European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 20, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 the stars and stripes sunday april 20, 1986 Anthony Lewis Reagan made his Case for air strike against Libya Ose of us who have criticized adic m in d-Nij-4� a r 1 Thos venturis in president Reagan s foreign policy naturally look with a wary Eye at the air strike on Libya. But it is the Obliga Tion of critics to see differences and there arc decisive differences Between the action against Libya and for example the administration s policy on Nicaragua. Ends. In Nicaragua the policy is driven by ideology and Aims at an ideological target the existence of a marxist oriented government in this hemisphere. The object of the libyan action is not an ideological construct but an undoubted evil state sponsored terrorism. Means. In Nicaragua the Reagan administration eschewing serious diplomacy covertly created a military Force that Mur Ders civilians and carries out other acts of terrorism. The military action in Libya Fol Lowed Many warnings and extended Diplo Matic efforts. Facts. The president has produced no convincing evidence to support some of his main charges against the nicaraguan government notably the charge of aggression against its Central american neighbors. But no one can doubt that Moa mar Kha Day has sponsored terrorism targeting americans especially and has invaded and subverted his neighbors. Law. In the Case of Nicaragua the administration has run away from the Law petulantly walking out of the world court in the attack on Libya it relied on a Legal argument that violence against the perpetrators of repeated violence is justified As an act of self defense. Those differences were evident in Rea Gan s announcement of the raid. The rhetoric of his televised speech was measured the tone careful and dignified. He showed a sense of proportion stating the threat without exaggeration. How far it was from the wild hyperbole the propagandists Fervour of the president s speeches on Nicaragua. Just a month ago in his televised Appeal for Aid to the con tra rebels Reagan used blood curdling rhetoric to Parade horrible with Little or no basis in fact. His own specialists later dismissed his claim that the sandinista Deal in drugs. There was a Strong sense of realism in Reagan s words about Libya another George will do you realize vat a full scale . Attack. On Khap Afy would Doto tue Arab worlp7i cheer before crucial Point. He said straightforwardly that the Mission of the american planes was violent acknowledging that reality As he never acknowledges seemingly not even to himself the True character of the killers he lauds As Freedom fighters in Nicaragua. He had no illusion the president said that the operation in Libya would finally dispose of the problem. There again his realism contrasted with the fantasy of the argument that contras with no visible political support inside the country can Over throw Nicaragua s government. Realism Points to the hard question that remains about the air strike its effective Ness. Will it discourage terrorism by Libya or More generally will it put american political interests at risk in today s world terrorism has a Hun dred fathers. The rages of religion and nationalism of sect and tribe have boiled up in dangers that we did not imagine even a few years ago. No single military action could possibly discourage All those possessed by such rage. There is a risk too of coming foolishly to believe that military blows can be a substitute for the slower work of politics and diplomacy. The libyan action rather emphasizes the responsibility of the United states to seek solutions of the underlying problems of the Middle East problems that unsolved Breed support for a Hadaf and others of his ilk. Finally we should have no illusion that there is such a thing As a military Surgi Cal that phrase sounds neat clean orderly. But War is not like that. When Secretary of defense Caspar Weinberger was told that the French embassy had been damaged in Tripoli he said he thought they could t be accurate re ports because of the nature of the targets and the nature of the ordnance but it happened. Khad Afy s infant daughter was killed in the raid. There were other civilian casualties. The reckoning of All the gains and losses the human costs and the political effects will have to be made later. For now it is enough to recognize with whatever irfl1 that this american military action did have its reasons that there was a rational relationship Between ends and Means. To oppose state terrorism is a Price of civilization in these ugly times. C new York times of 1T e up of much of the electr.T0 St by sums a the of 1s Iong association with Reagan and his service Hughes and the teamsters pension electorate National gop chairman has a Long Lea us in Des la p of moral uplift Nan walking along a Cliff feels the around crumble them. 8 leg up in dealin8 with Laxalt s libel suit Syrino f my the answer conceivably is Paul Laxalt the question is the last line of an c1 mood of h of the electorate a a group beneath his feet. He manages to clutch at a Root extend ing from the face of the Cliff which saves him from falling to certain death on the jagged rocks amidst the crashing surf far below. But he cannot climb Back to safety so he shouts up is anyone up there a voice the voice of god fills the sky have Faith and Pray. If you have sufficient Faith and Pray properly you May let go and you will fall lightly As a Feather Landing unhurt amidst the rocks and the Man looks Back Down at the rocks and surf ponders the offer and then shouts up is anyone else up there when the electorate surveys an Early list of presiden tial aspirants it usually sinks into an is anyone else up there mood. The electorate has achieved a remarkably comfortable relationship with today s president and can not see a substitute on the horizon. But waiting in the wings not just waiting actually pacing restlessly and pawing the dust is or. Conserva Tive s Hirst Friend Paul Laxalt senior senator from be Nevada has about 303,258 registered voters a group smaller than the crowd that passes through Chicago s n help. Airport on a Busy Day. But at this stage in the if Laxalt enters the race and a conversation with him leaves Little doubt that he is inclined to his entry could have two immediate effects. It could considerably complicate Jack Kemp s fund raising which naturally starts at a marked disadvantage relative to the vice presi Dent s however Laxalt s entry also could Wash off what Ever Sheen George Bush has by virtue of being per caved As the president s preferred Choice. Laxalt and Reagan became freshman governors of contiguous states in 1966 and have remained politically and personally close Laxalt s Placid temperament is a close approximation of the Reagan Persona with which the coun try is comfortable. Reagan is going to be a hard act to look and it May be especially risky for republicans to follow with a similar act rather than something new but if they want More of the same Call the style Western ease Laxalt is the obvious Choice. By 1987, Laxalt will have retired from the Senate he to h/11lfavrfk 1 j j 11 related problems. One is be to a p2n is lava a a Caum thinks he has problems because he is an italian american from new York and Nence is vaguely tainted by imagined associations with fist a ments he should being a Public offi Alfrom Nevada a state in which the arrivals of Howard Zoei l " Tou from a on8 article of , m the Sacramento Bee. It alleged that in pos is we a skimmed from receipts of a Casino not � to Nev hotel then owned by Laxalt. It is was precise y the article says Laxa twas culpable of knowing or doing. But some analysts or Raj a especially t0 w n a libel suit against Wath seem t0� Clever by half articles written in Amat seems suspiciously pre layered by people who May have thought they were on thin ice rtomsl1 c?"f, at least a Sharon verdict a 1 \ Apfl thrtot4 i of the article was false. He thinks he also will malice. If he does he probably will ramble for the Reagan succession. Were not an it f to prove that the Reagan year set eight year aberration produced by Reagan s e the fact that he thinks none of the shown or seems Likely to show the of political Appeal and ideological Ber of Dent resp Cial a pressed by the num support we of Bush Knob n. Heva an 3bout that his Cabin c Washington Post
