European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 25, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Allies . Commitment Power by James  Ham new York times t a time of considerable Uncer airily in the Iran allanic relationship Western european politicians and strategists have started to revise in Subtle but important ways heir assessment of american economic and political Power and the durability of she United states commitment to the defense of Europe. Two seemingly unrelated events the imminence of a superpower pact to abolish american and soviet medium and Shorter Range missiles and an impressive Western military engagement in the persian Gulf have focused attention on whether the Reagan administration has enhanced or diminished America s Power in the world. It s an interesting Issue said Lawrence Freedman professor of War studies at King s College of the University of London because this is the administration that was going to revive american Power. It s the underlying Issue of a lot that s going on but the answer is  both Kie Betty missile Accord and the Gulf engagement it can be argued Are triumphs Lor Washington and us allies. By carrying out the deployment of american medium Range missiles in the tact of tumultuous apposition in the streets and hot Reg firm at the Geneva lairs America avid us allies win have obliged the soviet Union to destroy far More Mas few than nato will surrender. In the persian Gull the United slates and five of its ales have committed warships to the lofty principle of Freedom of navigation and indirectly pressed Iran to end Ila 7-year-old War with Iraq. The Reagan administration led and the allies overcoming their initial reluctance followed in a major out of area undertaking by six nato partners. It the much Deal and the Gull Endeavor in another Light Are ambiguous victories. The very logic of withdrawing american missiles from Europe has raised concerns about subsequent missile reductions and ultimately about the presence of 326,000 american troops. As for the mine strewn Gulf there Are nagging questions about How slea last and patient the americans will prove to be in the midst of a War that could drag on Tot Many years More. It is symptomatic of the uneasy mood in Western Europe that Many politicians strategic thinkers and journalists today operate on he Assumption that a substantial reduction of american troops in West Germany and other nato commands is virtually inevitable. " would find i altogether extraordinary a Western european ambassador said if the United states still had 326.000 troops in Europe in the year 2000 i think that be Elgis very  Mica s allies come Ward in the Flers Miv Gulf the arguments to support this Assumption have to do largely with the swollen american budget and Trade deficits with protectionist sentiments in Congress with a feeling that the United states is living beyond its Means and will one Day conclude that american Gas Are a costly commitment to Rich european allies who Are no paying enough for their own defense. America s unenviable position As the world s biggest debtor nation like the news that West Germany has overtaken it As the world s biggest exporter tends to Sharpen the picture of an overextended superpower. Conceding that he was being provocative a senior French policy maker observed that the United states and the soviet Union have in common High performance military industries operating in troubled economies the deficit Only camouflages american weakness this official said and guarantees that when the Landing comes it will be harder than in should have to  this perception of a More vulnerable and perhaps distracted America has quickened various efforts to give substance to the idea of a european pillar of the Atlantic affianced. In Paris the French and British defense ministers have discussed joint weapons procurement and even sensitive nuclear issues while Bonn and Paris announced last month that they were going to form a defense  yet. As they iry haphazardly to erect this european pillar its architects emphasize that they have no ambition to displace or replace the United states As the Leader of the Alliance. Ii has been France Wilh its gaullist tradition of Independence from America that has been one of the most fervent defenders of the american connection. And rather than speak of a fundamentally weakened America Many europeans refer to a superpower experiencing a diffusion of its Power. In the words of the German historian Michael Sturmer an America that s restructuring ils commitments an America that will be More unilateralist and less  the european discussion about american Power runs parallel to and is nourished by one that is taking place in the United slates. Michael Howard an authority on military affairs at Oxford University said he had just returned from the United states struck by the absurd unnecessary and unfounded panic there about the ebbing of american Power the belief thai the United states is somehow on the  a great deaf of american military capability is irrelevant to the political requirements of american policy Howard said. You have put a great Deal of investment in preparing to tight an utterly improbable nuclear War and have not concentrated nearly enough on the problems of very Small engagements which Are the most Likely to  Howard said America now had to Deal with a More complicated world confronting for example an economically powerful Japan and a More skillful soviet  but he disputed the notion that american Power As such had been eroded. You never were omnipotent he said you Are not now in  id protect kuwaiti ships 1hktare Carro Peciu in Jaffa american troops w wwwq8wwwir/wcaraguan Sunda october 25. 1987 the stars and stripes Page 13