European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 30, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes Friday. January 30, 1967 Jim Fain Reagan s Ransom payments spawn still More kidnappings the hash of kidnappings in Lebanon is a tragic Harvest of president Reagan s Folly in seeking 10 ran som earlier hostages. By giving in to iranian guided terrorists he told the world thai . Policy could be manipulated by whomever seizes our citizens. Many americans Are angry with the victims and there was no excuse for their staying in Lebanon but that misses the Point. Other hostages can be taken in other parts of the world. Paying Ransom like bowing to blackmail is an open ended affair. Once begun the process keeps pushing up the Price and there is no end to it. In the face of mountains of evidence Reagan insists Hal he did not Deal that the arms shipments were solely to influence iranian foreign policy though he has told a number of obvious lies about the whole affair Israel was no involved the tiny Quantity of arms hipped could have fitted in one air plane he did not learn of the Effort until after the first shipment some of his staffers and vice president George Bush say the president genuinely believes the arms pay menu were not Ransom. If so he is in a dangerous state of psychological denial. We probably would be better served with a deliberately deceitful president than one completely out of touch with reality Reagan has lived with fantasy most of his life and is noted for clinging to myths hit welfare Queens memories of visiting concentration Camp during the War it Al. Harsh As it is the Only sensible policy is to treat hos tages As prisoners of War and refuse to Deal in any Way. That was the policy Reagan always claimed to be following but when hostage families began appearing on to he folded inner Washington which would Analyse armageddon for its Likely effect on National politics gossiped All last week about the speech. While House staffers insisted that Reagan s slate of the Union address was crafted As a Cross of Gold bar Burner that would shift the Public focus from Iran to Reagan s legislative Agenda for the last two years. Far More than most this administration has tried to substitute words for deeds to create illusions about warning in America standing tall and feeling Good. By manipulating Media the White House shovel brigade manager for years to mask its failures in economic and foreign policy and on such matters As the deficit Trade imbalances the Iceland Summit Fias co and the third world. It went to the Well once Loo often. Iran broke the Gipper s spell. No no speech however rousing could restore the Trust. It s the old Maxim fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on  actions do speak louder. What is happening in Leb anon reveals infinitely More Aboul the stupidity and incompetence of the great communicator s administration than any oratory can  the Buck stopped at the Clun Favl William Safire to cameras taking toll on Congress the state of the state of the Union is in flux. Before our very eyes but while we were not looking a fundamental change has taken place in the tradition known As the stale of the Union message. In the past this constitutionally mandated re port was the president s show. He could deliver his report to the Congress in writing As a list of legislative proposals or declaim Hii vision to a meeting that Only his presence turn into a joint session. No More. Under the influence of television a vast Heisenberg effect has occurred. You re member Werner Heisenberg the physicist and quantum Mechanic whose uncertainty Prin Ciple held that an object under observation changed As a result of being observed the pres ence of the people in our great Hall of the people has transmogrified the event from Dutiful report and respectful hearing into a clash Between branches . It began when president and their Media advisers thought they could use the Congress As a Nice backdrop for a speech. Just As important As the setting was the respect guaranteed. No matter How polls Plum meted the president could count on being Well received and roundly applauded by his fellow government officials. The other night the audience got into the act in a big Way. Partisans of the president leaped to their feet to Lead the cheering for lines that de served at the most Only polite applause this triggered the contrasting reaction of political opponents Silling on their hands or in Lite Case of sen. Edward Kennedy folding his arms. The need of the cameras for reaction shots forced the studio audience . The govern ment of the . To comply by reacting. Cabinet members clapped on Cue to the beat of some unseen Monitor acting not As audience but As self conscious players before a much wider Audi ence. The diplomatic corps not knowing what to do under these new rules risked offence by not reacting to anything rather than gel involved in the partisan by play. The supreme court caught in the Middle applauded in obvious Relief Al any plug for the Constitution. Only George Bush of All the officials stiffly drawn up in vast cumbrous array had the pres ence of mind to take out his handkerchief and blow his nose Good for you. George for that human touch into this weird mixture of one up Manship and cordial hostility sailed he president who has presided Over the doubling of the National debt. When he made his ritual denunciation of deficits he was met in mid sentence by thunderous applause from the opposition who semiotic ally invited him to raise taxes or Cul his defense Bud get. Nor was the event Over when the president looking like on older John Elway finished his Eva Sive and peroration heavy address. Part of the new Era stale of the Union is now the Loyal opposition s response the fairness doctrine run amok. What used to be instant analysis is now instant paralysis Noi interpretation and consideration and thoughtful criticism but formal rebuttal turning this into the debate of the Union. In revenge for being exploited by the presidency the Media have pulled in the opposition and made themselves arbiter. Next year fairness will Call for a televised inset of the president while the opposition is on screen. Reacting to their rebuttal with Stony silence Gleeful applause or yes rolling heavenward. Perhaps the next president will Cross up the opposition and stun the Media. He could do that and be More faithful to presidential tradition by hold ing frequent and regular news conferences and mailing his slate of the Union message. C nil von Tumi