DEMOCRATS PONDER THEIR PARTY'S FUTURE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000606280002-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 27, 2010
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 20, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/27: CIA-RDP90-00552R000606280002-9
Prim urn M.
WALL STREET JOURNAL
20 December 1984
Democrats Ponder Their Party's Future ,
Stephen Solarz, a
five-term New York
congressman, is
chairman of the
House subcommit-
tee on Asian and Pa-
cific Affairs.
Solarz
D eniocrats need to frame an ap-
proach that will appeal to the great
majority of middle-class voters
while remaining faithful to our historic
commitments to economic opportunity and
social justice for all. We must demonstrate
that compassion for those in need is not in-
compatible with efforts to root out waste
and ineffectiveness in programs to benefit
the needy. We must articulate a vision of
the nation's future clearly based on a con-
ception of the national interest rather than
a collection of special interests.
The tendency in the developing debate
will be to concentrate on those domestic
issues that most concern the American
people. But it would be a serious mistake
if Democrats failed to reconsider their po-
sition on foreign policy as well-given the
increasing impact of events abroad on U.S.
security and well-being.
Here Democrats should adopt a dual
posture of patriotic support and principled
opposition-backing the administration
where it is right, and opposing it where it
is wrong.
Democrats should make it clear, for ex-
ample, that Republicans have no monopoly
on programs designed to strengthen Amer-
ica and contain the Soviet Union. Genuine
bipartisanship already exists and should
continue in relations with Israel, NATO,
Japan and China.
Such harmony is in the rational interest
and should be encouraged whenever possi-
ble. Yet the Democratic Party can profit
politically by making it clear that it stands
for alternative policies on a variety of im-
portant international issues.
? In the area of arms control, for ex-
ample, Democrats should welcome the pos-
sible resumption of negotiations yet warn
that the president's Strategic Defense Ini-
tiative and his opposition to a ban on anti-
satellite weapons will result in the waste of
untold billions of dollars and rule out any
future agreements.
In terms of human rights, Democrats
should oppose tyrannies of the left, such as
those in Afghanistan, Poland and Vietnam,
as well as repression on the right, as in
Chile, Pakistan and Paraguay. We thereby
distinguish our position from that of the
Reagan administration, which has concen-
trated its criticism primarily against Com-
munist countries.
? Concerning Central America, Demo-
crats should activel su ort the Cont -
oora process, which remains the last best
hope for peace in the region, while strongly
opposing the administration's counterjro.
ductive covert campaign to overthrow the
Sandinista government in N? ar ,a.
? In dealing with the Philippines, Dem-
ocrats should make it clear that the best
way to prevent the eventual victory of the
Communist-dominated New People's Army
is through an active U.S. effort to bring
about a restoration of democracy and es-
sential economic reforms.
? Regarding South Africa, Democrats
should reject the Reagan policy of "con-
structive engagement," which has clearly
failed to facilitate any real progress to-
ward the enfranchisement of the black ma-
jority. We should call instead for a policy
of "constructive enragement" in which we
apply economic and diplomatic pressure
against Pretoria to abolish the apartheid
system.
Foreign policy can be one of the Demo-
cratic Party's future strong suits. A stance
of selective opposition vis-a-vis the admin-
istration-support when merited and criti-
cism when deserved-will demonstrate
that Democrats have the vision and capac-
ity to protect the nation's interests while
promoting its ideals.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/27: CIA-RDP90-00552R000606280002-9