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From: sdd@pyuxh.UUCP (S Daniels)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: re: South Africa
Message-ID: <180@pyuxh.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 31-Jul-85 19:21:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: pyuxh.180
Posted: Wed Jul 31 19:21:33 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 2-Aug-85 01:48:05 EDT
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway, NJ
Lines: 55

Well, someone threw down the gauntlet, and I might as well be foolish
enough to pick it up and risk the slings and arrows of outrageous netters.
(Pardon the plagiarism, but why get creative on throwaway lines?)

1.  Should we pull out our investments, cut all ties, impose sanctions?

Not yet.  It might be a bit hypocritical for a society that took
a couple of hundred years, a Civil War, and several decades of open strife
before it decided it really had a problem with its treatment of minorities
to take drastic measures now.  Tightening the screws on South Africa would
hurt all of South Africa--whites and blacks-- terribly, and we wouldn't have
much leverage with the Botha government when we skipped town, would we?

Besides, the USSR doesn't ask about human rights when it sells
MIGs or provides "technical assistance."  Giving the USSR an opportunity
to control the southern tip of Africa is probably not high on Casper
Weinberger's list of things to do today, either.

2.  Should we pursue "constructive engagement?"

Yes, but in a different manner.  Just like teaching a trick to your pet,
governments respond to both positive and negative feedback.  So far, the
US has practiced only positive feedback by trying to use its influence to
modify the Botha government's behavior.  Some activities--for instance, the
state of emergency--are not acceptable, and some negative feedback is
appropriate.

Another thing we have to do is have a clear policy of what we intend to do,
now and later, when the South African government does something right and
when it does something wrong.  And, for a change, really do it.

3.  Talk's cheap, so what do you actually DO?

My opinions, here, but you can supply your own variations.  In response
to recent activities, something with enough punch to let Botha know we're
serious, but not enough to destroy our influence, like an embargo on some
goods in and out and a threat to stop investment if no improvement by
XX/XX/XX date.  If no improvement or if worsening conditions, more stringent
sanctions like stricter embargoes and reruns of "Three's Company" [ :-) ].
There's always the chance, too, that no incentives or penalties will change
the government's actions; if so, that might be the time to totally isolate
South Africa.

We offer, if behavior improves, benefits like the return of our ambassador,
humanitarian aid, agricultural and infrastructure aid, etc.
If South Africa really shapes up, ends apartheid, and starts a democratic
government, well, how does a Marshall Plan for Pretoria sound?

4.  But isn't all this their business, not ours?

Only if we're ostriches.

Thanks for the indulgence.  Please respond, mail, and flame away.
-- 
Steve Daniels (!pyuxh!sdd) "I'm counting the smiles on the road to Utopia."