CONGRESSIONAL INTERVENTION IN FOREIGN POLICY
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP87M00539R002203530057-2
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
K
Document Page Count:
20
Document Creation Date:
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date:
September 17, 2009
Sequence Number:
57
Case Number:
Publication Date:
May 17, 1985
Content Type:
REPORT
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STAT
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"CONGRESSIONAL INTERVENTION IN FOREIGN POLICY"
(R-ILL. )
MAY 17, 1985
TO THE ANNUAL JUDICIAL CONFERENCE OF THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT
WASHINGTON HILTON
WASHINGTON, D.C.
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THEODORE WHITE HAS SAID THAT THE PROBLEMS OF SOCIETY CAN
BE PLACED WITHIN THREE CATEGORIES: WAR & PEACE, BLACK &
WHITE, AND BREAD & BUTTER. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT OUR COUNTRY'S
GROWING PROBLEM OF IMMIGRATION DOESN'T FIT VERY NEATLY INTO
MR. WHITE'S LIST, AND BELIEVE ME, THIS PROBLEM HAS EXPLOSIVE
POTENTIAL.
WHILE IMMIGRATION HAS ALWAYS FUELED THIS COUNTRY WITH
DIVERSITY AND VITALITY, AND WHILE AMERICA IS AND OUGHT TO BE
A HAVEN FOR THOSE FLEEING OPPRESSION, WE HAVE ALWAYS EXERCISED
CONTROL OVER OUR BORDERS -- UNTIL RECENTLY. MOST AMERICANS
DON'T REALIZE THAT 270,000 PEOPLE IMMIGRATE LEGALLY TO THE
U.S. EVERY YEAR. ANOTHER 190,000 RELATIVES OF CITIZENS
LEGALLY ENTER, PLUS ABOUT 70,000 REFUGEES FLEEING POLITICAL
PERSECUTION AND ANOTHER 5,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE GRANTED ASYLUM
EVERY YEAR. NOW ADD TO THESE NUMBERS, HOW MANY ILLEGAL ALIENS
EACH YEAR? HALF A MILLION? A MILLION? NOBODY KNOWS, BUT IT
IS A FORMIDABLE NUMBER. HOW LONG CAN WE ACCEPT SUCH NUMBERS
WITHOUT SERIOUS IMPACT ON OUR RELATIVELY INTEGRATED, MOBILE
SOCIETY?
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UNABATED, WITH ITS INTENSIFYING DEMAND FOR BILINGUALISM, IT
WILL SOON BE ACCOMPANIED BY DEEP POLITICAL DIVISIONS AMONG
THOSE ALREADY HERE, WE CAN THEN EXPECT THE EROSION OF PUBLIC
SUPPORT FOR ANY IMMIGRATION AT ALL.
WE THOUGHT WE HAD THE PROBLEMS SOLVED LAST YEAR WITH A
LEGISLATIVE TRADE-OFF OF AMNESTY FOR A LARGE GROUPS OF
ILLEGALS IN EXCHANGE FOR IMPOSING CRIMINAL SANCTIONS ON
EMPLOYERS WHO MAKE A PRACTICE OF HIRING ILLEGAL ALIENS. BUT
THE PROPOSAL FOUNDERED ON THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT
THAT THE STATES MOST SERIOUSLY IMPACTED BY THIS AMNESTY WOULD
REQUIRE. A LARGE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL ALIENS WOULD BE EXPECTED
TO COME OUT OF THE CLOSET NOW THAT THEY HAD LEGAL STATUS,
AND THE ADDED WELFARE AND SOCIAL SERVICE COSTS COULD NOT BE
EVEN REMOTELY PREDICATED.
CALIFORNIA, FOR ONE STATE, DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE
CHANCE WITHOUT A REASONABLE CHANGE OF FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT.
ONE BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY WAS THE BEST THE
ADMINISTRATION WOULD OFFER, AND SO THE WHOLE LEGISLATIVE
ENTERPRISE JUST SHUT DOWN. WE'RE TRYING TO REVIVE IT, BUT
THE PROBLEMS REMAIN AND THE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS STILL ELUDE
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THE PROBLEM IMMIGRATION IS IMMEDIATELY LINKED WITH IS
FOREIGN POLICY -- PARTICULARLY IN CENTRAL AMERICA. OUR NEW
AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, VERNON WALTERS HAS CALLED
CUBA THE BIGGEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD: ITS GOVERNMENT IS IN
HAVANA, BUT ITS ADMINISTRATION IS IN MOSCOW, ITS ARMY IS IN
ANGOLA, AND ITS POPULATION IS IN MIAMI!
