4,
I
I
11 111 I
a
The answers to these questions, even after last week's steps, the White House has had a number of recent suc-
swing through the Middle East, are still quite murky. As cesses in places like Kuwait and Haiti. The president is
Robert 0. Freedman, a political science pro-
picking up support as a result of those suc-
fessor at Baltimore Hebrew University and
cesses."
a leading Middle East expert, said, "Clin-
Furthermore, said Mr. Siegman, "the
ton is no fool. He recognizes that this might
Opposite page, top
administration has substantially in-
help him politically. But that was not the mo-
President Clinton
creased its presence in the [Middle East]
speaks to
tivation [in meeting with Mr. Assad]. On bal-
peace process by injecting the president
Israel's Knesset
ance, I think he did the right thing by going
himself It clearly expects an added polit-
to Damascus."
ical 'bounce' from this larger role."
And administration officials continued to
But just how much ofa bounce this will
put a glossy spin on the excursion to Dam-
provide
is uncertain. "The timing of the
Bot torn
ascus. This reflected the president's new sta-
trip
was
very good," said Larry Sabato,
The pr esident
tus as a major player on the international
a
political
scientist at the University of
is enjoy ing the
scene — and the fact that this is increasing-
Virginia. "The president scored more
afterg low of
ly seen as a political plus for the hard-pressed
points than he would have running
a PIE deast
Democrats.
diploma tic blitz.
around the country campaigning for con-
The trip was the latest in a series of for-
gressional candidates. And he appears
eign policy successes that have pointed to the
more presidential when he's abroad. The
political advantages of the White House's
polls show it, and his handlers are aware
Above
new focus on the world arena, said Henry
of it."
Desert Storm redux?:
Siegman, the former executive director of the
Professor Sabato predicted that the re-
Kuwaitis watching
American Jewish Congress who is now a se-
cent
exercise in high-profile presidential
Clinton's T.V.
nior fellow at the Council on Foreign Rela-
diplomacy
would only marginally affect
announcement about
tions.
next
week's
congressional races. But even
sending U.S. troops
"The administration has become more
a small boost, he said, could make the dif-
to rebuff Iraqi forces.
surefooted in handling foreign policy," he said.
ference in a handful of very close contests.
"After many decisions that were seen as mis-
And even if the president's meetings with
Mr. Assad fail to bear fruit, he said, the impact won't
be felt until well after next week's elections.
An analyst with a pro-Israel political group agreed. "If
it turns out that Assad is just marking time," he said, "it
will diminish the trip's political impact. But people have
short memories for details, long memories for images.
They'll remember this president getting center stage at
the Jordan-Israel signing ceremony. And they'll re-
member what seemed like a bold move to get Syria to
stop blocking the talks."
A Political Rejuvenation?
W
ile last week's Mideast mission may give the ad-
ministration a shot in the arm, Johns Hopkins Uni-
versity political science professor Benjamin Ginsberg
said it is unlikely to affect the president's chances for re-
election, even if breakthroughs in Mideast negotiations
eventually result.
"He's been so badly hurt in the past two years by me-
dia attacks and by his domestic policy failures that a large
chunk of the country has written him off," said Profes-
sor Ginsberg. "I'm afraid this presidency may be beyond
his ability to fix."
Also, the growing emphasis on foreign policy — and
on the Mideast negotiations, in particular — could con-
tain unexpected political dangers.
"We've seen many examples of foreign policy becom-