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From: berman@ihlpg.UUCP (Andy Berman)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Changing Realities in South Africa
Message-ID: <1168@ihlpg.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 1-Sep-85 12:19:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihlpg.1168
Posted: Sun Sep  1 12:19:38 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 3-Sep-85 01:42:10 EDT
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>I see.  We are going to defeat the communists in the African National
>Congress by being nice to them.  This, I take it, is the REAL constructive
>engagement.
>-- 
>Gene Mutschler    
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Time to reassess your line Gene.

Two days ago the US State Department
called for negotiations including the ANC and
called for the release of Nelson Mandela,
imprisoned leader of the ANC (source: NYTimes Aug 28-29, '85).

(It is admittedly curious that the State Department does this while
President Ronnie makes a speech on how segregation has disappeared
in South Africa!)

White busness leaders including the South African Chamber of Commerce
are now demanding that the government negotiate.

A dozen US Senators have just given money to ANC leader Winnie Mandela to
rebuild her house and clinic destroyed by the Apartheid regime.
The ANC officies in Zambia have, in fact, begun negotiation
with some white businesses
over the means by which Apartheid will be dismantled. (NYT, same
dates).

The Apartheid system in South Africa is on its deathbed. The ANC
is a leading force in the struggle against apartheid, and speaks
for a considerable number of people in South Africa.
Realistic persons in the US State Department, the US Senate,
and the South African business community
now recognize that and are trying to come to terms with that
reality.

Give up the ghost of past illusions, Gene. A political line
denying the immenent changes in South Africa serves no one.
We either deal with the future leaders of South Africa or a
self-fulfilling prophesy of a hostile government will come
to reality.

           Andy Berman  ...ihnp4!ihlpg!berman