COMMUNIST NATIONS DON'T PRODUCE VERY MUCH FOR EXPORT
-- BUT THEY DO MANUFACTURE REFUGEES BETTER THAN ANYBODY IN THE
WORLD, AND IF CENTRAL AMERICA GOES COMMUNIST, WE CAN EXPECT
A TIDAL WAVE OF REFUGEES FROM SOUTH OF TEXAS -- AND THEY
WON'T BE BOAT PEOPLE EITHER. THERE ARE 100 MILLION PEOPLE
FROM THE RIO GRANDE TO THE PANAMANIAN BORDER -- TEN PERCENT
IS THE RULE OF THUMB WHEN IT COMES TO REFUGEES FLEEING COMMUNISM.
IN 1956, OVER A MILLION PEOPLE FLED NORTH VIETNAM AND HEADED
SOUTH, IN THE EARLY 1960s, OVER A MILLION FLED CUBA -- AND THEY
NEEDED BOATS -- SO WE CAN EXPECT LITERALLY MILLIONS OF REFUGEES
HEADED NORTH TOWARDS TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA. IF THIS EVER HAPPENS
ONE OF THE IMPORTANT GOALS OF SOVIET FOREIGN POLICY WILL BE
ACCOMPLISHED - THE DIVERSION OF OUR RESOURCES AND ATTENTION
FROM THE MIDDLE EAST AND NATO, AND WITH ALMOST EXCLUSIVE
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Vl\l,Ll\11\f111V1\ Vl\ uuA 6W1Y lmfll J["Il L'KL' . IN16 Kr.AL1IY HASN'T YET
DAWNED ON THOSE WHO DEPRECATE OUR POLICY TOWARDS NICARAGUA --
BUT THEN THEY DIDN'T APPROVE OF GRENADA EITHER.
AN INTERESTING QUIRK OF HUMAN NATURE IS OUR PENCHANT FOR
JUDGING OTHERS BY OUR OWN STANDARDS AND VALUES. THIS IS
CALLED "MIRROR IMAGING." AMERICANS BY NATURE ARE TRUSTING
PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO BELIEVE OTHER PEOPLE ALWAYS MEAN WHAT THEY
SAY. UNFORTUNATELY, MODERN HIS'T'ORY BURGEONS WITH INSTANCES
OF COMMUNIST NATIONS REWARDING THIS TRUST WITH TREACHERY,
MUCH TO THE SORROW AND SUFFERING OF THOSE NUMBERLESS VICTIMS
CAUGHT IN THE POLITICAL. CROSSFIRE.
FOR EXAMPLE, AVERILL HARRIMAN, WHILE SERVING AS OUR
AMBASSADOR TO MOSCOW DURING WORLD WAR 11, CABLED WASHINGTON
ON AUGUST 1, 1944, TO REPORT A CONVERSATION THAT HE HAD HAD
WITH STANISLAW MIKOLAJCZYK, TILE THEN POLISH PRIME MINISTER,
ABOUT SOVIET PLANS FOR POLAND. "IN SOME DETAIL," HARRIMAN
SAID, "I EXPLAINED TO HIM THE EVIDENCE THAT SATISFIED ME THAT
THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT HAD NO INTENTION OF COMMUNIZING
POLAND," THAT ANALYSIS HELPS EXPLAIN WHY THE UNITED STATES
MADE SOME OF THE MISTAKES IT DID IN EUROPE DURING THE 1940'S.
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NOW HARDLY A DAY GOES BY WITHOUT SOME GRAPHIC REMINDER OF
THE ON-GOING TRAGEDY OF A COMMUNIZED POLAND.
SOME YEARS LATER, A CHARISMATIC GUERRILLA LEADER MARCHED
INTO HAVANA AND WAS CELEBRATED BY THE AMERICAN MEDIA AS THE
GEORGE WASHINGTON OF CUBA. WE EVENTUALLY REALIZED WHAT
FIDEL CASTRO STOOD FOR, BUT BY THEN IT WAS AGAIN TOO LATE.
