Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Don’t make new problems

Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2001 | 8:20 a.m.

Even the destruction of this pristine area wouldn't produce enough oil, after 10 years of hard work, to supply our country gas for six months. Several times this amount could be saved just by increasing the fuel efficiency of our automobiles by 3 miles a gallon. The EPA says these new efficiency standards would save 51 billion barrels of oil. It's estimated the ANWR holds only 3.2 billion barrels of oil that could be economically recovered.

Forty years from now Osama bin Laden will be long gone and so will today's major decision makers in Washington, D.C. The quality of life and environment that's left behind for upcoming generations will still be of great importance. Yes, it's even of more importance than the financial bottom line of corporations that drill for oil.

I could go on several more paragraphs picking apart the claims of those who want to drill in the ANWR, but that's not the purpose of this column. DeLay's use and abuse of the present strain and pain in Congress is easy to recognize as cheap politics. However, this didn't keep some of these same people from voting against the plan for closure of unneeded military bases so the dollars can be used intelligently for strengthening our military services.

Among the 47 senators voting against the base closure plan submitted by the Bush administration were 28 members of his own party. Among them were senior GOP senators Ted Stevens of Alaska, Trent Lott of Mississippi and Pete Domenici of New Mexico. Wisely, both Nevada Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign voted with the White House, as did Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Now we have to hope that the colors of red, white and blue will remain long enough to kill some of the unneeded pork-barrel projects that are always added on to the Pentagon budget. It was only three years ago that McCain chastised his colleagues by saying, "Wasting scarce defense resources on pork-barrel projects is a disservice to the men and women who serve in the military and is potentially detrimental to our nation's security." Everything from clearing forests for an Olympic ski run to even less important projects have been paid for out of the Department of Defense budget over the years. When President Bill Clinton, in 1998, vetoed 38 pork-barrel projects the GOP-dominated House of Representatives voted to override his veto.

This most recent deadly attack on the U.S. eventually will be answered, and other new problems will face our elected leaders. Many of the economic, environmental, medical care, defense and human rights problems that existed Sept. 10, 2001, will still be with us. Although we must direct our greatest efforts toward answering the threat to our homeland, we would be foolish to allow further deterioration of our other national problems. Good and wise leaders must make certain that we don't allow these problems to be hidden or allowed to worsen. The answers to them are what will help us become a stronger nation and add to its value as our homeland. These answers will also contribute to our national security and international stature.

President George W. Bush and his team have demonstrated that they aren't going to rush into military strikes as an immediate response. They are cool in picking targets and putting the military forces in position in case they are needed. For the same reason, Congress must remember its responsibility not to destroy nor ignore the very things we Americans cherish and value. They must show both wisdom and resolve when considering and debating legislation during coming weeks and months.