41 OPINION Page 4 Thursday, October 15, 1981 The Michigan Daily Er-ah my foreign policy ? Sure Ronald Reagan has been our chief executive for nearly nine months now. Od- dly enough, while romping virtually un- molested in domestic areas, the president has had very little to do with foreign af- fairs. Albeit a steady string of anti-Soviet tough talk, we, as American citizens and subjects of Mr. Reagan, remain quite unaware of his specific international views. Since there is faint prospect for clarification from The Gipper in the coming months, I feel compelled to help him out just a little bit. What followsis the transcript of a hypothetical press conferen- ce held by the president concerning foreign affairs only, which best reflects his ap- parent grasp of these issues. + President Reagan: Thank you for coming, ladies and gentlemen of the press. I'd been talking to Nancy during dinner, and she men- tioned that I really should discuss foreign policy with the press, as a kind of change of pace. I thought I'd take her advice. You'll have to forgive me for not addressing these issues very much until now; I've been so n. busy with the economy here at home, and with clearing out those dead branches at my ranch. So go ahead, folks, I'll take your questions now. Reporter: Mr. President, how does the death of Anwar Sadat affect your plans for peace in the Mideast? President Reagan: Well, I've always said that President Sadat is crucial to our interests in that region, since we have such a need for oil from Saudi Arabia. I just hope the new leaders over there will keep the shipments coming. As I was telling Nancy ... Reporter: Excuse me, Mr. President, for in- terrupting you, but Anwar Sadat was the president of Egypt, not Saudi Arabia. They have a monarchy in Saudi Arabia, sir. President Reagan: You're absolutely right. I've always said that President Sadat is crucial to out interests in that region, since we have such a need for oil from Egypt. Reporter: Mr. President, much has been written about the effect of Sadat's assassination on the Camp David accord with Israel and Egypt. Given Sadat's death, what do you think of Camp David. President Reagan: No complaints from me! I think Camp David is a lovely place to unwind after a hard week at the White House. Reporter: Mr. President, your support of the existing regime in El Salvador has aroused much controversy during the past several mon- By Steve Hook ths. You have been quite outspoken in your fears of a communist takeover there, I wonder if you still believe Moscow and Havana are ac- tively involved there. ' President Reagan: Pardon me, Moscow and Harvarna? Reporter: Ha-va-rna, sir, Havana, Cuba. Just south of Key West? President Reagan: Oh, right. Havana, Cuba. Well, there is good reason to suspect the com- munists are involved in South America, and we can't just sit back and ... Reporter: I'm sorry to interrupt again, Mr. President, but El Salvador is in Central America, not South America. President Reagan: Central America? I've never heard of Cen. . . well, as I said over lun- ch the other day, we just can't sit back and let those communists stir things up in Central America. Question: Mr. President, the actions of Alexander Haig have caused concern about continuity within your administration. Some claim Mr. Haig has taken too much power into his own hands. How do you feel about this? President Reagan: Well, it has always been my opinion that a strong Secretary of War is vital for our nation's foreign policy. As I was telling Frank Sinatra last week ... Reporter: I hate to interrupt, Mr. President, but Alexander Haig is our Secretary of State. This country hasn't has a Secretary of War sin- ce World War II. President Reagan: Exactly my point, and we should never forget that. Our nation needs a strong Secretary of State, and it has needed one especially since World War II. I mean, well, World War II was extremely important for . . . (pauses, strokes hand through hair) Alexander Haig is extremely important in ar- ticulating this nation's views on. . . well, we need good relations with Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Reporter: Mr. President, although you have spoken little of foreign affairs since you took of- fice in January, you have repeatedly warned the nation of a growing threat from the Soviet Union. Could you elaborate on this view, please?. President Reagan: Certainly. As I'm sure you have heard Cap Weinberger explain, this country will face a serious "window of concen- sus" in the coming years, which will result in "strategic vulnerability." Or it is a "window of strategic concensus" that will lead to ... Reporter: I believe that you are refering to the "window of vulnerability," sir. President Reagan: Right. And given the huge buildup in Russian weaponry, as well as the Soviet Union's hegemonaist . .. hegam ... hemon.. histeg .imperialistic ambitions, we just can't stand idly by while the window slides open and the mosquitoes of nuclear blackmail fly into our faces. Reporter: Mr. President, American relations with its NATO allies have been deteriorating badly in recent months. Are you concerned about the growing discontent and anti-Americ- anism in Europe? PRESIDENT Reagan: Absolutely not. (Pauses, removes sweat from eyebrow.) I have full confidence in the leadership of De Gaulle, Macmillan, Brandt-the leaders of France, the Netherlands, and England, respectively-and the others who are in full control over there. I have little doubt that. . . I've always said that peace in the region is vital. . . as I was telling Roy Rogers... Edwin Meese: That will be all for . President Reagan: When I was growing up in Illinois, I used to enjoy those splendid fall af- ternoons . . . which reminds me of a little joke I heard at lunch yesterday.. . has anyone seen my-billfold? Those Rams look tough... Edwin Meese: That will be all for tonight, members of the press. Thank you for coming. Hook was the Daily's Opinion Page Editor last summer. r::.. _ _ ._ __._ i .