IN 1973 HENRY KISSINGER RETURNED FROM PARIS WITH A PEACE
TREATY SIGNED BY THE NORTH VIETNAMESE. MOST AMERICANS
BREATHED A SIGH OF RELIEF. TWO YEARS LATER, SAIGON FELL WITH
DESPERATE AMERICANS ANXIOUSLY AIRLIFTED FROM OUR EMBASSY
ROOFTOP, LEAVING BEHIND THE OUT-STRETCHED HANDS OF ABANDONED
VIETNAMESE WHOSE FATAL MISTAKE WAS TO TRUST US. I DOUBT
HOWEVER MR. KISSINGER UNDERTOOK THOSE TREATY NEGOTIATIONS AS
TRUSTINGLY AS IT MIGHT APPEAR, BECAUSE IN HIS BOOK WHITE
HOUSE YEARS HE TEACHES A LESSON THAT EVERY DIPLOMAT,
EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND EVERY AMERICAN NEEDS TO LEARN.
KISSINGER WRITES: "FROM LENIN TO STALIN. . .TO BREZHNEV AND
WHOEVER SUCCEEDS HIM, SOVIET LEADERS HAVE BEEN PARTLY
MOTIVATED BY A SELF PROCLAIMED INSIGHT INTO THE FORCES OF
HISTORY AND BY A CONVICTION THAT THEIR CAUSE IS THE CAUSE OF
HISTORICAL INEVITABILITY. THEIR IDEOLOGY TEACHES THAT THE
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CLASS STRUGGLE AND ECONOMIC DETERMINISM MAKE REVOLUTIONARY
UPHEAVAL INEVITABLE. THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FORCES OF
REVOLUTION AND COUNTER-REVOLUTION IS IRRECONCILABLE. TO THE
INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACIES PEACE APPEARS AS A NATURALLY ATTAIN-
ABLE CONDITION, IT IS THE COMPOSITION OF DIFFERENCES, THE
ABSENCE OF STRUGGLE. TO THE SOVIET LEADERS, BY CONTRAST,
STRUGGLE IS ENDED NOT BY COMPROMISE BUT BY THE VICTORY OF ONE
SIDE. PERMANENT PEACE, ACCORDING TO COMMUNIST THEORY CAN BE
ACHIEVED ONLY BY ABOLISHING THE CLASS STRUGGLE, AND THE CLASS
STRUGGLE CAN BE ENDED ONLY BY A COMMUNIST VICTORY."
DESPITE A DREARY RECORD OF COMMUNIST BETRAYAL,
JIMMY CARTER DECLARED DURING A MAY 22, 1977 PRESIDENTIAL
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AT NOTRE DAME THAT "...WE ARE NOW FREE OF
THAT INORDINATE FEAR OF COMMUNISM." IT TOOK THE BRUTAL
SOVIET INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN TO CHANGE HIS MIND IN LATE
1979 WHEN HE TOLD THE LATE FRANK REYNOLDS OF ABC-TV'S WORLD NEWS
TONIGHT BROADCAST TEAM THAT "...THIS ACTION OF THE SOVIETS
HAS MADE A MORE DRAMATIC CHANGE IN MY OWN OPINION OF WHAT THE
SOVIETS' ULTIMATE GOALS ARE THAN ANYTHING THEY'VE DONE IN THE
PREVIOUS TIME I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE." A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ON-
THE-JOB TRAINING IS TO BE EXPECTED OF ANY PRESIDENT DURING
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HIS FIRST TERM, BUT IT OUGHT NOT TO INVOLVE SUCH A FUNDAMENTAL
ISSUE AS THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE SOVIET THREAT TO FREEDOM.
NEARLY SIX YEARS AGO A BAND OF SEEMINGLY PATRIOTIC
SANDINISTA REVOLUTIONARIES OVERTHREW THE SOMOZA DICTATORSHIP
IN NICARAGUA AND PROMISED THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
THAT THEY WOULD HOLD FREE ELECTIONS AND ESTABLISH A
DEMOCRATICALLY PLURALISTIC SOCIETY.
