European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 5, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 columns the stars Ano stripes wednesday december 5,1990 r$4f i a whwsp4vm.i a it s a v Anthony Lewis a 5 Way s v id amp just As he seemed to be marching inexorably toward War in the persian Gulf president Bush has taken a crucial step to avoid War. And there is reason to Hope that it will work that the Gulf crisis can now be resolved without War. Bush a decision to invite iraqi foreign minister Tariq Aziz to the White House and Send Secretary of state James a. Baker Iii to Baghdad was seen by some As a political stroke designed by the president to disarm Domestic critics of his policy. In Senate hearings last week the critics had marshalled impressive opposition to any Early use of military Force in the Gulf. Now it was said Bush could say he had gone the last mile for peace a a and when diplomacy failed More easily get congressional support for War. Domestic politics May have been a reason for the decision. But Bush could also have been responding to voices that have been urging him to try a diplomatic approach to Saddam Hussein a among them very Likely the voice of Makhni Gorbachev. The president mad to have soviet support for last weeks . Resolution authorizing the use of Force in the Gulf. Gorbachev May Well have agreed after talks with Baker on the understanding that after the . Vote Bush would try a diplomatic  the motive the Aziz and Baker trips have a real potential of leading to a settlement. F How can that be it will be asked when Saddam keeps insisting that he will not give up Kuwait and when Bush says the purpose is not to negotiate but to make Iraq understand the worlds determination the answer is that peaceful Resolution of the crisis depends a has always depended a on giving Saddam a Way to Retreat. No such dictator can be expected to pull Back unless he sees a Way to save face Ana save his own skin. A this diplomatic move is a face saving device even though Bush naturally denies that it is. Saddam can say that Bush a Friend and highest aide has had to come to him. The very trip by Baker is a gesture toward Saddam a Reward if you will and there is a More Concrete incentive for Saddam to use this diplomatic Exchange As a Way to climb Down from his aggression that is the Assurance that if he withdraws from Kuwait and releases his hostages As . Resolutions require he will not be attacked. _ on no cd so a meet the press a Baker As Good As gave that Assurance. Asked whether he would assure Saddam that the United states would not attack Iraq if he withdrew Baker replied William Safi Rewar to m some be a com we. A a there a never been any suggestion that Force would be used if the United nations resolutions were fully complied  has expressed Strong concern about iraqis possible development of nuclear weapons. He seemed at times to be suggesting that one aim of his policy was the destruction of that nuclear capacity. But Baker said the nuclear problem should be dealt with after Resolution of the present crisis. It would fall under Security arrangements to be worked out for the Region those answers by Baker must be one part of the message he is going to take to Baghdad. The other part is the threat of military attack after Jan. 15. It is undoubtedly a More credible threat after Bush a demonstration of a desire to resolve the crisis diplomatically. Saddam greeted the Bush proposal with angry words. An iraqi statement called Bush a the enemy of god and said a the arrogant president of the United states distributed by King features Syndicate George Bush had consistently opposed dialogue expressing his hatred of arabs and  but he accepted the Bush offer. That is what matters. The rest is rhetoric which can be useful As smoke to cover a Retreat. The importance of the Bush move was evident from the reaction of Middle East experts in Washington. Judith Kipper of the Brookings institution who has been urging a diplomatic Effort called it a the most important thing that a happened since aug. 2.�?� a. No one can be sure that a Man with Saddam a ambitions will yield to the compulsions of reality. But he has done so before and there is a real possibility that he will take the Way out opened up by Bush a initiative. American super Hawks would not be satisfied. They would still want to Send . Soldiers into Battle to destroy iraqis military capability. George Bush and the rest of us would prefer a peaceful iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait to War. A new York times Bottom line of Bush s proposal too limited a president Bush has set relatively modest and limited goals for his discussions with Saddam Hussein to be con ducted Oyer the next six weeks through their foreign ministers. In his press conference opening statement last week Bush first made a cogent explanation of americans National interest in stopping persian Gulf aggression now nobody can legitimately com Plain that he a not a a articulating his policy the pity is that he still shies from Reading. Those words in a prime time speech. \ a despite the strength in the tone of the presidents presentation of his position there is Good news for Saddam in the Bush Bottom line a i am not suggesting discussions that will result in anything less than Complete withdrawal from Kuwait restoration of Kuwait a legitimate government and Freedom for All hostages what about reparations for the grand heist and rape what about War crimes trials to deter future atrocities what about the destruction of Poison Gas Erm warfare and atomic bomb facilities allowed by a very highly intrusive inspections to assure the world that it will not be threatened again a by the nuclear fire next time. The presidents dismaying by limited Bottom line preemptively concedes these goals which seem to fall outside what he construes to be his . Mandate. He says a we seek the stability and Security of this critical Region a a but seems prepared to Settle for the enumerated withdrawal restoration and hostage freeing. A a worse Bush opens the negotiations Bazaar by inviting Saddam a to discuss All aspects of the Gulf  he knows the iraqis will take a fall aspects to mean that he is prepared to listen to linkage. To americans the president is saying his purpose is merely to impress upon die iraqi dictator the implacable alternative of a failure to withdraw. To Saddam he is saying he is willing to listen to Iraq pose As the Champion of the claims of palestinians in israelis West Bank and of Leb Ane Seius conquered by Syria _ in the Light of the limited goal Bottom line and the a fall aspects Quot invitation to linkage what can we expect of the coming meetings in the Oval office Bush will impress the saudis in the room with our resolve and then listen to the propaganda line that iraqis foreign minister has been touting from the Start that Iraq will give up its fresh Conquest Only when its enemies give tip their past gains Iraq is confident that it wont happen but can thus appear to be. A a a. A a. A a a a. We the Saviour of the. Arabs dispossessed while it digests Kuwait a wealth. This Story of that first meeting will be a Bush issues final warning rejects link age a then attention will shift to the More dramatic meeting near the deadline of a Day with Secretary of state James a. Baker Iii in the office of Saddam Hussein. A a a a a a. A a v at that historic session the iraqi will reiterate his sweeping peace offer comprehensive conference everybody withdraws from everywhere hostages All freed. Baker will reply get out of Kuwait first. /  what about a fall aspects under discussion Saddam Hussein will Point to Bush a expressed Hope that the Resolution of the Kuwait aggression will Lead to Middle East peace How about a Deal forcing Israel Back that the , would love Baker will say we can talk later a perhaps add some promissory body language a but insist Iraq first meet the announced minimum conditions. That a the potential Fuce Saver. Saddam could say the americans hinted to him that a vast Deal could be made if Only he took the first step therefore he was pull my out of Kuwait and awaiting the Amer can  and Bush would vainly lean on the israelis who Are not crazy enough to give up Security in the face of a growing regional threat. Saddam Hussein would remain in Power by thundering that he had been betrayed he would plow his new Oil revenues into nuclear Quot missile production. In a few years he would snatch Back Kuwait and bite into saudi Arabia knowing we would not put american cities at risk. Sound logical he May just exploit his new opening this Way that is Why he must not be Able to claim any secret understanding in his Baker meeting a or be Able to play an embarrassing portion of a secretly made tape of that meeting As he likes to do. Our Only Protection open diplomacy. Telecast the whole meeting. Let the world know precisely what is offered and not offered. Let the White Light of publicity serve history a and keep everybody honest. A a a a a a a a a a a Quot c new to times the opinions expressed in the columns and cartoons on this Page represent those of the authors and Are in no Way to be considered As representing the View a the stars and stripes or the Len states government