European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 6, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 columns the stars and stripes thursday december 6,1990 t a fit a a it , it by i t t 7�?zvmk . Rosentha Israel too has much at stake in Gulf crisis Jerusalem a for seven Days i have been talking with a full Range of top rank israeli civilian and military leaders. This is an attempt to distil the essence of what they said about two War or pc acc crises Central to this country a existence. One is relatively new a the situation in the Gulf. The other has dominated life in the Middle East for almost a half Century and is at least As important and dangerous As Ever a a the struggle Between Israel and those Arab nations that to heart and action still resent and Challenge israelis existence among them. Since i wanted As much Candor As possible the understanding was that the israeli leaders would not be quoted by name. I did not attempt to get a a consensus Quot from men of different responsibilities and duties but i think most of them would agree with most of what follows. On Saddam Hussein if the United states and its Western allies want to keep the Arab Middle East its Oil riches and its political destiny out of the hands of Saddam it will Haye to fight him now or later. The israelis think he is Strong but beatable now but will be stronger later examining the economic planning of Iraq known to then and the profile of his entire political life they believe he will keep using the Oil billions of the future for two. Military objectives development of his chemical weapons and the achievement of nuclear weapon Power. The major concern is his approaching ability to parcel out nuclear weapons among extremist allies which would make International supervision an evil joke the estimate for this is three to five years. This is a Long Way from saying that the israelis a want Quot War. As a matter of fact a few Days in Israel would convince anybody but a fool or an incurable Israel hater that the last thing in the world this country a a wants is War. The whole picture of an Israel Macho mad for War in the Gulf or anyplace else becomes an Absurdity. It Woula be comical if it were not so often painted with ugly motivation. This country has lived through one War after another with Arab nations who lost everything but their hatred. The United states likes to pretend Israel has no role in the persian Gulf crisis but israelis Are entirely intelligent enough to know that in Case of a Gulf War the Carl Rowan would have to expect an iraqi attack in a athe Only thing that could prevent it is Saddam a understanding of Israel s ability and readiness to retaliate with enormous Power. They remind him of this fact in a Varie to of ways without having to Send their foreign minister to Baghdad. But nonetheless they know he May not go Down without trying to change the War into an Arab crusade against Israel. They Are not trying to push the United states into a War which they could never do. In any Case that is now the full time Pursuit of Washington a new allies such As saudi Arabia Egypt Kuwait and Syria which have at least As much to fear from Saddam As does Israel but israelis add up the Cost of fighting now or fighting later and they come to their own conclusions a without any pleasure either Way. X some of the most informed men with whom i talked have Strong professional respect for the mane vering talents of both Saddam and George Bush. They do not expect the iraqi to collapse in terror when Secretary of state James a. Baker Iii looks him straight in the Eye. They think that instead he will begin unwrapping his proposal for a a Compromise Quot under which he would withdraw from most of Kuwait a except for this Oil Field and that Gulf Island. They do not know what Bush will do after the pressures mount on him to accept but they think Bush knows that air attacks in strength could cripple Iraq and Lessen a although not eliminate a the need and Cost for ground combat. On the Israel Arab confrontation they know a one word answer Sadat. Anwaral Sadat moved for peace Between Israel and Egypt and the israelis rushed toward it willing to pay the Price a the land of Sinai so dear to both nations. It they do not see another Sadat How but they think that whatever happens in the Gulf the monarchies and despotism will eventually begin to fall apart. Fanatic fundamentalism May be the major result. But perhaps one Day change in the Arab world will bring Forward another Leader ready to risk peace. Until then Israel must swim in hostile seas. In the seven Days of talk there was not a moment of bluster drama or pretence. There seemed too much at stake for anything but Calm. C new York times osts prove to be flowed unfair what will it take to make american educators face the truth that no standardized test can Ever Mea sure the potential of american High schooners who come from incredibly diverse backgrounds of deprivation and Opportunity a when will colleges and universities concede that the Scholastic aptitude test a at and the american College testing program act can Only give them fragile and often inaccurate data on which to base their admissions policies. All these tests Are skewed by the fact that millions of Black and poor White kids have tried to learn under circumstances of shameful deprivation that hispanic and other americans whose Mother Tongue is not English Are at a disadvantage in both Reading and writing essays and that there is an enduring notion in this society that females in High school done to need to take As Many math and science courses As males. I am moved once again to decry this slavish adherence to a aptitude Quot and a assessment Quot tests because the College Board which administers the sat for 1.3 million High school students each year has announced revisions that Are supposed to better measure critical thinking and problem solving skills. Over three years of administering a scholarship pro am called a project excellence a i Nave seen that with in Black America the youngsters who Are Tjie most compelling speakers and who have a fiery yearning for Success burning in their bellies Are frequently those who have known the most poverty have grown up without the shelter of a real family and who have lived Day to Day within the squalid pressures of drug and sex abuse a a. _ these Are youngsters who often have risen from o s As High school freshmen to a Sas seniors. Neither an sat or act score can Tell any College Dean of admissions of the shining potential of these youngsters Donald m. Stewart the Black former College president who is now president of the College Board says the changes in the 2 hour sat exam were not provoked by complaints that the test is Quot culturally biased against minorities and women it appears however that. Math and other questions Are being changed so As to deny an advantage to students who Are affluent enough to hire coaches As contrasted with poor youngsters who cannot afford the sat promoters. As a College math major i am fascinated by this old multiple Choice question a a baseball team has won 10 games and lost 5 games. If the team wins the next k games it we a have won 80 percent of All the games it played. What is the value of a Quot with choices of 2,3 68 and 10, a fifth of students might guess the Correct answer of 10. Under the system to take effect in 1994, pm Mats will have to reason out the answer with no multiple Choice help which on its face seems a fairer ii Aires t0 p00r kids in inferior schools 9?,e aches cannot reason out the answers to such a a a 718, 18 no help to youngsters who done to have in conic users and the calculators that the Gullege Board has now approved for usage in taking the sat. Expect he sat and act people to cry a a Imp in an j u their efforts to say which child deserves the attention of a Nice College. The test ers do serve Many useful purposes. And there is a lot of Money being made on giving such tests _ i just want the people who decide on College admissions who give student Aid and who gauge qualities of future leadership to understand that the tests have been Are and always will be flawed instruments. We can t afford to have the dreams of marvelous but deprived youngsters flushed away with shredded tests of dubious Merit a. North America Syndicate a