PROVING THAT HOPE USUALLY TRIUMPHS OVER COMMON SENSE, A
MAJORITY OF MY COLLEAGUES VOTED IN 1979 FOR MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OF ASSISTANCE TO HELP THE SANDINISTAS IMPLEMENT THEIR
REVOLUTION. I WAS ONE WHO JOINED IN THAT HOPE WITH MY VOTE.
MY LEARNING PERIOD WAS ACCELLERATED IN THE FEW MONTHS
FOLLOWING THAT VOTE. SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE STILL HOPING
-- A HOPE THAT EVENTS OUGHT TO HAVE DASHED A LONG TIME AGO.
HISTORY INDEED DOES REPEAT ITSELF AND OUR TRUST AND STARRY
EYED IDEALISM HAS BEEN EXPLOITED TIME AND TIME AGAIN. SO FAR
WE HAVE SURVIVED OUR BLUNDERS. NOT SO, SOME OF OUR ALLIES.
HOW MANY MORE MISJUDGMENTS WE WILL BE PERMITTED WITHOUT
MORTALLY WOUNDING FREEDOM IS A QUESTION I HOPE NEVER HAS TO
BE ANSWERED.
WITH THE RAPID ADVANCEMENT OF WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY, AND
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ALL THIS IMPLIES, A SERIOUS SAFETY FACTOR HAS BEEN LOST, AND
THIS IS THE "MARGIN FOR ERROR." IN 1941 WE HAD TIME TO GEAR
UP THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, ONLY THEN WE CALLED IT
THE ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY. I CAN RECALL SEEING VOLUNTEERS
DRILLING IN CHICAGO'S GRANT PARK WITH BROOM HANDLES FOR
RIFLES. THE LUXURY OF TIME CAN NO LONGER BE COUNTED ON.
ALL THE MORE REASON THEN, WHY A CLEARLY DEFINED AND
EFFECTIVE FOREIGN POLICY -- ONE THAT CAN ANTICIPATE THE
TWISTS AND TURNS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - A POLICY THAT
CAN INFLUENCE EVENTS, NOT MERELY REACT TO THEM, IS
INCREASINGLY ESSENTIAL IN A DANGEROUS WORLD.
TRADITIONALLY AND CONSTITUTIONALLY THE CONDUCT OF
FOREIGN POLICY IS A FUNCTION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE. SINCE
CONGRESS CONTROLS THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, ITS ULTIMATE
CONTROL OVER EVERYTHING THAT COSTS MONEY IS CLEAR. HOWEVER,
SINCE VIETNAM, CONGRESS HAS DEVELOPED AN ENTHUSIASM FOR MICRO-
MANAGING FOREIGN POLICY THAT IS INHERENTLY COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE.
A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS IMPOSED THE WAR POWERS ACT ON A
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT, AND ONE CAN ARGUE BOTH SIDES OF THIS
CONTROVERSY IN AN AGE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. A SIGNIFICANT
ISSUE TODAY IS WHETHER THAT ACT IS CONSTITUTIONAL AND SINCE
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WE'LL NEVER KNOW UNLESS THERE IS A CASE OR CONTROVERSY BEFORE
THE COURT -- THIS PRESENTS A VERY MURKY AREA FOR BOTH THE
PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS. THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION HAS NOT
INHIBITED CONGRESS FROM SEEKING TO LIMIT THE PRESIDENT'S
AUTHORITY AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF. WE ARE NOW DEALING WITH THE
SO CALLED FOLEY AMENDMENT WHICH BARS THE USE OF AMERICAN
TROOPS "IN AND ABOVE NICARAGUA" UNLESS WE ARE DIRECTLY
ATTACKED. THUS DO WE BECOME ENFORCERS OF THE BREZHNEV
DOCTRINE DE JURE AS WELL AS DE FACTO.
