WHEN PROPOSALS ARE MADE TO CHANGE NATO RADICALLY, IT IS SENSIBLE TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION AND TO SCRUTINIZE THE ARGUMENTS THAT BOLSTER THOSE PROPOSALS. THIS ARTICLE PLACES THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF NATO INTO CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE IN THE WIDER CONTEXT THAT MADE IT AN ISSUE. IT THEN FOCUSES ON PARTICULAR ARGUMENTS, NOTING THAT THERE IS NO CONSENSUS AND NO COHERENT CASE FOR NATO EXPANSION ON WHICH ALL OF ITS PRINCIPAL SUPPORTERS AGREE.
OBSERVERS OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY HAVE GIVEN PRESIDENT BUSH HIGH MARKS FOR HIS RELATIVE INACTION WITH REGARDS TO THE CRUMBLING SOVIET EMPIRE, AND FOR HIS SWIFT ACTION IN THE PERSIAN GULF. THIS ARTICLE REASSESSES THESE TWO POLICIES. IT CONCLUDES THAT, AT LEAST UNTIL DISORDER BECOMES WIDESPREAD AND VIOLENT, A POLICY OF INACTION WITH REGARDS TO THE USSR IS PRUDENT. HOWEVER, THE AUTHOR DISAGREES WITH THE DRAMATIC U.S. RESPONSE TO SADDAM HUSSEIN'S AGGRESSION FOR THREE REASONS: THE SWIFTNESS OF THE U.S. DEPLOYMENT AND DIPLOMATIC COMMITMENT TO KUWAIT PRECLUDED ANY SUBSTANTIVE ACTION BY U.S. ALLIES; THE RELIANCE ON THE UN FOR LEGITIMACY, WHILE A GOOD SHORT TERM TACTIC, WILL HAVE DETRIMENTAL CONSEQUENCES FOR THE U.S. IN THE FUTURE; AND THE U.S. RESPONSE HAS BEEN DISPROPORTIONATE TO THE CRIME AND TO THE THREAT.
THE AMERICAN PRESS'S RELEGATION OF SINGAPORE TO A POLICE STATE IS A RESULT OF THREE RELATED ISSUES: THE GOVERNMENT'S DETENTION OF A NUMBER OF PEOPLE FOR SUBVERSION; THE EXPULSION OF AN AMERICAN DIPLOMAT; AND THE RESTRICTION OF FOUR AMERICAN-OWNED PERIODICALS. EACH INVOLVED A CLASH BETWEEN AMERICAN VIEWS OF WHAT DEMOCRATIC RECTITUDE DEMANDS AND SINGAPORE'S IDEAS OF WHAT ITS SECURITY REQUIRES.
THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE HISTORY OF THE LIBERAL IDEA OF A THIRD FORCE, OR THIRD WORLD, SOMEHOW EQUIDISTANT OR NEUTRAL FROM THE SUPERPOWER ENGAGEMENTS ON WORLD POLITICAL SCALE, AND FINDS THE IDEA CONVENIENT BUT UNCONVINCING. INSPITE OF CONTINUED EVENTS WHICH SHAKE BELIEF IN THE IDEA, RECENT ATTRACTION TO DOCTRINES OF MORAL EQUIVALENCE INDICATES THAT THE THIRD FORCE IDEA IS ALIVE AND WELL.
There exists today an immense amount of confusion about internat'l pot. Ends & means are being confused, as seen in the present disarmament controversies in GB. Another technique is to dismiss good arguments because they are capable of being abused, frequently encountered in discussions on colonial issues. Another way of creating a distorted picture of world pot is to anticipate history, as seen in discussions on China &, to a lesser degree, on the emergent states of Asia & Africa. Another device is the use of multi-meaning words, the classic example being 'co-existence.' But the most widely used technique is the use of a double standard in judging the actions of the West & of Communist countries, as can be seen in the diff att's adopted towards the UN & its Charter on diff occasions. The list is not exhaustive or balanced, but the effect of these techniques is muddled thinking, contempt for pot, & the perpetuation of illusions about internat'l pot. These fraudulent techniques amount collectively to a formidable 5th column. IPSA.
