European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 8, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 50 columns the stars and stripes Leon Daniel time for hard decisions creeping up on Bush americans Aren t sure where president Bush is leading them but his strategists Hope they la follow him to wherever hit is for however Long it take to get there. They wont of course bul the Bushias arc pleased As punch with the results of a Washington Post Abc news poll that shows 71 percent of the respondents approve of the Way Bush is doing his Job that approval rating is in impressive 9 percentage pointy higher than Ranald Reagan s at this paint in his presidency. So with the Bush administration Only 10 weeks old americans evidently arc willing to give the new president More time 10 Deal with the monumental issues he raised during the Campaign. They understand thai cleaning up bos ton Harbor is a Tough Job that will take Lime. And parents know it s hard to make kids mind at Home so they la give the the president More time to require nil schoolchildren to recite the pledge of allegiance. Robert Teeter a. Bush strategist and Republican pollster was right when he old the Post the poll results indicate there is no specific group that is mad at him right  hush even enjoys a 62-percent approval rating among Blacks a group  did not highly regard Reagan Reagan boldly launched his presidency with divisive policies some of which Blacks believed eroded hard won civil rights gains. Bush on the other hand began his administration by trying to woo Black from the democratic party. Only one respondent in live in the poll professed to know where Bush is leading the country while half said they did t. That evidently is Fine with Lee Atwater the. Republican party National chairman who told the Post Bush s message is one of continued peace and  Atwater said the poll shows americans Trust Bush to Lead them in the right Dirac William Safire lion without relying on policy specifics. Bul the record suggests he president cautious steering at inc Helm of the ship of stale is calculated to avoid opposition. Bush has steered a. Course that seems to have moved the ship from the Politi Cal right Only a Tad toward the Center. In backing away from tuition tax credits. Bush so far appears to have avoided major criticism from catholics and conservatives Many americans seem to be encouraged by the administration s Choice of Diplo Macy Over Force in Centra America. All this careful steering by the skipper keeps his approval rating High bul the Lime for hard decisions is coming. Even Reagan was wounded by the pulls when circumstances required him to gel out in front and ride hell for leather at the head of his conservative Revol lion. Bush too ultimately will be forced to make decisions that inevitably will Divide americans. Some of inc hardest ones will have to do with How to pay for his vision of a Kinder gentler America. Urtle Prim Imanil Jim the opinions expressed in the columns and cartoons on this Page represent those of inc authors and Are in no nay to be considered As representing the views of the stars and stripes or the United states government. Mubarak s offer of Shamir Worth following up Ishael s. Print minister Yitzhak Shamir sent this invitation to Egypt s president a Lonj Mubarak stay an e�1ra Day in Washington and let us meet in president Bush s  egyptian re fused Bush who had been asked by Israel to facilitate these talks did nothing to bring the israeli and Arab leaders together. Instead he damaged his credibility As mediator by calling for the end of inc. Occupation of territories Israel consider vital to its Security. Why did Bush gratuitously insult is  Leader by announcing his conclusion before Shamir could even make his Case at a reception for Mubarak in the Home of vice president Quayle i put that to Brent scowcroft our National Security adviser. He would say Only we did not in tend to make  if that u True then the suite depart ment aide who drafted the statement the National Security Council which cleared it and the president who spoke the Blunt words did not consider As newsworthy a . Call for Israel to get out of the West Bank. Such ignorance of a change of position would reveal incredible ineptitude at All Levels. I  italic mint was nol  take but was a Bush Baker calculation More heavy handed than Csc handed to pressure Israel and placate the Plo. Many in the diplomatic press corps swallowed slate department protestations thai nothing was new but Barry Schwid of the a an Tom Friedman of the new York times put that major change in their leads. The egyptian ambassador Raouf cd ready spotted me at the fruit Kebab table and motioned me Over to meet his Boss i cheerfully identified myself As a right Wing pro israeli Hawk and asked Mubarak Why he had refused to meet Shamir in the Oval office. "1 once offered to go to  Mubarak animatedly and he is sued the in i tation. But then he started talking about his three no a so How could 1 go what would be the Public opinion _ lie left out the part about conditioning his visit on israeli acceptance of an inter National conference but my concern was this week s snub Whai would have been the harm in meeting in Washington since Boll were in town to talk about what he counter que ried free elections on the West Bank and a a for a starter free lie made a sceptical face. Its Inot for the press to negotiate for anybody but since he was asking i threw in the Compromise being bruised Noui  under some sort of Ontl rotation a supervise sort. As if lie had been waiting for that pre Cise formulation the president of Egypt leaned Forward and put his Finger on my Che so. You Tell him this. You Tell him if he is willing to have elections under International supervision i la help How much will he help ill help to inc  As god and the up our National so curly adviser,1 inc egyptian ambassador  Nail nibbling chief of protocol Are my witnesses that s what the Man said. " it s a Good bet that s also what Mubarak said privately to Bush and Quayle. Let us now review the state of play. Israel can be expected to hedge its free elections proposal with restrictions among them not until the Intifada Vio Lence stops no Flo candidates the first stage Only for municipal offices and the polls supervised by israelis with invited observers. This opening position will be frowned on by Egypt As not enough dismissed by Abc news As warmed Over Camp David and denounced by Yasser Arafat who worries about losing his authority to freely elected local palestinian leaders. However the Sli Amir offer provides running room for mediators even those who impose settlement terms be fore negotiations begin. The Intifada could Cool it without agreeing to ice in non Plo candidates could proclaim their Plo affection the municipal officers could have a Territo Ries wide function and while the ton ism is racism . Would hardly be Dis interested supervision Bya few countries with democratic experience would be acceptable. Now watch How inc Bash Israel crowd tries 10 turn free elections  words., ,. Not new nothing could be Hewer 10 most arabs than a secret ballot Arab regimes do not tolerate elections that offer genuine choices they do not want West Bank and Gaza palestinians to Lead the Way because democracy is contagious. Bui Mubarak says to Tell Shamir he is ready to help to Lac maximum to conduct such elections under International supervision. Message passed. Worth following up