BUT CONGRESS ALSO HAS MANDATED A LONG SERIES OF DUTIES
ON THE PRESIDENT, INCLUDING CERTIFICATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS
REPORTS ON EVERY OTHER STATE IN THE WORLD, INTELLIGENCE
OVERSIGHT (CONSISTING OF SEPARATE HOUSE AND SENATE
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES, EACH WITH APPROPRIATE STAFF) WHICH
IN PRACTICE BECOMES FAR MORE THAN MERE OVERSIGHT, AND IS BI-
PARTISAN ON SOME MATTERS AND EXTREMELY PARTISAN ON OTHERS,
LIKE NICARAGUA; RESTRICTIONS ON THE SALE OF MILITARY
EQUIPMENT AND A HOST OF OTHER INTRUSIONS -- SOME USEFUL, SOME
NOT. ONE CLEAR RESULT IS A LACK OF SECRECY WHERE SOMETIMES
SECRECY IS ESSENTIAL AND A LACK OF FLEXIBILITY AND ABILITY TO
PROMPTLY RESPOND.
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WHILE WE ARE ON THE SUBJECT OF INTELLIGENCE LET ME
COMMENT THAT SOME SENSE OF REALISM IS MISSING FROM THE BLIZZARD OF
CRITICISM CONSISTENTLY HEAPED ON THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY. I AM NuT UNCRITICAL OF SOME EGREGIOUS MISTAKES THE
AGENCY HAS MADE, BUT "GOING PUBLIC" ON EVERY ONE MAY GET A
POLITICIANS NAME IN THE NEWSPAPER BUT THE LOSS OF CONFIDENCE
IN AN ESSENTIAL AGENCY CAN SOMETIMES BE A VERY HIGH PRICE TO
PAY. FOR EXAMPLE, JUST CONSIDER THE ENORMOUS DIFFICULTY
FACING THE CIA IN LEBANON, WHERE THE ONLY WAY TO EFFECTIVELY
ANTICIPATE AND DEAL WITH RAMPANT TERRORISM IS TO PENETRATE
SOME OF THESE GROUPS. THIS REQUIRES PEOPLE WILLING TO RISK
THEIR LIVES AND WHO ARE ASSIMILABLE INTO THESE TERRORIST
GROUPS. I CAN ASSURE YOU CLARK KENT OR EVEN ADMIRAL
STANSFIELD TURNER WOULDN'T MAKE IT PAST THE FRONT DOOR! YOU
WORK WITH WHO AND WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.
FROM OUR SAFE AND SECURE WASHINGTON OFFICES IT IS MIGHTY EASY
TO THROW STONES -- ITS NOT SO EASY TO CATCH THEM.
ONE VITAL INGREDIENT OF AN EFFECTIVE FOREIGN POLICY HAS
BEEN MISSING FROM OUR POLITICS FOR ABOUT TWENTY YEARS -- AND
THAT IS BI-PARTISANSHIP. IF ITS YOUR ADMINISTRATION YOU
DEPLORE THE SNIPING AND CARPING OF WHAT YOU LAUGHINGLY CALL
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THE "LOYAL OPPOSITION"! BUT IF ITS NOT YOUR ADMINISTRATION
YOU INSIST THAT YOUR INCESSANT BARRAGE OF CRITICISM IS ONLY
"DEMOCRACY IN ACTION", AND BESIDES, IT IS CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM
ANYWAY!
BUT THE FACT IS THAT SINCE VIETNAM AND WATERGATE, THERE
HAS BEEN A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE IN THE OFFICE OF THE
PRESIDENT THAT HAS BEEN DOWNRIGHT HARMFUL TO OUR NATIONAL
INTERESTS.
OUR CONGRESS IS PEOPLED BY MANY MEMBERS WHOSE HISTORICAL
PERSPECTIVE BEGAN AT VIETNAM AND THEN SHUT OFF SHORTLY
THEREAFTER. THESE MEMBERS RAN ON ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT
PLATFORMS AND IT BECAME A PART OF THE CULTURE TO QUESTION
AUTHORITY -- ESPECIALLY PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY.
