European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday september 18, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 13 commentary Haynes Johnson Lone superpower left faces Supe Challenge Seldom if Ever have the ideals of America and the principles on which its political system rests stood higher in the eyes of the world. At this moment the United states represents much More than the sole surviving superpower As so Many commentators Are noting approvingly in the Wake of dramatic events inside the soviet Union. In history a perspective superpower status is transitory Powers major or minor Rise and fall. Ideas remain and hold the real Power to influence events. It is those ideas about the benefits of democracy and Freedom to which the world now turns. They present the United states an Opportunity to exercise global leadership Long into the next Century. Yet for americans the great Paradox that characterized much of the 1980s also remains while the world looks to the United states for leadership the inability of its leaders to address their country a growing internal problems coupled with the continuing fragmentation of american life make the United states less of a practical Model for others. The contrast Between promising events abroad and grim realities at Home could not be sharper. In recent Days More bad economic news has surfaced. The number of americans who have exhausted unemployment benefits has reached the highest level in 40 years. At the same time the number of personal bankruptcies is soaring to record Levels and the Federal Deposit insurance corp. Is threatened with insolvency. That would require another massive taxpayer bailout to ensure the safety of the nations banking system even while costs for the savings and loan bailout continue to Rise. Evidence of deeper systemic problems exists. The nation is confronted by three vivid examples of official failure to safeguard the Public interest in fundamental areas affecting the lives and Security. A the first involves the trial of former panamanian dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega in Miami. A the second is the North Carolina Plant fire that took the lives of 25 people. A the third is the latest scandal shaking the pillars of Wall Street and further eroding Public Faith in financial institutions. In each the common thread is the total failure of those charged with policing and regulating to do their jobs. The scandal surrounding Noriega goes beyond charges that he was a notorious drug dealer and Money launderer whose illegal activities expanded the narcotics Trade inside this country. Of greater interest is that major elements of the . Government apparently knew for years about Noriega a criminal activities but chose to look the other Way because he was helpful in implementing Covert . Operations in Central America. Similarly the fire at a Chicken processing Plant in Hamlet n.c., provides a Case study of regulators who do not regulate investigators who do not investigate and enforcers who do not enforce existing codes and Laws. The result was a needless tragedy and a warning that similar tragedies Are possible at any moment in this nation. That a also the Story on Wall Street about the admission by Salomon Brothers inc. That the firm tried to manipulate the worlds largest financial Market a the . Governments vast securities Market that trades More than $2 trillion in Bonds to finance the governments debt. The Salomon Case is certain to induce further Public cynicism about How Public markets work and How they Are policed. It reinforces the belief that the excesses of the 1980s were not an aberration that the problems of the insider world of Michael Milken and Ivan Brocsky continue unchecked. In that respect last week s testimony on Capitol Olill by Salomon Brothers new chairman Warren e. Buffett was what leaders of financial markets should have been saying Long ago. Buffett was refreshingly candid As he apologized for the firms behaviour and pledged to work unceasingly to eliminate ethical lapses. Most impressively he did t limit himself to empty rhetoric about the self policing Power of the marketplace welcoming As he put it a Tough rules and Tough cops and Tough  his message to Salomon employees was no less impressive. A close Money for the firm and i will be understanding a he said. A close a shred of respect for the firm and i will be  an old fashioned idealistic Quality shone through Buffetti a remarks. If All you do is measure yourself by Money he said sooner or later you will get in trouble. It will take similar Strong words backed by deeds from other leaders to close the Gap Between americans problems at Home and Promise abroad. C the Washington pos Leslie h. Gel forcing showdown helps Only foes of peace president Bush stepped in front of the cameras near High noon on thursday and declared political War on Israel. He did it partly because House speaker Tom Foley and the Senate majority Leader George Mitchell winked at the idea. They told Bush they could not otherwise hold Back their troops from opposing him and voting now for loan guarantees to resettle soviet jews in Israel. And he did it partly to pre empt Compromise by Secretary of state James a. Baker Iii in Israel this week. He wants the confrontation and worries that Baker would otherwise pursue a separate Nobel prize Agenda. Above All the president took his Case directly to the american people on thursday and headed toward a showdown for far reaching reasons to break the Back of the israeli lobby in Congress and put himself in the negotiating Catbird seat. From that Perch he will demand that Israel first freeze further settlement activity in the occupied territories and then relinquish these territories to the palestinians in Exchange for peace. I too oppose further jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza strip. I also believe that land for peace is the right goal for the United states and for Israel a but at the end of the bargaining process and Only after an extended series of limited agreements empowering palestinians and giving them a Chance to demonstrate their intent to live in peace with Israel. If that is Bush a policy and i believe it is he is proceeding in an ugly and self defeating Way. It is immoral to tie humanitarian Aid for soviet jews to the political Issue of israeli settlement policy. Every president from Richard Nixon on has Given highest priority to liberating these oppressed people. And they cannot go to Israel which is where the United slates wants them to go without . Financial help. It is a Sham for Bush to say he is Only asking Congress to delay voting on the $10 billion loan guarantee which would Cost . Taxpayers at most several Hundred million Over five years. The fact is he refuses to Promise he will approve the package even in february. The fact is he wants to keep his leverage indefinitely As administration officials admit to compel the Shamir government to Stop new settlement activity. Bush a pique i it understandable. No . President could look kindly on israelis flouting of american concerns on this Issue Given our support for Israel. Few americans can stomach housing minister Ariel Sharon a settlement extravaganzas timed to Embarrass bakery a past visits. Few israelis however can accept the linkage of settlements to humanitarian Aid or a . Demand to Stop new settlements before peace negotiations begin. Bush a threats Are having the opposite of the desired effect in Israel. Instead of weakening the hard liners position the threats Are forcing most israeli politicians to rally around Shamir. Nor can Bush confidently claim that israeli intransigence on this matter will wreck the prospective peace conference. The arabs themselves never made a halt in settlements a precondition for the talks. And no Arab government has yet told Bush otherwise though they May now be inspired to do so. As the president himself acknowledged on thursday it is a a a judgment Call. Nor need Bush sweat about losing his leverage once peace talks Start. Congress will have to appropriate Money annually for five years to Back the full loan guarantee. Lie can work out other deals with legislators eager to avoid an All out fight with a powerful foreign policy president let alone taking blame for a failed peace conference. Nor Given congressional sentiment for resettlement Aid should Bush be eager for a bloody test of strength. The negotiating process itself will give Bush great influence As Well As offer Israel a Chance to bargain for itself. That is the Only proper Way to treat a free and democratic nation like Israel. After talks begin it would not be surprising to see Shamir decide on his own to freeze settlement activity just As Menachem begin did during the Camp David negotiations. Baker wants to explore this and other compromises in Israel if Bush lets him. Otherwise there will be a showdown that will Benefit Only the prophets of hate and enemies of peace. The new York tunes All letters to the editor must contain the full printed name and address of the writer and must be signed. We do not read unsigned letters but we will withhold your name on request and protect your privacy. All letters Are subject to editing