The gathering of Asian and Pacific leaders in Shanghai will require President Bush to maneuver along a mighty slippery path, portions of which have not before been trod by an American leader. Negotiating a road through Central Asia will demand subtlety and dexterity, and will be reminiscent of the Great Game of the 19th century. Terrorism, not trade,
will dominate APECThe issue: President Bush arrived
in China to persuade Asian leaders to
reinforce America's campaign against terror.Ostensibly, the president is there to take part in a meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Trade, the foundation of APEC, however, will likely get only passing mention. On terror, the president will urge his counterparts to join the United States in the "hot pursuit" of terrorists in Afghanistan and everywhere they threaten civilized life.
In discussions with the other leaders, the president is expected to defend plans for missile defenses, to urge restraint on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and to contend that the future of Taiwan, the island claimed by China, should be settled peaceably. Not much new in any of that.
A subtext will see the United States, Russia and China jockeying for position in the unsettled world order that is the consequence of September 11. Before that, Russia and China had been forging an understanding that, if not quite an alliance, was intended as a counterweight to American power. In the aftermath, Russia seems to have shifted position to lean toward the United States.
Given the long history of suspicions along the extended border between Russia and China, maybe this shouldn't be a surprise. With skill, President Bush could turn this to American advantage as President Vladimir Putin of Russia seeks to play the American card against China.
Even further in the background will be an evolving struggle over Central Asia -- the remote regions of western China, the republics of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan that were once ruled by the Soviet Union, plus Afghanistan and northern Pakistan. This was the region traversed by British, Russian and Chinese spies, political agents and soldiers in the 19th century as they sought to control the heartland of Eurasia.
With the United States engaged in hostilities in Afghanistan and forces deployed in Pakistan, Uzbekistan and perhaps covertly elsewhere, America has been drawn into a new Great Game. China's fear of being encircled has once more been aroused. Russia worries about Chinese influence seeping along its southern border. China and Russia will seek U.S. support for their battles with Muslim separatists in Chechnya and Xinjiang, asserting that they, too, are terrorists.
Mr. President, welcome to the mysterious and tangled land of Kipling, Kim and the Khyber Pass.
A moratorium on building more houses in Ewa would adversely affect the construction industry when Hawaii's economy can least afford any more hitches. At the same time, the community's distress about the increased traffic cannot be ignored. Highways and homes
go hand in handThe issue: Ewa residents want
housing construction stopped
because of increased traffic.With the state seeking to spend money to keep the economy rolling, it should consider working out a deal with the housing developers so that the necessary highways can be put in more quickly. This would assure that the construction industry won't take a hit and traffic problems would be solved.
The Ewa Neighborhood Board's call for a halt in home construction appears not so much an anti-development stance as it was a plea from residents plagued by miserable traffic jams on Fort Weaver Road. As more houses are built, more commuters take to the already crowded thoroughfares. Resurfacing of Fort Weaver exacerbates the situation and people are fed up with it.
The problem seems to stem in part from the overlapping responsibilities of the city and state governments and project developers. Still, it is baffling why -- after decades of housing development -- governments and builders do not have a coordinated strategy to synchronize road and home construction. Officials say that a master plan for highways in the region is in the works, but won't be completed until 2010.
Ten years is much too long to wait for a plan, much less actual roads. Common sense dictates that governments require developers to get the roads in before they can sell one house.
Another problem is cost. One developer apparently did not want to pay for a segment of road through the area. This is irresponsible. Companies that build houses have a civic duty to take into account the effect their projects will have not only on the landscape, but on the existing infrastructure, such as roads, sewers and water systems. Smart government leaders would demand that these critical matters be addressed before any project is approved for construction. If not, the taxpayer will bear an increasing burden.
The president of a housing development company contended recently that building adequate roads is the government's job, and that existing traffic problems should not be a factor in deciding whether his company should be allowed to build.
That is truly shortsighted. He and other companies should consider this: Even if you build it, they will not come if traffic prevents them from getting there.
Published by Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press.Don Kendall, President
John Flanagan, publisher and editor in chief 529-4748; jflanagan@starbulletin.com
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