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From: cher@ihlpm.UUCP (cherepov)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.flame,net.followup
Subject: Carnes: myopic remarks - "pressure Israel" and Reagan-bashing
Message-ID: <327@ihlpm.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 25-Jun-85 18:21:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihlpm.327
Posted: Tue Jun 25 18:21:27 1985
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I agree with puke about headlights, but behold:.

> If the
> US govt. is serious about getting the hostages released, it can
> pressure the Israelis to release the hundreds of Lebanese civilians
> (including women and children) that Israel has imprisoned in clear
> violation of international law, and that Israel was planning to
> release anyway.  But no, that would cause people to question Reagan's
> manhood, which seems to be the bottom line for the Administration.

There is no need to pressure, Israel wants a request. So, US needs
to pressure itself into issuing such. Did R. Carnes mean that US
needs to request privately while denying requests publicly?
Why?  If no explanation is issued, then "pressure Israel" is
knee-jerk leftist(or some other bad word) phrase, nothing else.  

Apart from the fact that Israel's stance against terrorism
would be weakend by such blackmailed exchange - with serious
danger to a lot of Israelis - (well, it's "their problem"),
exchange would be a VERY bad deal for US.  Here's why:

R. Carnes talks about exchange, but it does not take a crystal ball 
to see how great an encouragement it would be to all the Khadaffis 
Husseins, Arafats, Jihads, Red Brigades, Gorbachevs of the world.

I can not comment on how appropriate Israeli moves or US support
for them are, but regardless of that, suggesting to reward
terrorists (who beat and murdered a US passenger) so richly and sweetly is
nothing short of idiotic.
Even if in Carnes' opinion these people are "right".

It appears that old old senile macho Ronnie (or his aides) sees that
quite well. In my view interpreting administration's attempts to 
minimize rewards for such people as only a show of manhood
is as stupid a statement as I have ever seen.

		Mike Cherepov
P.S. Berri also said hostages would not be freed while US ships
are around. "well, well, he's got a point! What are our ships 
doing there anyway?" But next group might ask US subs out of Atlantic.
Or pressure England in conceding Falklands(sp?). 
US can not satisfy every group of extremists even if it plays dead.
And tourists will pay their lives if US rewards terrorist acts
against itselt