of the Southern informatic
d provocative that MTV is alive do
dio stations?
/ays behind in
logy firms
exist to anchor the state's development
efforts, nartic.ularlv whpn
compared to states such as California
and Massachusetts.
(4) Late start? Many states are
competing for the attraction of these
growth industries. For example, 17
states already have programs to
finance high tech/R and D activities,
and 16 have linked their state
universities' R and D efforts with
high tech industries.
ALTHOUGH SOUTH CAROLINA
needs a strategy for encouraging the
location of high tech/R and D
operations, since the state's advantages
do not particularly
distinguish it from other states, its
disadvantages are not insurmountable
The state should capitalize on its
existing industrial development
strengths by targeting the machinery,
electrical and electronic equipment,
chemical and textile industries for R
and D facilities.
Various state resources can be
mobilized to undertake the effort.
Possibilities?
The state's major universities must
play a role, even to the extent of joint
ventures with high-tech industries.
The availability of financing is
critical.
Whatever the ultimately chosen
approach, it should be focused, visible
and aggressive. A diffusion of effort
bv State envpmmont
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as well as intramural battles over
park locations and "who gets the
credit," will damage these efforts.
The author directs industrial
development research projects in the
Division of Research at USC's College
of Business Administration. She holds
master's degrees in urban planning
and business administration.
rtainment media
ink that people just settling in the area
callv and artistically advanced area of
>uld think they had entered the dark ages
;ning to any of Columbia's entertainment
little overstated on my part, but I've just
e Southern way of thinking. I truly think
'ho spend their advertising dollars in this
g up with the latest information that can
letter sales by catering to the 12-34 age
a target for MTV.
>e who advocate new innovative ideas
>ic and those wanting to utilize one of the
leas of this decade will make their
len the trickle-down effect of today's
in media finally trickles the information
wn to good old Columbia, S. C.
Allen Pickel
Journalism junior