Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 21, 1994 TAG: 9411220029
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DONALD NUECHTERLEIN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In broad strategic terms, the issue is whether the Republican majorities in Congress will push American foreign policy toward a protectionist, more nationalistic view of the world, or continue to support the internationalist policies the country has pursued since 1945.
Some argue that the president, not Congress, sets the foreign-policy agenda, and that Bill Clinton, even though seriously hurt by the recent elections, will make foreign policy during the next two years.
If the White House adopts that view, it would be a mistake, for two reasons:
The new Senate majority leader, Robert Dole, expresses definite ideas about U.S. policy on Bosnia, Haiti and other key issues that do not support Clinton's policy. The new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jesse Helms, has ideas about U.S. policy on Russia, China and foreign aid that are in conflict with Clinton's view.
The American people are not particularly interested in foreign policy and international issues these days, making it difficult for the State Department, the Pentagon and White House to convince Congress that the country needs to be fully engaged in international affairs, including peacekeeping.
Sen. Dole says that American troops should be out of Haiti by Thanksgiving because they have accomplished their mission by restoring President Aristide to power. The White House says it will reduce the troops, but that it would be dangerous to pull them out before order is established in that country and the mission is complete.
Sen. Helms wants to slash foreign-aid spending and severely cut U.S. contributions to the United Nations. The State Department says that would endanger U.S. relations and influence with friendly countries around the world, including Israel and Egypt, the largest recipients of U.S. foreign aid.
Some Republicans call for a review of defense policy in Europe, suggesting that America's contribution to NATO should be substantially reduced as a result of the Soviet Union's demise. Their view, shared by many voters, is that Europeans should provide for their own defense in this new era.
Failure of the NATO allies to agree on a Bosnia policy is a key issue raised by the administration's critics. They believe the Europeans are biased in favor of Bosnia's Serb minority and propose that the Bosnian Muslims should be provided military aid to defend their territory.
Senate Republicans, led by Dole and Helms, will pressure the State Department and White House to be tougher on our NATO allies, even suggesting the United States withdraw most American forces if the Europeans do not take bolder measures to stop the civil war in Bosnia.
Bill Clinton may find Republicans more cooperative in pressing for peace agreements in the Middle East, especially between Israel and its neighbors. They remember that these negotiations were initiated by George Bush and Secretary of State James Baker and have partisan support.
Nevertheless, if Israel's price for withdrawing from the Golan Heights and securing peace with Syria is obtaining an American commitment to station peacekeepers in that area, Helms will no doubt raise questions about the United States guaranteeing peace on the Golan. Without it, Israel probably will not be willing to withdraw.
Is a bipartisan foreign policy possible when Republicans control Congress and a Democrat sits in the White House?
Perhaps not. But one way Bill Clinton could find out is to appoint a prominent Republican as his secretary of state. One Republican moderate with good credentials who would also soften criticism from Congress is Sen. Richard Lugar, currently the No. 2 Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Lugar may not want the job, but his presence at the State Department would give Clinton a good chance to build bridges to Republicans and continue the internationalist policies that he says are important to America.
Donald Nuechterlein of Charlottesville is a political scientist and author of "America Recommitted: U.S. National Interests in a Restructured World."
by CNB