March 26, 1975

Need To Keep Both Barrels Cocked

Is it only coincidence that Henry Kissinger's quest for Middle East peace collapsed when Congress - and, presumably, the American people - chickened out of the Vietnam mess?

The communists, who have vowed to bury us and rule the world, have won once again.  The slogan "better red than dead" has taken on a new, and somewhat frightening, validity.

Secretary of State Kissinger lost his composure at the Tel Aviv airport as he wound up 16 days of shuttle-diplomacy that failed to resolve the Israeli-Egyptian impasse.  His voice faltered and tears welled in his eyes as he expressed hope that a renewal of war would not endanger another generation of young people.

Every failure, of course, is balanced with a triumph elsewhere.  In this case it is Yasser Arafat, swaggering leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization terrorists, who exalts over the breakdown of peace negotiations.

Which leads us to a gloomy assessment of U.S. foreign policy which seems to be in utter shambles.

What comes next?

The United Nations mandate to supervise the warring parties on the Golan Heights and in the Sinai Peninsula expires in about a month.  In a similar situation six years ago Egypt kicked out the UN peace keeping forces and attacked Israel.

In the Far East, the South Vietnamese and the Cambodians who wish to remain free are squeezed into two tiny, and apparently hopeless, pockets.  The communists have started to shell civilian refugees on the crowded highways as well as military troops digging in for a last stand.

The U.S. turns its back and mutters that it is none of our business.  President Gerald Ford calls our national attitude "a new wave of isolation."

Will this be the American response if the Arab nations invade Israel once again?  

Will we turn our back while Russia reroutes the Middle East oil pipe-lines to Black Sea ports?

What will we do if the Soviets close the gates in the Berlin Wall?

The Korean War is still on - if you have forgotten.  American troops still face North Koreans at the truce line.  Shall we fight or surrender if the communists move against us?

Fifth columnists (there's another term painful to remember) are disrupting the governments of Thailand, Laos and Burma.

In classic, communist strategy street riots and civil disobedience is the "correct" first step to subversion - as it was in China, Vietnam and Cambodia.  Will we oppose them?

What will we do if the Red Chinese Communists take another bite of India - this time a larger one - or starts to supply the Philippine insurgents in earnest?  Or invades Taiwan?

Marxist communists are within inches of takes over the Bosporus to satisfy her.  Will we steal away from our NATO bases there in the dead of night when the crunch comes?

Having officially condemned Turkey, our conscience will be clear if Russia finally takes over the Bosporus to satisfy her historic ambition for an outlet to the Mediterranean where Soviet ships match NATO vessels one-for-one.

What will we do if Russia revitalizes anti-American elements in Cuba, Chile, Brazil and Argentina in direct defiance of our once firm Monroe Doctrine?

The answer to all these questions would appear to be that we would do nothing!

Perhaps the struggle between liberty and communism is unequal.

The United States is the last strong barrier to authoritarian rule.  Historically we have been an impatient people eager to "progress."

Communists have been taught from the beginning that patience would win.  Keep up the pressure; wait for the "capitalists" - that is, the special interests - to grow tired.

At present, the scales appear to tip in favor of state socialism.

The real test of ideology began after World War and we haven't done to badly, up to this point.  Unlike previous post-war periods, the United States did not dismantle its fighting machine.  For thirty years we maintained a powerful military force and - most importantly - the will to use it.

However, our will falters today.  Decay of our defense establishment will follow as a direct consequence.

Big question: Is this good or bad?

Have we come to the end of the big wars, and thus can relax, or do we tremble on the threshold of the biggest one of all?

The deep desire of Americans to pursue happiness is constitutionally recognized.  But, it comes after life and liberty in a three-degree scale of importance.

Until our adversaries demonstrate they are equally willing to forego the advantages of aggression and terror I prefer to maintain a 24-hour watch with both barrels cocked.

Author: Lindsey Williams