Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 20 October 1994 — Page 2

The Muncie Times, Thursday, 20 October 1994, Page 2 EDIXORIAIJ Clinton Administration scores foreign policy successes

After months of mounting criticism and continuing naysaying, the Clinton Administration finally has some foreign policy successes to gloat about. In quick succession. President Clinton has overseen the restoration of democracy in Haiti, hosted South African President Nelson Mandela, stopped the flow of Cuban refugees and browbeaten Iraq into pulling its soldiers away from near the IraqiKuwaiti border. Even those who vehemently opposed the sending of American soldiers to Haiti will have to admit, reluctantly maybe, that the mission has been a success. Tinhorn dictator Gen. Raoul Cedras and his henchmen have been forced to give up power and

privilege to seek exile in Panama and the Dominican Republic. Their assorted band of thugs, torturers and killers is cowering behind closed doors or languishing in custody. Cedras agreed last year to surrender power to the democratically administration of President JeanBertrand Aristide. But when the time arrived, almost a year ago this month, Cedras and his thugs waffled and shamelessly and brutally held on to power. Their supporters unleashed a reign of terror designed to end all pro-democracy sentiment. Today, thanks to the Clinton Administration, Haitians are free once more to voice their political sentiments without fear of retribution. The pro-

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democracy forces have triumphed. The United States has demonstrated to the world that sometimes it is willing to pay more than lip service to the cause of democracy. It is amoment to be savored and remembered. When Cedras and the criminal element in Haiti realized that this time the United States meant business, they blinked and slinkered away. With U.S. help and support, the Aristide presidency can be useful to the nurturing and succoring of the newlyplanted seeds of democracy. All people of goodwill will surely salute this effort to restore an illegally overthrown government. The recently concluded Mandela visit was another example of the triumph of American involvement. Despite Ronald Reagan's opposition, the U.S. Congress responded to American feelings by overriding Reagan’s veto and thus imposing economic sanctions against the then apartheid regime. Americans of all political andracial stripes opposed apartheid and the racism that it enshrined. In time Mandela was released from 14 years

in prison. Last April South Africa held its first multiracial elections. Mandela and his African National Congress were the overwhelming winners. That was helped, in part, by American assistance. Since then, the United States has given economic assistance and encouraged private investment, to strengthen democracy in that country. Mandela and his country need a lot of support, if the multiracial experiment is to succeed. By standing firm against Cuba and warning that Cuban refugees would not be allowed to over-tax social services in Florida, U.S. and Cuban officials negotiated an agreement that will allow a more orderly immigration system. Without such an agreement, there could have been problems similar to the Mariel boatlift of the 1980s, when Florida officials were unable to cope with the influx of about 120,000 Cubans fleeing their island homeland. This time diplomacy triumphed and an unnecessary confrontation was avoided. Cuban officials even helped by presenting their people from leaving in

violation of the new agreement. The latest foreign policy triumph occurred in the Middle East, where hopes for greater movement toward Arab/Israeli peace had been threatened by Iraq's moves toward Kuwait. The deployment of the Iraqi troops seemed to menace peace. But by moving forcefully to reactivate the anti-Iraqi coalition and by quickly deploying or redeploying American soldiers, battleships and air power in the region, the Iraqi government backed down. What had looked like a possible replay ofthe Gulf War was avoided, once thousands of American soldiers began streaming into area, to reinforce President Clinton's warnings that an invasion would not be tolerated and would, in fact, be met with overwhelming force. For a regime that prided itself on its interest in solving domestic problems when it came to power, the Clinton Administration has chalked up a few well deserved foreign policy successes. ❖

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