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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MARCH 9, 1984
proposals to strengthen the WEU.... Set up in 1954 after an
attempt to form an integrated Western European army had col
lapsed, the WEU established the rules for West German rearmament
and created a framework for European military cooperation, though
it was soon overshadowed by NATO. Paris' most controversial pro f
posal is to abolish remaining restr1ct1�on the building o
convenITonal weapons
!:?Y
West Germany--speciflcally, strategic
bombers and long-range, su"'r'Iace-to-surface missiles.
U.S. officials say they welcome the new French willingness to
fight side-by-side with NATO allies to defend West Germany. But
the Paris-Bonn axis and steps to strengthen autonomous European
defense arrangements tend to set Europe apart fram the U.S.
Mitterrand's initiatives thus revive basic tensions between the
Atlanticist concept of NATO and Europeans' urge for independence
--spurred, as usual, by France.
Kissinger, Kristel and Kohl Speak Out
Adding to the chorus of transoceanic complaints is former U.S. Secretary of
State Henry Kissinger. In a specially written five-page article in the
March 5 issue of TIME magazine, Dr. Kissinger outlined the issues in
creasingly dividing the alliance, from a lack of agreed strategy on defense
and East-West issues to relations with the Third World. Part of the pro
blem, he feels, is that the European allies do not have a large enough stake
in the alliance, leading to a position of permanent inferiority.
In his treatise Dr. Kissinger suggested a variety of possible incentive$
for Europe to play a larger role. His principle proposal involved the sug
gestion that the post of Supreme Allied Commander should� to a European,
while that ctSecretary-General be 91 ven to an American after Lord
Carrington retires. Traditionally these roles have been reversed.
Dr. Kissinger also strongly urged that the Europeans considerably add to
their conventional forces so that NATO would, in a crisis, not have to re
sort to nuclear defense too early, thus bringing on the frightening pros
pect of a full "nuclear exchange." This the West Europeans have resisted
doing partly because of the costs involved along with the belief that
Warsaw Pact ground forces will always be superior in number. Aware of this
reluctance, Dr. Kissinger warned:
If Europe by its own decision condemns itself to permanent con
ventional inferiority, we will have no choice but to opt for a
deployment of U.S. forces in Europe that makes strategic and po
litical sense. If nuclear weapons remain the ultimate deterrent
to even conventional attack, a
1
radual withdrawal of a substan
tial portion, perhaps� to hal , of our present ground forces
would be� logical result.
Irving Kristel, the so-called "dean of nee-conservative journalists," added
to the rising decibel level in an article in the February 1984 READER'S
DIGEST, entitled "NATO Needs Shock Treatment." He wrote, bluntly:
The Atlantic alliance, now more than three decades old, is
gradually emptying itself of all meanI'ng.... The only way to keep
NATO from disintegrating may be a radical reconstruction....