March 30, 1997

Globe Trotting A Nasty Job, But Someone Has To Do It

The Ides of March were a busy time for the Little Caesars of Washington, D.C., globe trotting in quest of new governments to conquer.

President Bill Clinton was in Finland shmoozing Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

Vice-president Al Gore was in China begging favors from Premier Li Ping.

Speaker Newt Gingrich shepherded a ten-member congressional delegation to China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan searching for signs of a U.S. foreign policy.

Even Mrs. Clinton and daughter Chelsea roamed South Africa spreading cheer and warmth.

This not to say the peripatetic wanderers were simply boondoggling. As world leader, the United States needs to show interest and commitment abroad. The world is a dangerous place that we must monitor in our own self interest.

Nonetheless, we need not delude ourselves that such visits should always end with compliance to our wishes.

Uppity nations constantly push the envelope.

The Finland meeting hardly qualified as a "summit," but it was close enough for the moment.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization members are preparing to induct Poland, Czech Republic, and Hungary which were buffer vassals of the old Soviet Union. Yeltsin, prodded by former communist hard-liners, professes to feel isolated.

Yeltsin wants to retain its remaining atomic ballistic missiles in case Europe, China and the former Soviet republics with nuclear capability turn belligerent. Not an unreasonable concern in view of recent history. He promised ratification of the long-dormant Strategic Arms-reduction Treaty II and "progress toward" START III if we would ease up on destruction of nukes for awhile.

It is no secret that the U.S. Defense Department wants to keep its nuclear weapons operative. China has developed a workable warhead but not yet a long-range delivery system.

Chinese rocket scientists and engineers are working hard on this last detail -- with technical assistance bought from Russia. Figure that one out.

Clinton allowed as how we would not press the nuclear problem, and would recommend "eventual" entry of Russia into NATO and the G-7 club of industrial nations. Yeltsin accepted the present slights, not having any alternatives.

All in all, it was a useful day's work for Clinton, even if we have to keep a wary eye on an overabundance of nuclear weapons for awhile longer.

Good Soldier Gore also traded principle for reality in China -- backing down on human rights in return for trade concessions. He asserted, that "a strong consensus in the center of the American political system" supports continued dialogue and engagement with China.

With this back-down, Premier Li Peng uncorked the Champaign and clinked glasses with Gore. This scene undoubtedly will be played back often in the year 2000 if Gore wins the Democratic nomination for president.

In return for admission that the U.S. will ignore human rights, China gave the U.S. a tiny piece of action in the burgeoning Chinese economy. It bought five Boeing jetliners and gave General Motors permission to build a Buick factory in China that will be allowed to produce 100,000 cars a year.

The two deals totaled $2 billion -- a sop for the $40 billion U.S. trade deficit with China.

Chinese officials made it clear that even this pittance may be withdrawn if the U.S. Congress withdraws Clinton's decision to grant China most favored nation trading status.

They want membership in the World Trade Organization, and Gore promised to support the application.

Rep. Richard Gephardt -- Gore's likely rival for the next Democratic presidential nomination -- says he will oppose extending MFN membership for China. He also demands a greater role of Congress in approving the admission of China into the WTO.

It is not quite clear what Gingrich's bi-partisan junket is up to. Mostly the group seems to be assuring Asian allies that it will not allow the Clinton administration to abandon them in favor of China.

The Gingrich fact-finders consist of himself and six other Republicans. They are Representatives John Boehner, Ohio; Mark Foley, Fla.; Bob Livingston, La.; Christopher Cox, Calif.; Ed Royce, Calif.; and Jennifer Dunn, Wash. The Democrats are John Dingell, Mich,; William Jefferson, La.; and Tom Lanton, Calif.

We can expect this truth squad to keep the Clinton administration accountable in upcoming Asian policy debates.

Mrs. Clinton and Chelsea have no apparent political agenda for Africa, but they are racking up touchy-feely points by visiting villages, schools, orphanages and waterfalls. It may seem like a all-expenses-paid vacation to some -- but this is the duty of royalty.

Now, everybody is back home -- ready once more to mind the store. Managing the global village is a nasty job, but someone has to do it.

PARTING SHOTS

Lizzie Borden's Law: "Any job worth doing, is worth doing well."

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While in China, Gore and company visited the famous ceramic soldiers. Photographers had no trouble spotting the vice-president. He was the stiff one.

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Former president George Bush this week fulfilled a wartime wish to parachute for fun. He landed safely in the Arizona desert -- to the satisfaction of all those who told him to "go take a leap" when he was in office.

By Lindsey Williams, columnist for Sun Coast Media Group newspapers