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From: janw@inmet.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Orphaned Response
Message-ID: <7800762@inmet.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 26-Nov-85 20:10:00 EST
Article-I.D.: inmet.7800762
Posted: Tue Nov 26 20:10:00 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 30-Nov-85 01:14:46 EST
References: <7559@ucla-cs.UUCP>
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Nf-From: inmet!janw    Nov 26 20:10:00 1985


[-- Jim Balter (ima!jim)]
>>>The fact is that it is the U.S. that  is  totally  isolated  from
>>>world  opinion  concerning Nicaragua, and that rejects the Conta-
>>>dora process.

>>You are out of date on both points.

>You don't say?  Elaborate please.

US government had some initial  hesitation  about  the  Contadora
process;  then  it  decided to endorse it. It has been officially
supporting it now for years. You are a genuine Rip van Winkle.

The isolation of US on the Nicaraguan issue ended later
than that. But it did end.
--In Europe, the press - left, center and right of center -
used to be very critical of USA on this issue. Now (judging
from stray issues of several periodicals), centrist and
right-of-center press is more critical of Nicaragua than the USA.
That change occurred even before Oct 15 decrees, though they clinched
it. (BTW, right-left axis here concerns foreign policy, so that, e.g.
Mitterand is not on the left).
--In Latin America: I've not been looking at their press (one of these
days I really should) - but who do you think supported  the  Con-
tras  through  the year when the funds were cut by Congress ? Un-
named Latin American sources. Unofficial position of many  people
there is very different from their speeches.
--Ortega had a *very* cold reception at that last UN session.
--Finally - just happened to read in today's (Nov 26) NY Times
an article by a liberal democratic congressman. It is entitled:
Bridging the Gap With Nicaragua. The content corresponds to the
title: as you can see, his position is much nearer yours than
mine. He argues thus:

>We have nothing to lose; perhaps the Sandinistas are now 
>ready to deal. Mr Ortega surely must recognize that Nicaragua
>is growing more and more isolated...

Obviously, on the Nicaraguan issue, USA isolation and Nicaragua isolation
are inversely related ...

(BTW, I see nothing wrong in checking if Ortega is ready to deal.
Any deal, though, should include power sharing and cutting ties 
with Havana and Moscow).

(Also BTW, I could never understand all the fuss about
Ortega's trip to Moscow - there is some in that article, too.
And, since it doesn't impress me, I never made it an argument
for others).

		Jan Wasilewsky