I OPINION
I CONTENTS
The Three Strategies
Of Hostage Freedom
MITCHELL G. BARD
T
he value of hostages as
pawns in the struggle
between Iran and the
West has gradually declined.
This has made possible the
release of Robert Polhill, and
may presage freedom for the
remaining seven American
captives. The immediate
question is whether the
United States should alter its
policy in an effort to ac-
celerate the release of the
other Americans or stay the
course in the belief that the
Reagan-Bush strategy has
been vindicated.
From the beginning, the
United States had three op-
tions for obtaining the release
of the captives: military ac-
tion, appeasement and non-
negotiation. Each has been
used with some success, but
each also has a price.
The last two administra-
tions chose the last option
The best option
right now is to
wait out the
terrorists.
and the price has been that
American citizens were allow-
ed to remain hostages for
years, the United States suf-
fered humiliation and ap-
peared impotent, and ter-
rorists were shown they could
act with impunity. The
benefit was that the United
States demonstrated a com-
mitment to a principle — we
will not negotiate with
hostage-takers — and sent a
message, albeit a weak one,
that we will not reward
terrorists.
Military action remains an
option to free the remaining
hostages or to inflict punish-
ment on the terrorists. The
United States' reluctance to
use force contributed to the
length of Polhill's and the
others' captivity because we
never imposed any cost on the
terrorists' activity. The fear
has always been a military
strike could lead to the death
of the hostages and innocent
people. But the use of violence
(including covert operations)
is a deterrent. Soviet hostages
were released by their
Lebanese captors, for exam-
ple, after the KGB killed
members of the group holding
Dr. Mitchell G. Bard is a
foreign policy analyst in
Washington, D.C., and editor
of Near East Report.
them. No other Soviets were
ever kidnapped.
At this point, when it ap-
pears hopeful that all the
hostages will be released
without such action, we
should hold our fire. After the
Americans are at home, con-
sideration should be given to
a form of retaliation. At the
very least, the United States
should use all its resources to
bring the kidnappers to
justice.
The quickest way to secure
the hostages' release has
always been to give in to their
demands. The French, in par-
ticular, have proved this op-
tion works, most recently by
providing Libya with
sophisticated fighter planes
to get Qaddafi to order the
release of hostages held by his
clients. President Bush right-
ly eschewed this course
because it would encourage
future hostage-taking.
With Polhill's release, there
is a temptation to resort to ap-
peasement. The terrorists
may try to raise the price for
releasing the remaining
hostages. President Bush has
wisely refused to be drawn in-
to such bidding.
On the other hand, the Ad-
ministration has engaged in
a form of appeasement by
showering the Syrians with
praise for their efforts on
behalf of the hostages. Syria
deserves no credit. It is the
Syrians who control the area
where the hostages are being
held. No Middle East
observer familiar with how
President Hafez Assad
destroyed the city of Hama,
killing 20,000 of his own
citizens, doubts the ability of
the Syrians to have taken ac-
tion against the terrorists if
they so desired. Remember,
the kidnappers are backed by
Iran and Syria is Iran's only
ally.
The third option, and now
the best, is to wait out the ter-
rorists. As a number of com-
mentators have noted, Iran is
growing desperate to end its
isolation from the West.
It has always been in the
United State's interest to
have good relations with Iran.
The release of the hostages is
a necessary, but not sufficient
condition for this to happen.
After the unconditional
release of the Americans, the
United States should demand
that Iran help bring the ter-
rorists to justice. Second, the
Iranians should end their
public campaign against the
United States. Only then
should steps be taken to im-
prove relations. ❑
24
CLOSE-UP
Beyond Life
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
Judaism, immortality
and the world to come.
Cover art by Barbara Kiwak.
37
INSIGHT
Intifada
Escalates
59
ZE'EV CHAFETS
The violence seems
out of proportion.
47
BUSINESS
Sweet Charity
RITA CHARLESTON
Ben and Jerry's turns
the cream over to charity.
51
Shavuot renews our bonds
with the oral, written law.
59
SPORTS
Grapplin'
center
RICHARD PEARL
Maccabi has manpower
on the wrestling mat.
PARTY GUIDE
center
Our 1990 guide
to a better party.
68
ENTERTAINMENT
Dancin' Kids!
STEVE HARTZ
They can out-tango
some of Broadway's best.
DEPARTMENTS
15
31
34
39
40
66
Detroit
Inside Washington
Background
Community
Synagogues
Travel
80
92
98
100
105
130
Fine Arts
Engagements
Births
Single Life
Classified Ads
Obituaries
CANDLELIGHTING
68
8:39 p.m.
Friday, May 25, 1990
Sabbath ends May 26 9:50 p.m.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
7
CONTENTS
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