European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 25, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday october 25. 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 13commentary Steven Komarow Public image of . Congress sinking fast pummelled by rubber checks unpaid restaurant tabs and the Clarence Thomas Anita Hill Battle Congress regard has fallen so Low that some members might head Home if it weren to for their $125,100 paychecks. A you would have thought i had just been accused of a criminal act a said sen. David Boren d-okla., recounting the stares he received last week when an airline passenger identified him As a member of Congress. Boren and other lawmakers done to need poll numbers to Tell them its time for a Little self examination. When a House freshman put a bag Over his head last month few colleagues laughed. But self examination does no to come naturally to members of Congress. What they do instead is blame the process or the staff or negative campaigning for surveys showing that americans overwhelmingly disapprove of their National legislature. A people blame the institution instead of blaming the people in it said rep. Mike Parker a miss. Those on Capitol Hill who Are looking to turn the tide seem to agree that if Congress did More Good the american people would be More inclined to Overlook the bad. A the american people would not care a bit about floated checks. Or the tabs Down in the restaurant. If they thought we really represented their interests across this country Quot said rep. Robert Dornan a Calif. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen a Texas has seized the moment to propose a list of changes in the Senate s rules to make the institution More efficient a and has proposed a major tax break for the Middle class. A Host of others from both parties have focused More narrowly on stopping leaks of sensitive information such As Hills tale of sexual harassment by then supreme court nominee Clarence Thomas. The Senate a Public image would be in better shape had its judiciary committee succeeded in its plan to keep her charges from Public View. All these proposals and others might make Good sense within the confines of the Capitol but there s no evidence the Public is going to be satisfied. And although beating up on Congress has been a National sport since the beginning of the Republic this time its different. The voters Are toying with a weapon that could punish Congress As a whole not just the rascals limits on terms. A one of these Days and its not going to be tar off the american people in utter frustration Are going to say those people Are never going to Reform themselves a Boren said. And they will a turn to the Radical to tits the no it we solutions of term limitations to do  de Mahe a Republican consultant who is a Leader in the term limit movement said the time has come. A what could they lawmakers do to Start resurrecting themselves pass the amendment next year and Send it to the states Quot he said. If Congress goes along now the Public might accept 12-year limits instead of the even Shorter terms some have proposed he suggested. The White House according to published reports is gleefully planning to exploit the situation As it Heads toward next years elections. But if Bush a re election Campaign turns into a Campaign against Congress hell have plenty of company. One democratic aide estimated that it percent of democrats run Anli Congress campaigns every time and its a Safe bet that Congress answer to its current problems will be to beat up on Itsell even More but some worry that it can go too far especially when lawmakers themselves take part. A the institution itself is important a said Parker. Representative democracy is at the Core of the Constitution he said and a if people destroy the belief in the institution then we be gotten to the  c the associated Pross Leslie h. Gelb ., Europe profit More from Strong nato Germany and France presented their allies with an unexpected and intriguing proposition last week. Either it Means something or nothing. Whichever it will have far reaching repercussions for the future of nato West european Unity and America s voice in Europe. The French German idea is to enlarge their existing joint military brigade As a step toward creating a separate West european army. They propose to House this Force under an energized Western european Union comprised of nine members of the 12-member european Community. Most importantly the Western european Union would report to the . And not to nato where american Power holds Sway. If this diplomatic verbiage is real it would boost efforts for a United Western Europe with a common foreign and defense policy a and would be the beginning of a premature end for nato. If this is the usual european Security blather nato and the . Will continue to Lead in Europe a and full West european integration including defense will be put off further into the future. Faceless institutions Are Boring. But nato like Many represents the most profound Power. Which is Why president Mitterrand of France Chancellor Kohl of Germany and president Bush have told their diplomats to Wink at the French German initiative and avoid frontal assaults a for now. Paris As always wants to reduce american influence in Europe. Bonn does not. But As germans push for West euro Ean Unity it will have the effect desired y the French. In any event both insist that their initiative is fully in keeping with agreed nato declarations on developing a european Security identity. Moreover both say it is essential for West european integration. They argue that they cannot reach Complete economic Unity without political Unity and that political Unity requires an Independent european defense posture. Besides both see an inevitable decreasing american presence in Europe with the passing of the cold War and therefore less of a Security role for nato As Well. The . Has always supported the drive toward West european Unity but maintains that it can and must proceed without any diminution in natos role and authority. Washington says nato policy Calls for a West european military identity Midway Between nato and the european Community not one attached to Europe alone. Otherwise . Power will be diminished in Europe far too soon something no one wants a not West or East europeans not soviet republics not anyone save Paris. Bush administration officials believe France is isolated. They also expect the germans As is their pattern to Start backpedal ing on the military proposal As soon As they see the reaction on the continent. Meantime the administration knows it can count on the British to slash away at the French German proposal so no need to haul out american guns. No one is More devoted to nato and the . Than London and no one less eager for full West european Unity. Stripping aside the diplomatic niceties the Issue comes Down to this the French and some germans believe a uniting West Europe must establish a stronger Security identity a even at the expense of nato and the . The . Believes it is essential to preserve a dominant role for nato and the . Until Europe is genuinely prepared to step m a even with risks for West european Unity. Washington has the much stronger Case for reasons the French and others prefer to ignore. Europe is not ready for a diminished nato. Despite its rhetoric France will not abandon its Independent military identity. Tellingly europeans could not gel their act together to Stop the fighting in Yugoslavia. Most importantly everyone fears a Power vacuum that can be filled Only by Germany however reluctant germans May be. And when All the dust settles in the East the soviet Union or Russia or several of the largest republics will still have significant military Power. Even if All turn out to be benign Europe will not wish to rely on their Good will. For soviet republics for Ger mans and for All nato remains the Only group on the horizon that can keep the door closed to renewed militarism and Saber rattling. Only with a Strong nato can europeans and americans have the quiet to concentrate on solving their other growing woes. C  York t.mi-,