European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 10, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday March 10, 1993 commentary the stars and stripes Page 15bosnia Harry g. Summers a diplomacy by  first used by Veteran Diplomat John Raton Davies to describe americans foreign policy toward China in the 1930s, that phrase fits perfectly . Foreign policy in the Balkans today. Founded on a the moralistic legalistic approach. To International relations then and now a righteous infatuation produced policy by expostulation. A the fatal Defeet of this policy was the familiar one of Over commitment a Davies said in words that Echo across the years. A however strongly the american people Felt. They did not believe their vital interests were threatened. At least not enough so As to make them willing to go to War. To Stop what was happening. A in such circumstances a certain moderation in diplomatic utterance was indicated but Washington a expostulation were immoderate. As such they deceived the american people leading them to inflated expectations of what might be accomplished. Abroad they devalued the Worth of official american pronouncements which came to be regarded As hypocrisy or  a myth of the strategic importance of China was at least explainable. As a result of a nearly three generations of american missionaries the american people developed a religious investment in China. They wanted it  but How to explain this new found a righteous infatuation in the Balkans americans have few religious ties with the Muslim enclaves in Eastern Bosnia whose Affinity is More with the ayatollahs of Iran than with the a great satan in America. And our strategic interests in the Balkans Are zilch. So Why during his Campaign for the presidency last year did Bill Clinton announce a plan for a .-led military Effort to punish the serbian aggressors in Bosnia and Why has he Fol owed through a in a fashion a with the . Airdrop of Retief supplies to the area done to look to the Balkans for the answer. Foreign policy like War is a political act and All politics when it comes Down to it Are Domestic politics. That is where politicians succeed or fail where they get elected of turned out of office. Ana right Here at Home arc the roots of our Balkan involvement. Writing in the feb. 28 Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen traces the beginnings of the a righteous infatuation to the american jewish communities conviction that what is happening in the Balkans today is another holocaust. A the arguments advanced by these jewish organizations Are important for two reasons a Cohen argues a in the first place they represent a constituency of extra Ordi Naty political sagacity Energy and influence a a fact not missed by it Futon. A second a and More important a if these organizations Are right then the United states and its Western european allies really have pursued a morally vacuous and supine policy. For once the labels a genocide or a holocaust Are at Trachea. Then human beings with an ounce of morality have an obligation to intercede. Never again is not a Mere slogan. It is a solemn obligation. But what if it s not True a my own assessment re examined almost daily a says Cohen who has visited Bosnia and Croatia recently a is that for All the horror of Bosnia no holocaust is taking place and the bosnian muslims Are not the contemporary equivalents of Europe a nazi Era  As Cohen concludes a a it a historic to compare Serbia a no threat to Europe incidentally a to nazi Germany. Such references. Exaggerate the problem and inject emotional terms into the debate. If the United states and the West Are going to intervene the decision has to be based on the realistic appraisal of the situation. Not a pathetically tardy response to nazism. History has moved on and if it indeed does repeat itself there a More reason to think that in Bosnia it will come Back not As the holocaust but As  but there a More to it than that. In the 1930s, says Davies a a Washington a Posa temptation of the japanese was to Call that drops from 10,000 feet will spread the Turing was exposed As Bluff whereas the rotation of a a a a the  it was a path that  rally to Pearl Harbor. In the 1980s we did it again putting marines ashore in Lebanon As an ineffectual a peacekeeping  again it was obviously a Bluff a Bluff called with the bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut. Now we Are doing it yet again. The . Airdrop of Relief supplies into Eastern Bosnia is yet another Case of american posturing. Making a virtue out of the fact. Supplies to the serbs As Well As the bosnian is hardly the Way to show . Backbone and resolve to Serbia. Rather than a sign of . Strength and resolve it is a pathetic display of . Usilla Nimitz. As in the past instead of deterring aggression it is much More Likely to encourage it. The bombing of the world Trade Center in new York May be just the beginning. C lot Angolete time fed up citizens ready to put Silencer on Era americans threw off the tyranny of George Iii. The tyranny of the Era is proving a Little harder to shake but there arc encouraging signs. If you sense an Edge of hysteria creeping into the rantings of the National Rifle association it is because this once most mighty of lobbies is beginning to suffer some heretofore unthinkable losses. It fears a accurately if the rest of us Are Lucky a that the tide is turning against it. Of the Era is still winning some but often at the Cost of a widening Public revulsion. Look at Arizona. A number of cities there enacted ordinances that say children must have written permission from their parents to carry guns. Seems reasonable to most folks but the Era is pushing for a substitute state Law that would wipe out the local Laws and although sounding similar to them is As much loophole As substance. And look what it has done in Georgia. The Era had tolerated Laws in other states that hold parents criminally accountable if their youngsters shoot someone Witt a gun left carelessly around the House but the lobby apparently has now thought better of that. It activated its moles in the Georgia legislature to quash a similar proposal this year. An Era lobbyist now says such Laws should cover razor Blades valium and car keys too. Yes he really said that it was just such weird notions just such a fixation to use the presidents term that Bill Clinton recently deplored in the Era. Increasingly political leaders Are willing to stand up Tom Teepen to the incessant bullying of the Era. Clinton has urged Congress to enact the Brady Bill which would establish a seven Day waiting period for the Purchase of handguns. And Virginia gov l. Douglas Wilder and the states legislature recently faced Down the Era to enact a Law that limits buyers to one handgun Purchase a month unless they get formal permission from the state police to buy More. The Era sent in its big Money and full time lobbyists a at one Point even characterizing the Issue As a potential a armageddon Quot a but the Bill was supported by every Virginia Law enforcement organization and every newspaper. Appalled by rising gun violence in Virginia and by the states reputation As the armorer of the Eastern Seaboard a criminal classes the Public finally said  a a pattern seems to be taking shape. The Era losing out with the Public must rely Ever More on its kept politicians to continue preventing the introduction of what Clinton called a some safety and some rationality into firearms policy and Law in new Jersey for instance the Era piggybacked on an anti tax wave last year and shovelled $250,000 to Republican legislative candidates who Are now dutifully trying to overturn the states ban on semiautomatic assault weapons the repeal May succeed but if it does it is questionable How Many new Jersey residents will be grateful to the Era for the return of assault weapons to their stores. A fed up citizenry May take a while to throw out entrenched influence but in a democracy the eventual outcome is not in doubt. You could ask George Iii. A c Cox nows service a people Are Settem so fussy Amirr Wantla to keep of imm