WITH THE PROLIFERATION OF STAFF, EVERY CONGRESSMAN
DEVELOPED THE CAPACITY TO RUN HIS OFFICE AS A MINI-STATE
DEPARTMENT AND SOME OF THEM DO JUST THAT. FOR EXAMPLE, MAY
16TH'S WASHINGTON POST REPORTS THAT AFTER CONGRESS DEFEATED
ALL AID TO THE CONTRAS THE OTHER DAY, REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL
BARNES (D-MD), CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE
WESTERN HEMISPHERE SET UP A MEETING IN HIS OFFICE WITH THE
NICARAGUAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES. IN HIS OP-ED
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COLUMN, PHILIP GEYELIN SAID: "BARNES LAID DOWN THREE DEMANDS:
LIFT CENSORSHIP; GRANT ROBELO AND ANOTHER CONTRA LEADER,
ARTURO CRUZ, SAFE PASSAGE BACK TO NICARAGUA AND THE RIGHT TO
STATE THEIR CASE; ANNOUNCE A READINESS TO NEGOTIATE REGIONAL
SAFEGUARDS WITH THE SO-CALLED CONTADORA GROUP. THE
AMBASSADOR WOULD SEE WHAT HE COULD DO." HEADY STUFF FOR ONE
CONGRESSMAN!
I SUPPOSE THE CLASSIC CASE OF FANTASIZING ONESELF AS
SECRETARY OF STATE OCCURRED MARCH 20, 1984 WHEN 10 OF THE
MOST PRESTIGIOUS DEMOCRAT CONGRESSMAN WROTE DANIEL ORTEGA
THEIR FAMOUS "DEAR COMMANDANTE" LETTER. SIGNATORIES INCLUDED
MAJORITY LEADER JIM WRIGHT, THE AFORESAID MR. BARNES, THE
DEPUTY WHIP BILL ALEXANDER, THE THEN CHAIRMAN OF THE
PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE, EDWARD BOLAND, THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS,
THE WELL-TRAVELED STEPHEN SOLARZ, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST (AND PRESENT
CHAIRMAN OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE) LEE HAMILTON AND FOUR
OTHERS. IN THIS HISTORIC LETTER TO THIS MARXIST-LENINIST
HEAD OF STATE THEY SAID: "WE HAVE BEEN, AND REMAIN, OPPOSED
TO U.S. SUPPORT FOR MILITARY ACTION DIRECTED AGAINST THE
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PEOPLE OR GOVERNMENT OF NICARAGUA." AFTER COMMENDING THE
COMMANDANTE FOR "TAKING STEPS TO OPEN UP THE POLITICAL
PROCESS IN YOUR COUNTRY" (SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE THE
EDITORS OF LA PRENSA, THE HEAVILY CENSORED DAILY PAPER IN
MANAGUA) AND URGING FURTHER LIBERALIZATIONS, THEY THEN
"PLEDGE OUR WILLINGNESS TO DISCUSS THESE OR OTHER MATTERS OF
CONCERN WITH YOU OR OFFICIALS OF YOUR GOVERNMENT AT ANY
TIME."
AS WE GRAPPLE WITH THE BUDGET, IT SEEMS WE REALLY DON'T
NEED OUR EXPENSIVE STATE DEPARTMENT; ALL WE NEED TO DO IS LET
ALL 535 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS KEEP THEIR HANDS ON THE WHEEL OF
THE SHIP OF STATE AND "AWAY WE GO!"
LEST YOU THINK THE "DEAR COMMANDANTE" LETTER WAS AN
ABBERATION, PLEASE RECALL THAT ON JANUARY 11, 1985, 13
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS LED BY RON DELLUMS OF CALIFORNIA, TED
WEISS OF NEW YORK, PAT SCHROEDER OF COLORADO, WILLIAM GRAY OF
PENNNSYLVANIA (CHAIRMAN OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE) WROTE PRIME
MINISTER WILFRIED MARTINS OF BELGIUM COMMENDING HIM ON HIS
GOVERNMENT'S DELAY IN ITS INITIAL DEPLOYMENT OF CRUISE
MISSILES AND ASKING THAT HE SERIOUSLY CONSIDER FORMALLY
EXTENDING THIS PAUSE! THEY ALSO SAID THEY EXPECTED THE PRIME
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MINISTER TO ASK THE SOVIET UNION FOR A "SIMILAR DEMONSTRATION
OF RESPONSIBLE RESTRAINT CONCERNING THE FURTHER DEPLOYMENT OF
THEIR THEATER NUCLEAR WEAPONS..." THE KEY WORDS IN THIS
LETTER ARE "INITIAL DEPLOYMENT" AS IT APPLIES TO BELGIUM, AND
"FURTHER DEPLOYMENT" AS IT APPLIES TO THE SOVIET UNION. BY
THAT TIME THE SOVIET HAD 350 SS 20'S IN PLACE, BELGIUM HAD
NONE -- SO GUESS WHO THIS PROPOSED PAUSE FAVORED!
