European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 2, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 columns Jim Fain the stars and stripes dirty Campaign ignores the important issues George Bush is using his state of the Art i Inch stuff la orchestrate the dirtiest presidential Campaign in memory. The mud slinging is designed to tar Michael Duka Kis As a nut fringe Liberal unpatriotic and soft on crime. It is anything but spontaneous. Bush suffers choreographed it months ago and began building a backfire against Media criticism by broadcasting word that they planned to unmask the Duke As a closet Liber Al. He would respond by accusing them of negative  they chorused but they would Only be engaging in  so far the comparisons have consisted of 1. Using As a major Campaign theme Dukakis s veto ii years ago of an unconstitutional Bill mandating recital of the pledge of allegiance in classrooms. 2. A furlough program in Massachusetts prisons similar to one in most slates under which a murderer by the name of Willie Morton escaped and later raped a woman in a Washington suburb. 3. False allegations that Dukakis consulted a psychiatrist for depression in the 70s. President Reagan Lent a hand by referring to Dukakis As an invalid then issuing a half hearted apology. 4. Charges by sen. Steve Symms a Idaho that Kitty Dukakis burned a . Hag. Mrs. Dukakis assailed the charge and Symms backed off after the damage was done. The Bush Campaign denies inspiring the latter two but the candidate has not disavowed them. By contrast when a Navy Tail gunner claimed that Bush abandoned his Crew when he bailed out in world War ii Dukakis denounced the charge and praised Bush s courage. The Media backfire Laid by the Bush Campaign seems to have worked. With the notable exception of Anthony Lewis of the new York times commentators have cried  that s like equating Adolf Hitler with Huckleberry finn. Many journalists have become so fascinated by the new technologies of tailoring candidates in fit poll defined markets that they Overlook the ethics involved. Dukakis so far has Slung no mud. Some convention speakers lit into Bush with the Silver fool in Mouth and we arc was Georgc gibes both relatively mild. Bush spokesmen say Dukakis started it All by calling Flora Lewis Reagan a Rotten fish but that s a distortion. Referring to a Leader s accountability for his underlings Dukakis quoted a greek proverb that a fish rots from the head  his staff was upset. The game plan called for avoiding any criticism of the popular Reagan. Bush advocates were Gleeful Dukakis probably will go negative after labor Day he s no Violet. He thinks people will get fed up with Bush s attacks and Laud him for firing Bart. Meanwhile Bush plans to vase off and leave the dirty work to surrogates. It will be an extraordinarily Nasty Campaign with issues largely drowned out by the kind of Petti forgery already Rife in the Bush Camp. The two Little known hard to love candidates provide a perfect set up far the pit Bull combat Bush gleefully pledged. As Long As we Reward such nauseous tactics they re what we deserve. But life its ctr is being threatened by greenhouse effect and Over population. Instead of image warfare True leadership would focus on raising Public consciousness and paving the Way for Star wars scale re search on these twin problems. So far neither candidate has even acknowledged them. Cd a cows san Ciff Rae Pae one decision can t be put off forever Eveitts in the Middle East Are mov ing to a Crossroads. For Many years hard choices have been put off because on the israeli Side so Many people wanted to believe they need never be made and that the impasse would melt away with time and because on the palestinian Side leaders Felt More secure by Tempo Riding than by taking political risks. That is Why Secretary of stale George Shully s insistent efforts for a break through in recent months were futile both israelis and arabs have taken to blaming the United states for failing to impose one. This is just another evasion. The United states can help once Lead ers on the two sides arc ready. It cannot produce anything useful by bashing their Heads together Bui the real world they want so much to ignore is not standing still. The pales Tinian uprising and consequent renunciation of responsibility for the West Bank and Gaza by Jordan s King Hussein arc making a decision unavoidable. The major players can t dither much longer. Extremists Are pining ground on both sides and they will leave nothing to negotiate until after the next War. Marck Halter s account in the new York times of a Long Blunt conversation with Yasser Arafat on aug. 20 shows that the Plo Leader is i cycling the pres sures of new i Reum stances. Halter a polish born French writer who cultivates the look of an old Testa ment Prophet is an ardent supporter of Israel and of the jewish cultural heritage. He is a would be peacemaker and accepted Arafat s summons to Tunis in order to put the Tough questions the last time he met with Arafat was shortly after Anwar Sadat s dramatic trip to Jerusalem and he said then now you will have to do the same make  according to Halter Arafat replied perhaps you arc right but it is not time. Don t you realize i would be killed for it Halter s retort was brutal and prescient. If you Are not prepared to die for your people or. Chairman your people will die for  Halter believes the request for another meeting now reflects an attempt by Arafat to reach out to jewish opinion in the Diaspora especially in the United states in Hopes that it will influence Israel to accept negotiations for a palestinian state. Arafat made All the right noises for a permanent peace abandonment of terrorism full recognition of Israel even a confederation with Jordan despite Hus Sein s pronouncement. But that was in private. The Plo Leader has done that before Only to say something different to the next visitor and skitter away in ambiguity when it comes to open commitments. Halter has no illusions about Arafat s infinite capacity to wriggle off Hooks. That is Why he said he intended to Publ ish his questions and Arafat s responses and the Plo Leader accepted. It remains to be seen if Arafat will keep his pledge to make the decisive leap before the United nations in november in any Case this new bit of the record Lightens the squeeze. Arafat remark to Halter about fanatics and extremists gaining importance in the occupied territories is significant. They arc a worrisome Challenge to him. The chances for squirming out again and maintaining his position arc narrowing. He is still dancing around the idea of proclaiming a government in exile. For nearly a generation this has been the Nastiest question an outsider could put to a Plo spokesman. The organization has always avoided it because forming a government would mean having to take a Clear stand on territory and acceptance of Israel on some kind of a program beyond Victory through armed struggle on the relations and authority of palestinians at Home and the expatriates. That a Ould Likely split the Plo and underscore differences among the Arab Stales Arafat s formula for maintaining Power and Independence has always been to seek support from everybody balancing them off so none could claim him As their own. But it is a formula for frustration of palestinian aspirations the new Genera Tion has lost patience. The advantages of forming a government would be official recognition from most nations and above All. A base for negotiations. Thai in turn would put pressure on Israel to face its Long Dofi of Trad decisions. On the terms Arafat discussed Vith Hal Ter it would bring Broad american sup port. Israel s prime minister Yitzhak Sha Mir shows he realizes the limits of american indulgence when he refuses despite his own inclination Lopre empt diplomacy by annexing the territories. Time is Healing nothing. If Brave Deci Sions Aren t made on both sides events will drown the leaders who refused the risk of peace. Mew York line i Newl the opinions expressed in inc columns and cartoons on Lii is Page represent Mihok of the authors and Are in no Way to be considered As representing inc views of the stars Narf stripes or the United states government