- k'. .. &: '- .aR p hie AIitdigan i ailQ Feiffer Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan 420 Maynard St. Vol. XCII, No. 31 Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial Board Fist Amendment Victory 6,G*)S &bNr SHOOT, P~P2. y s~xr P 'f'e N Fw-N foJt ) aiu IM'VV z - io-~Or~cf~fW am cam- POW" OMMAM " , , LJ A N ANN ARBOR publishing firm's distribution of a new book on the Shroud of Turin is to begin today-despite the restraining order efforts of Washtenaw County Judge Ross Campbell. Last week, in what seems to be a Violation of the First Amendment rights of Servant Publications Inc., Campbell tried to temporarily bar distribution of the book in an effort to aid negotiations with the Catholic Church on a controversial carbon age testing of the shroud. The cloth, which bears the image of a crucified man, is said to have been the burial shroud of Jesus Christ. A panel of scientists trying to deter- mine how the man's image got on the cloth filed suit against Servant Publications for falsely implying the book was associated with their resear- ch project. Fortunately, U.S. District Judge Horace Gilmore recognized the restraining order for what it was-a violation of the firm's First Amen- dment rights. Campbell's decision to bar the book not only represented a violation of the rights of Servant Publications, but also infringed on the rights of the citizens. Citizens have the right not only to print what they choose, but to have access to read what they choose. It was not Campbell's place to decide whether the book would jeopardize negotiations with the Church. His responsibility is to uphold the Con- stitution. This time, at least, there were some more insightful judges on hand to correct Campbell's mistake. ~f7N" THEItAM~-Au my TH/ SHcbT " CN ca v ". ,, - ..' 8ER7 W 1w G(dv UP AV MU U5. u LETTERS TO THE DAILY: Let Congress decide life 's start Ar N~."*- 1/ To the Daily: To respond to your letter, 'Pro- life bill. may undermine judiciary' (Daily, Sept. 24): In handing down the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision, the Supreme Court refused. to decide when human life begins. They said it is a "sensitive and difficult" question on which there is a "wide divergence of thinking." Because of this, the Court said "... the judiciary. . . is not in a position to speculate as to the an- swer." According to Supreme court precedent, questions that are "delicate" and "complex" are political questions-questions that "are and should be under- taken only by those directly responsible to the people ..." (congress). Indeed, iri 1969, Justice Clark wrote "It is for the legislature to determine ... that point between prevention of conception and viability of the fetus which would give the State the compelling subordinating interest so that it may regulate or prohibit abor- tion. . ." Thus there is a sound basis for concluding that Congress, not the Supreme Court should decide when life begins. Stephen Galebach sets forth a thorough and logical analysis of the Roe vs. Wade decision in The Human Life Review, Winter, 1981. It was on the basis of Galebach's research that the Human Life Statute was proposed. Eminent legal authorities support the right of Congress to enact such a statute. The enactment of the Human Life Statute, then, does not represent a usurpation of the powers of the Court. Rather, it is the enforcement by Congress of the protection of life guaranteed by the Constitution, a function "inherent in Congress's role and appropriate for Congress to per-' form." -Patricia M. Rose October 12 A U' petition update To the Daily: I am writing this letter as -a member of CRIME, Committee Against Research In Military Endeavors, to inform the univer- sity Community about the progress of petitions which we circulated. These petitions called for an open forum concerning the presence of the Defense In- telligence Agency on this cam- pus. We began this petition drive out of a desire to see that the mistakes of the Vietnam era are not repeated. We circulated the petitions for two days, and collected 2000 signatures. On the third day, Friday October 2, we were in- formed by Professor Rabkin that while the University had asked 75 professors to respond favorably to the DIA's request for research only 6 did so. Consequently, the University decided against a favorable institutional response to the DIA, but is still en- couraging individual par- ticipation in the DIA's research agenda. As a result of this change of administrative plans, our, petitions were no longer ap- plicable. CRIME's work, however, is continuing. We are fighting to make more infor- mation available and are con- tinuing to initiate activities to discourage the militarization of this campus. -Elizabeth A. Galst Oct. 13, 1981 Daily incompetent-again To the Daily: Your reporting of the Diag preachers (Daily, Oct. 9) was up to your usual standards of in- competence. We are writing this letter because it affects a favorite fall pastime, evangelistic abuse." It is obvious to anyone who frequents the Diag that the two hecklers you wrote about are frauds. They spoil the fun and sport of legitimate public heckling. These two actors who spew forth verbal garbage taint our art form and discourage the public nature of it. Anyone who still believes the authenticity of the charlatons need only see the late model.1 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham driven by Charlie Wade. In closing, we wish people a happy Brother Jed week, and we ask all aspiring hacklers to pon- der the question: DID THE FISH DROWN? -K. Frederick P. Wrugg M. Vannette D. Eisenberg October 12 i Weasel. By Robert Lence I I TIEgE! FINISI4EP! MY MIN DYS1 FINISHED WHAT? TIAAT tBI( AREM PAPEI .. Yot} RA Tn4AT WIA DIE tNO, w IReQO~sr EaOR.it M i-mtoJ I I II I I II I IMPI