A sampling of recent editorials from Colorado newspapers:
NATIONAL:
The Denver Post, July 31, on the war on terror:
When new Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, during a visit to Afghanistan last month, declared that “we’re within reach of strategically defeating al-Qaeda,” some observers scoffed. Wasn’t he just trying to justify the administration’s decision to reduce the number of troops there, as well as capitalize on the killing of Osama bin Laden?
But now The Washington Post has confirmed, in a report published last week, that experts in the CIA and other intelligence agencies agree with Panetta’s assessment. Thanks to bin Laden’s death and a steady toll from months of drone attacks, al-Qaeda is on “the brink of collapse.”
Game over in the war on terror? Hardly, for the obvious reason that Islamic jihadists by no means take their directives exclusively—or even primarily—from al-Qaeda. But the crippling of the organization that engineered the 9/11 atrocities and numerous other murderous attacks over the years is nonetheless a milestone worth noting with appreciation.
Not only has al-Qaeda been a font of deadly schemes here and around the world, it has provided inspiration to free-floating extremists hatching plans of their own. Driving it to the edge of extinction is a warning to all terrorists: Any spectacular act of violence in this country will provoke the relentless pursuit of those responsible, even if it takes a decade and no matter where you may hide.
Unfortunately, even if al-Qaeda is destroyed, the jihadist mentality that it helped to spread will not disappear any time soon. Plots against the U.S. may not be as elaborate or as ambitious as in the group’s heyday, but they will continue. A RAND Corp. study last year found that of 46 incidents of “domestic radicalization and recruitment to jihadist terrorism” occurring from Sept. 11, 2001, through the end of 2009, only one-quarter involved links to al-Qaeda or other major international terrorist groups.
Meanwhile, the report said, “Many of the jihadist recruits … began their journey on the Internet,” where jihadist sites will remain sources of inspiration whatever al-Qaeda’s fate.
It’s also important to remember, as the RAND report explains, “There is no long mile between the terrorist wannabe and the lethal zealot. A group of young hotheads angrily banging their fists on the table needs only one very determined, reasonably competent individual to propel them down a deadly path.”
Such was the case, for example, in the 2005 London subway bombings that killed 52 people.
But maybe we’re getting slightly ahead of ourselves. Al-Qaeda may be reeling, but its second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahri, survives. And the al-Qaeda affiliate in Yemen, led by Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S.-born cleric who was in contact with Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan before his murderous attack at Fort Hood two years ago, remains a scorpion with a deadly sting.
Despite encouraging success against al-Qaeda, in other words, the U.S. is in no position to ease up on the pressure now. Being “within reach” of defeating al-Qaeda is not actually the same as doing so, which must remain this nation’s unwavering goal.
Editorial:
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Loveland Daily Reporter-Herald, July 30, on bombing and shooting in Norway:
Since July 22, when Anders Breivik carried out two attacks that killed 77 people in Norway, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has resisted the notion that Breivik’s killing spree will change Norway’s national character for the worse.
In an interview on BBC, Stoltenberg made this astonishing statement: “We will in some ways change, but I will do whatever I can to make sure we do not change in a way which undermines our core values of openness, democracy and participation.”
On July 29, after a memorial service for the victims, Stoltenberg told reporters: “I think July 22 will be a very strong symbol of the Norwegian people’s wish to be united in our fight against violence, and will be a symbol of how the nation can answer with love.”
That is not how most nations answer acts of terror and mass murder. But it certainly is a refreshing answer.
Despite Breivik’s claim that he is part of an anti-Muslim network plotting acts of terror across Europe, investigators believe he acted alone. Still, he represents a growing right-wing extremist movement in Europe, one that has other European nations instituting anti-terror measures.
No doubt Norway will institute more security measures and its security service will change the way it does business. But if Stoltenberg has his way—and the overwhelming support he’s received this past week says he likely will—Norway will answer Breivik’s attack with openness and participation, and not fear and persecution.
That’s a tall order, but one that has merit in an open, democratic society.
Editorial:
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STATE:
Glenwood Springs Post Independent, July 29, on fracking lawsuit:
Lawsuits, in the common wisdom, are the least attractive way of solving complicated problems.
But a class-action suit recently filed against the gas drilling company Antero Resources may prove to be an exception.
The hope is that this lawsuit will help uncover a definitive answer to the question—is gas drilling hazardous to the health of people living nearby?