BUT THE MERITS OF THE LETTER AREN'T THE POINT -- THE
LETTER ITSELF IS ENOUGH. EVANS AND NOVAK REPORT ON APRIL 15,
1985 THAT TWO DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMEN FLEW TO NICARAGUA AS
ORTEGA WAS IN MOSCOW, AND ACCORDING TO DIPLOMATIC CABLES THEY
WERE SEEKING HELP FROM THE SANDINISTAS IN CALMING THE
"CONGRESSIONAL UPROAR" OVER ORTEGA'S TELL-TALE TRIP. A
DEMOCRATIC LEADER IS QUOTED AS FEELING THAT "THEIR WEEKEND IN
MANAGUA BROUGHT THEM 'DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO NEGOTIATIONS'."
WHAT MUST OUR ALLIES AND OUR ADVERSARIES THINK OF US? WE
SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME NEGOTIATING WITH OURSELVES! JUST TWO
DAYS AGO WE PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 3, WHICH REQUIRES THE PRESIDENT TO
SUBMIT THE THRESHOLD TEST BAN TREATY TO THE SENATE FOR
RATIFICATION (THE SAME TREATY THAT WAS WITHDRAWN BY PRESIDENT
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CARTER WHEN THE SOVIETS INVADED AFGHANISTAN) AND REQUIRING
THE PRESIDENT TO IMMEDIATELY PROPOSE A COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN
TREATY TO THE SOVIETS. NEVER MIND THAT WE HAVE SERIOUS
VERIFICATION PROBLEMS AND THE SOVIETS HAVE SHOWN NOT THE
SLIGHTEST INTEREST IN COOPERATING TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS --
NEVER MIND THAT AMBASSADOR KAMPLEMAN AND FOREIGN MINISTER
GROMYKO HAVE THEIR AGENDA ALL DETERMINED - NEVER MIND THAT A
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN SHOULD ONLY BE NEGOTIATED WITHIN THE
CONTEXT OF OVERALL SUBSTANTIAL AND MUTUAL REDUCTIONS IN
NUCLEAR WEAPONS -- NEVER MIND THE MANY REASONS WHY THIS
ATTEMPT TO MICRO-MANAGE THE ONGOING ARMS CONTROL TALKS IN
GENEVA IS SIMILAR TO PERFORMING BRAIN SURGERY WHILE WEARING
BOXING GLOVES. THE URGE TO LEGISLATE, TO INTERVENE IN
COMPLICATED MATTERS THAT WE DIMLY UNDERSTAND IS IRRESISTIBLE.
MORE FUNDAMENTAL THAN THE RAW PARTISAN POLITICS INVOLVED
IS THE ABSENCE OF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE TO HELP OUR
LEGISLATORS APPROACH AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE AND HOW
WE EXTRICATE OURSELVES.
AS ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI TELLS US, THE LOGICAL EXTENSION
OF A LACK OF INTEREST IN HISTORY IS A PRE-OCCUPATION WITH
PERSONALITIES AND PERSONAL INFIGHTING. AND CLEARLY IT IS
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EASIER TO TAKE POSITIONS ON ISSUES IF THEY ARE IDENTIFIED
WITH A PERSONALITY OR A POLITICAL PARTY THAT YOU SUPPORT OR
OPPOSE. NO ANALYSIS IS REQUIRED. SIMPLY THE IDENTIFICATION
OF THE IDEA OR ISSUE WITH THE OBJECT OF YOUR SUPPORT OR
OPPOSITION. THUS TO MANY CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS, IF
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN ASSERTED THAT IT WAS MIDNIGHT THERE
WOULD BE A RESOLUTION, WITH BROAD SPONSORSHIP INSISTING IT
WAS HIGH NOON. WHERE DOMESTIC ISSUES ARE INVOLVED, THE HARM
FROM REFLEX OPPOSITION CAN BE MANAGED. WHERE FOREIGN POLICY
IS CONCERNED THIS IS NOT OFTEN POSSIBLE.
