Editorials
Monday, December 16, 1996
Germany’s approval
of troops for Bosnia
IN its efforts to overcome its Nazi past and become a full-fledged member of the world community, Germany has taken a giant step. The German parliament gave final approval to the army to join a new peacekeeping force in Bosnia. It will be the first time German combat troops will participate fully in a ground mission with its Western allies.
Bonn had about 4,000 troops in the multinational Bosnian peacekeeping mission, which will see its mandate expire Friday. However, the Germans were limited to such tasks as bridge-building and operating a field hospital in order to avoid criticism.
In addition, they were based in Croatia rather than Bosnia to avoid any possible confrontations with Serbs. The only potential combat mission was an airborne one by German fighter pilots maintaining a no-fly zone over Bosnia.
Now Chancellor Helmut Kohl has won overwhelming approval to send 3,000 troops to join the NATO-led Stabilization Force in Bosnia for an 18-month deployment, the first mission of its kind for German troops. The contingent will be the fourth largest, after those of the United States, Britain and France.
Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel told parliament, "Germany is fully living up to its obligations to NATO and the U.N. - good news for all those who believe in a common European purpose and stronger international cooperation."
Since World War II, the only German combat troops to have served on the ground abroad were the Communist East German forces sent to Czechoslovakia to help the Soviet Army put down the "Prague Spring" uprising in 1968. That of course occurred before the collapse of communism.
The new military contingent will represent an entirely different Germany, one that has earned the right to take its place among the democratic nations of the world in peacekeeping operations as well as non-military activities.
‘Three strikes’ laws
TOUGH sentences dubbed "three strikes and you're out" have been the rage in recent years, intended to send a message to repeat offenders that the prison key would be thrown away with their next violent transgression. However, the laws enacted by Congress and state legislatures to impose the rule have been found to be either ineffective or impractical.
Hawaii's Legislature has wisely refrained from enacting a "three strikes" law because of those concerns. The state's prisons already are overcrowded, and the judiciary faces budgetary constraints. Enhanced sentencing provisions exist in Hawaii's criminal law and judges should be allowed to continue using them with discretion.
School burglary
PUPILS at Kaiulani Elementary School in Palama came to school last week to find that burglars had broken into two third-grade classrooms and made off with computers, printers, discs and video equipment valued at $11,200. Pat Guinther, one of the teachers affected, said it would take years to replace the stolen equipment.
She was wrong. As soon as the theft was reported, the community responded. Within hours, $12,500 and eight computers had been offered. The children have learned an important lesson: They live in a community that cares.
Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited Partnership
Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor