DATE=03/18/02

TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST

TITLE=MONDAY'S EDITORIALS

NUMBER=6-125606

BYLINE=ANDREW GUTHRIE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=YES

TELEPHONE=619-3335

CONTENT=

INTRO: A broad range of issues falls under the light of editorial comment this Monday, with several relating to security. Other commentaries focus on the widening scandal involving sexual misconduct by Roman Catholic priests; the presidential election results in Zimbabwe; U-S relations with Cuba and the debate on banning land mines. Now, here is _____________ with a closer look and some quotes in today's U-S Editorial Digest.

TEXT: A classified Pentagon review of the possible use of low-yield nuclear weapons against non-nuclear opponents who may be developing chemical or biological arms continues to fuel debate. The Savannah Morning News in Georgia says in part:

VOICE: … When news was recently leaked of the Bush administration's Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), which detailed American contingency plans regarding the use of tactical nuclear weapons against potential enemies, the reaction from some quarters bordered on the hysterical. A New York Times editorial proclaimed America a "nuclear rogue." … The fears and criticisms make it sound like the White House had directed the Pentagon to make waging nuclear war a cornerstone of American foreign policy.

In reality, the N-P-R merely prepares Washington for worst-case scenarios - - thinking the unthinkable. It would be reckless NOT [six] to ponder every possible nightmare scenario, especially in light of the stunningly bold - - and effective - - terrorist attacks of September 11th that caught everyone off guard.

TEXT: Pennsylvania's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette comments:

VOICE: This broadening of the acceptable use of nuclear weapons is a departure from the nuclear deterrence policy followed by the United States during the Cold War. If that is what the Pentagon has in mind, there needs to be a discussion, not only within the administration, but also on Capitol Hill, and between the United States and its European allies.

TEXT: The Providence [Rhode Island] Journal says -- quote: "Actually, the Bush administration is doing what every administration since 1945 has done: Assess the nation's security threats, nuclear and otherwise, and calibrate policy accordingly." In Texas, The Dallas Morning News says the United States "ought to pledge no first [nuclear] strike."

Still with security issues, National Homeland Defense Director Tom Ridge has established a color-coded warning system to help the nation better gauge the seriousness of terror warnings. However, today's Milwaukee [Wisconsin] Journal Sentinel says that despite the new color scheme, Americans still have no clear idea of what to do when terrorist alerts are issued. It also wants Mr. Ridge to testify before Congress, something the Bush administration is refusing.

One of the biggest domestic stories drawing comment is the scandal of sexual abuse of boys by Roman Catholic priests in many parts of the nation. Pennsylvania's Greensburg Tribune-Review says of its own area's investigation:

VOICE: Given recent news accounts of sexual abuse cases in the Boston [Massachusetts] Archdiocese, the local investigation is important as it is necessary. Any priest who is not trusted cannot minister his faith. … To be clear, pedophilia in no way is unique to clergy of the Roman Catholic Church. But its repercussions over the years, for victims and the church, have been devastating.

TEXT: In Florida, Fort Lauderdale's Sun-Sentinel, notes:

VOICE: Florida's Supreme Court made an excellent ruling … Pastors who commit sex crimes and their churches cannot use First Amendment religious freedom to legally avoid victims' civil damage lawsuits.

TEXT: Still in Florida, today's Saint Petersburg Times adds:

VOICE: Its cover-up of sex crimes by pedophile priests marks a serious crisis for the Roman Catholic Church. Moral and legal issues aside, the scandal has damaged the church's credibility, undermined the pastoral mission of parish priests and called into question the Catholic teachings of self-sacrifice and human compassion. … Catholics everywhere are uneasy.

TEXT: Several papers including The Allentown [Pennsylvania] Morning Call and The Columbus [Ohio] Dispatch are complaining about a failure by the U-S Senate to improve fuel-efficiency standards for motor vehicles to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil. They were last set in 1985.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service continues to take criticism for an embarrassing lapse. The service recently sent approval for student visas to a Florida flight school for two of the hijackers in the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Salt Lake City's Deseret News asks: "How is it that the names Mohammed Atta and Marwan Al-Shehhi didn't leap off the pages as their respective student visa applications ground through the Immigration and Naturalization Service approval processes?"

Internationally, Zimbabwe's disputed presidential election last weekend continues to draw fire. The Seattle [Washington] Times asks: "What is to become of the people of Zimbabwe, who are suffering real pain as they live with a sham government?" The Atlanta Journal-Constitution comments:

VOICE: The evidence is overwhelming that [President Robert] Mugabe, ... rigged the …election to get his 56-42 percent victory over popular opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. … Before long, all of southern Africa could be paying a price for [Mr.] Mugabe's excesses.

TEXT: The debate over continuing an economic embargo on Cuba continues, with the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel suggesting it has outlived its usefulness.

VOICE: For the first time in several years, the White House and Congress are taking a hard look at Cuba policy. It would be reasonable to assume that, with Cuba's old Soviet patron gone, a major policy review would lead to progressive change. That's where Congress is headed. But the White House may be going in the opposite direction.

TEXT: On another international topic, The San Francisco Chronicle pleads for U-S support to ban the use of land mines in military conflicts.

VOICE: President Bush must soon make a choice, whether to advance or wreck an international campaign to save thousands of people from being killed or maimed each year by the cruelest, most pointless weapons in existence - - land mines. … The treaty, which went into effect worldwide in 1999, has been signed by 142 countries. The United States is the most notable holdout…

TEXT: Lastly, today's Palm Beach [Florida] Post holds out hope that, when they meet later this week, President Bush and President Fox of Mexico will be able to work out solutions to some of the various immigration issues they face, despite conflicting pressure to leave things as they are. And on that note, we conclude this editorial sampling of Monday's U-S press.

NEB/ANG/TW