WE DON'T SPEAK ANYMORE OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY, BUT
RATHER OF REAGAN'S FOREIGN POLICY, OR CARTER'S, ALL OF WHICH
UNDERSCORES THE DISCONTINUITIES THAT HOBBLE US AND NOT OUR
ADVERSARIES. WE NEED BI-PARTISANSHIP MORE THAN EVER, BUT NOT
SINCE THE VERY EARLY DAYS OF LYNDON JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION
HAVE WE SEEN A GENIUNELY BI-PARTISAN FOREIGN POLICY. THE
BREAKDOWN OF THE SENIORITY SYSTEM IN THE HOUSE, AND THE RISE
OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, HAS WEAKENED HOUSE LEADERSHIP TO
WHERE IT CAN MORE ACCURATELY BE CALLED "FOLLOWSHIP." I NEED
ONLY CITE THE LAST FEW MX VOTES AS PROOF OF THIS.
THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER DIFFICULT PROBLEMS WE MUST
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RESOLVE IF WE ARE TO SURVIVE -- I SOMETIMES WONDER IF A
LIBERAL DEMOCRACY SUCH AS WE ENJOY -- AN OPEN SOCIETY -- CAN
EVER "KEEP A SECRET"'? WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SECRETS, WE NEED
TO HAVE EFFECTIVE AND NON PARTISAN OVERSIGHT OF OUR
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES, BUT ALL THAT SAID, ARE WE CAPABLE OF
KEEPING A SECRET? FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SOURCES WATCH US WITH
FEAR AND DISMAY. THE FREQUENCY OF DISCLOSURES OF CLASSIFIED
INFORMATION DOES NOT INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN THEM THAT THEY
WILL BE PROTECTED IF THEY COOPERATE WITH US.
I FEAR THESE REMARKS HAVE BEEN MOSTLY DEPRESSING
-- AND THAT'S NO WAY TO SPEND YOUR LUNCH HOUR; GETTING
DEPRESSED. THERE SURELY IS A BRIGHT SIDE TO MANY FOREIGN
POLICY ISSUES -- FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE THOSE THAT DESCRIBE
ITALY AS GENERALLY MARXIST, BUT MORE GROUCHO THAN KARL.
LET ME LEAVE YOU WITH THE EVENTS OF JANUARY 31, 1979,
WHEN DENG XIAOPING THE VICE PREMIER OF CHINA VISITED
LINCOLN'S MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON AND THE ILLINOIS DELEGATION
WAS INVITED TO WITNESS THE CEREMONY. I ATTENDED, EVEN THOUGH
I THOUGHT IT A SUPREME IRONY THAT THE HEAD OF THE GREATEST
SLAVE STATE IN HISTORY WAS TO PLACE A WREATH ON THE STATUE
OF THE GREAT EMANCIPATOR. AS I WATCHED THIS VERY SMALL
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SPRIGHTLY ELDERLY MAN, I REALIZED HE REPRESENTED ONE BILLION
PEOPLE AND 6000 YEARS OF CULTURE AND TRADITION. WHAT DID HE
WANT FROM US -- AN UPSTART COUNTRY BARELY 200 YEARS OLD, MADE
UP OF POLES, GREEKS, IRISH, BOHEMIANS, GERMANS AND AN ARRAY
OF ETHNIC, RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY -- WHAT DID HE WANT
FROM US? HE WANTED FOOD, TECHNOLOGY, HE WANTED US TO HELP
PULL HIS NATION TWO CENTURIES FORWARD INTO THE MODERN AGE.
AND WHY, I ASKED MYSELF, DO WE HAVE THESE THINGS, AND HIS
GREAT COUNTRY DOES NOT? AND THE ANSWER CAME TO ME IN A WORD
-- FREEDOM.
IN AMERICA THERE ARE NO WALLS AROUND THE HUMAN MIND --
NO BARRICADES AROUND THE HUMAN SPIRIT -- AND WE SHARE A LEGAL
SYSTEM DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE WEAK FROM THE STRONG.
TO THE EXTENT THAT WE LAWYERS HELP MAKE THAT SYSTEM WORK
WE BELONG IN THE COMPANY OF THE VITAL FEW WHO PRESERVE AND
NURTURE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE. NO SMALL ACHIEVEMENT!
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