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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JANUARY 15, 1982
PAGE 14
Soviets have questioned the strategy behind denying them grain, then giving
them grain, then denying them something else," he said. "They need some
strong words and need to feel the will behind those words."
Jettison "Ungrateful Europe"?
Influential Americans, on the other hand, while acknowledging past U.S.
failures, especially during the period between 1976 and 1980, are laying
more blame on "neutralism" and "pacifism" in western Europe for the bur
geoning NATO crisis.
These critics express definite isolationist tendencies. According to their
line of reasoning, if America is no longer appreciated for the role it has
played as free Europe's protector for the past 33 years, then Europe should
simply be cut off, with U.S. troops on the continent pulled back home.
Besides, some add, the U.S. needs to challenge the Soviets on the high seas
and reduce land commitments abroad.
For the past two months the editorial page of the opinion-shaping WALL
STREET JOURNAL has rung out with several editorials and opinion pieces on
the need for the United States to rethink its defense commitment to Western
Europe. Irving Kristol, the so-called "dean of nee-conservative journa
lism" wrote in the JOURNAL that "NATO ceased to be a living reality some
years ago" and that "sometime in the not-too-distant future the appropriate
funeral services will be held."
A short time later, a major piece by an American businessman, published on
the JOURNAL'S op-ed page, began bluntly: "The time has come for the U.S.
to sever its ties with NATO." Incredibly the author, Ronald
c.
Nairn, ex
pressed the belief that neither the conquest of Western Europe by the
Soviets (after Arnerican troops have left) nor "Finlandization" of the
continent "would make little strategic difference to the U.S." but would
only "add to Soviet burdens."
The author said that the U.S. should, in effect, turn its back on Europe and
instead look to Asia where "the vast Pacific basin lies at America's other
shore." Compared to the 1.5 billion to 2 billion people of the Pacific
basin, he said, "Europe seems a puny affair."
America's political leaders, too,
--cutting the ties to Europe.
Germany, said recently that "the
the soul of Europe." U.S. troops,
they are not welcome."
are beginning to "think the unthinkable"
Arthur Burns, U.S. ambassador to West
nuclear debate is becoming a battle for
he went on to say, "will not stay here if
Mr. Burns also quoted former Senator Mike Mansfield, now U.S. envoy to
Japan, as having said that America's future lay in the Pacific, not the
Atlantic.
Interestingly enough, Mansfield was the author of the "Mansfield
Amendment," intraduced several times in the U.s. Senate in the early
1970's, calling for American troops to be withdrawn from Europe.
The
Senate rejected the Mansfield Amendment every time.
But now, Senate
majority leader Howard Baker says he is not so sure it would not sail
through.