The suit, filed by attorneys in Aspen and New York City in the interests of the 5,000 residents of Battlement Mesa, seeks a health monitoring program for residents, as well as unspecified compensation for loss of property value or quality of life.
The company has announced plans to drill up to 200 wells from nine well pads inside the boundaries of Battlement Mesa, an unincorporated community in western Garfield County.
Some community members have voiced concern about these plans, citing a growing body of evidence that drilling rigs and residential neighborhoods do not mix well.
Thus, the request to conduct ongoing health monitoring—before, during and after drilling—would yield valuable answers to questions about the true impacts of drilling.
In the two years since Antero announced its plans, there has been a rising level of complaints from some residents about the company’s unwillingness to meet in the middle to address problems, or discuss matters comprehensively.
In such a polarized environment, the company faces very real difficulties trying to communicate with the public without drawing criticism from local and national groups.
Still, we believe responsibility rests on the company, and the gas industry in general, to show it can operate without damaging human health or causing irreparable harm to the environment.
Any private industrial endeavor, particularly those extracting publicly-owned natural resources, should be prepared to respond openly to concerns expressed by the public, or by government agencies charged with protecting public welfare.
To be sure, the industry may be absolutely correct in its belief that drilling activities pose no threat to human health, safety and welfare.
But if that is so—if rigs merely are smelly, ugly industrial sites that don’t hurt or kill people—why do the industry and its supporters in government resist the scientific studies that would put such questions to rest?
Lawsuits, unfortunately, may be the only way to get at the truth here, in a way that cannot be influenced by the industry, curtailed by government officials or inflamed by overly zealous critics.
Company officials can be questioned, under oath and in formal depositions. Company documents can be opened up to public inspection.
We can only hope that the truth will emerge from this case, once and for all.
If there are hazards associated with drilling, the most important outcome would be a program of long-term medical monitoring of nearby residents. That way we would learn the full extent of the human health hazards of natural gas drilling operations.
Editorial:
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The Daily Sentinel, July 27, on the Oil & Gas Commission:
Gov. John Hickenlooper—the geologist, turned businessman, turned politician—made it clear when he ran for governor that he wasn’t interested in a wholesale rewriting of the state’s new oil and gas regulations. But he did suggest there was room for careful modifications to improve them.
He also talked of appointing people like himself, who have a basic knowledge of the industry and how it operates, to serve in key posts related to oil and gas development.
That idea is being tested now, as the governor looks to appoint or reappoint the seven citizen-representatives on the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
Based on information obtained by The Daily Sentinel’s Charles Ashby, Hickenlooper appears on track to do what he pledged.
The two current Western Slope representatives on the commission—Rich Alward of Grand Junction and Thomas Compton of Hesperus—are expected to be reappointed, and that makes sense.
Alward has not been the darling of some gas-industry supporters. But he is not anti-industry and, as someone whose business has included working with energy companies on reclamation projects, he understands that aspect of industry operations well.
Alward also worked hard to forge workable compromises on several key issues when the current regulations were being drafted.
Comptom is a rancher, a knowledgeable advocate for agricultural interests and for property owners with gas leases on their land.
They, along with Denver oil company executive DeAnn Craig, may be the only incumbents who remain on the commission. Craig has one more year to serve on her term.
Hickenlooper is expected to pick two new industry representatives to serve on the commission, as well as a new local government member and a new person to represent environmental concerns.
The two industry representatives he has reportedly chosen are Denver resident Winston “Perry” Pearce, of Conoco Phillips/Burlington Resources, and John Benton of Littleton, vice president of Rex Energy. Although we know little about Pearce, Benton appears to be a solid energy-company executive who understands that development of our natural resources must be balanced with realistic environmental protections.
More difficult for Hickenlooper may be appointing an environmental member who is acceptable to the many environmental organizations in this state, yet is knowledgeable about the industry and willing to work effectively with others on the commission.
He must also choose another local government member. There hasn’t been a local government representative since Tresi Houpt lost her re-election bid as Garfield County commissioner last fall.
Due to a decline in prices and new developments in other regions, work in Colorado’s gas patch isn’t nearly as hectic as it was in 2007, when the Oil and Gas Commission was realigned and the current members appointed. But the industry remains critical to Colorado, and the Western Slope in particular. The commission’s oversight of the industry is equally important.
We hope the governor is able to fill all of the seats on the commission with people as thoughtful and qualified as those reportedly on his list already.
Editorial:
