THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE

Distracted Policy

Scary To Activists

JAMES D. BESSER
Washington Correspondent

T

he possibility that the nation-
al preoccupation with sex,
lies and grand jury testimony
is crippling the nation's for-
eign policy apparatus has Jewish
activists in Washington worried.
That concern mushroomed this
week in the wake of President Clinton's
dramatic confession of a "not appropri-
ate" relationship with White House
intern Monica Lewinsky, and with the
latest eruption by Iraqi strongman
Saddam Hussein.
On Monday, administration officials
confirmed a shift in U.S. policy toward
Iraq, and while Jewish leaders said there
were many factors responsible for the
change, most believed that the national
preoccupation with the seemingly end-
less scandal — and the administration's
focus on defending the embattled presi-
dent — were part of the Iraqi calculus.
"It's scary; there's a lot happening,
especially in Iraq and on the terrorism
front, but there's a real sense of paraly-
sis," said a longtime pro-Israel activist.
"It's not just that people are busy watch-
ing CNN to hear the latest dirt; there's
a feeling that important decisions aren't
getting made, that issues like the
Middle East peace talks have been put
on the shelf because of the president's
problems."
The administration is clearly distract-
ed from critical policy concerns on both
the foreign and domestic fronts, said
Phil Baum, executive director of the
American Jewish Congress.
"It's very hard to do business as usual
when you're subject to those kinds of
pressures," he said. "It's very difficult to
think creatively about our domestic and
foreign policy obligations under these
conditions."
Israeli sources signaled deep anxiety
about a shift in administration policy
on Iraq that they said was clearly related
to the deepening sex scandal.
On Monday, Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright acknowledged what
the Washington Post had reported last
week — that the administration had
decided not to support "intrusive
inspections" by U.N. weapons inspec-
tors.
The goal, administration officials
said, was to avert a confrontation over
spot inspections that would have com-
plicated their efforts to convince the

Erhard
BMW

STILL HALF THE SEASON
TO ENJOY SPORTY OPEN AIR DRIVING
ALL YEAR TO ENJOY THE SAVINGS!

LEASE 3 9 9 *MONTH
42 MONTHS
FOR ONLY

Only $1,890 due at delivery. Includes $450 refundable security deposit.

INCLUDES NO CHARGE
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
FOR 36 MONTHS OR 36,000 MILES.

MARE

4065 Maple
Just E. of Telegraph
Bloomfield Hills

ERHARD BMW

SALES
OPEN
SATURDAY
10 A.M.-4 P.M.

Michigan's Largest and Most
Experienced BMW Dealer
Family Owned and Operated Since 1964

Monday & Thursday

(248) 642-6565

Until 9 p.m.

8/21
1998

*42 month closed end lease subject to approved credit with BMWFS. Total includes $450 refundable security deposit, all taxes & plate transfer.
Monthly payment subject to 6ric use tax. Scheduled maintenance provided by BMW of North America. Sale ends August 31, 1998.

Detroit Jewish News

45