OPINION .,Page 4 Saturday, March 6, 1982 The Michigan Daily 4 Findi #. By Kent Redding President Reagan's recent requests for more military aid to El Salvador have provoked con- troversy on Capitol Hill and throughout the nation-and well they should. Reagan's response to the civil war in that Central American country has been solely a military one: Send Jose Napoleon Duarte's regime more arms to stop the communists. This policy is not only too simplistic, it just isn't working. Although ,there are reasons for the current policy, there is also another way of looking at the conflict. There are obvious political roots to the problem that will not disappear just because they are shot at. The Reagan administration sees the conflict as a classic East-West struggle. Cuba and Nicaragua, both backed by the Soviet Union, are fomenting the revolution by funneling ar- ms to the leftist guerrillas, the administration claims. Without this intervention, the Salvadoran government might be willing and able to stabilize the country. Nevertheless, there is intervention and Reagan feels he cannot sit idly back and watch another Soviet dandelion spring up in the United States' backyard. We must give the Duarte regime arms to cut down that need because, according to the State Department, it could spread like wildfire across Latin America. And the United States has swamped the coun- ng a soli try with arns. El Salvador received $126 million in aid in fiscal 1982, much of it in military supplies, and an additional $55 million in emergency military aid after leftists destroyed a crucial part of the Salvadoran Air Force last month. Unsatisfied with the results these arms have achieved, the administration has asked Congress for more aid despite repor- ts of rampant civilian slaughter by government troops. The Pentagon is even training Salvadoran troops in Fort Benning, Ga., at the U.S. taxpayers' expense. For now, increasing military aid to the Duar- te regime is the administration's main policy to prevent El Salvador from falling to the com- munists. The United States is counting on the March 28 elections to help Duarte consolidate his government. Presumably, after his election Duarte will have enough power to introduce much-needed land and political reform to the strife-torn country and, with more U.S. arms and aid, prevail over left-wing and right-wing opposition. Unfortunately the administration's myopic plan to rescue El Salvador from communist aggression is too simplistic. As in Vietnam, a military solution has been proposed for a political conflict. The country has suffered un- der the rule of a small oligarchy of landowners and military leaders for decades. Respect for democracy and human rights as we Americans know it is virtually nonexistent in El Salvador, a country where the military has cast the only real votes in past elections and only two per- cent of the population controls 60 percent of ution for El Salvador Salvador, or so, at least, the administration seems to be saying. But one does not kill a weed by merely cut- ting it off at the base. The weed will simply grow back-it still has roots. And military solutions in El Salvador (if indeed one is possible) will be short-lived. The roots of the conflict run deeper than the Cuban and Nicaraguan aid to leftists that the United States is focusing on. Only redistribution of land, the formation of a truly democratic government, and American economic aid can help destroy the roots of communist revolution in that country. As long as the United States keeps supplying arms, without any attempt at a political solution, the roots will remain. U.S. strategists argue, however, that the March 28 elections can provide the political solution that many seek. Unfortunately, past elections have =been notoriously corrupt, and this one promises to be no different. The leftists are boycotting the election for this reason and are threatening those who do vote. On the other side the extreme rightists will participate in the elections and will use their most effective campaign tactic - violence. Although the more moderate Duarte is expected to win the elec- tion, his margin is likely to be small and the resulting government weak in the face of strong opposition from both the right and left. On the surface, the situation seems hopeless, but there are alternatives. The best plan to end the bloodshed and stabilize the government of El Salvador would involve a negotiated cease fire followed by negotiations to form a coalition government that will hold internationally- supervised elections. This type of solution has worked in Zimbab- we (formerly Rhodesia) where, after a decade of civil war, white minority and black guerrilla leaders agreed to work together for the good of their nation. Fair elections were held and a democratic majority government was formed which remains in power to this day. Leftists groups in El Salvador have indicated their willingness to negotiate, but, unfor- tunately, the Duarte and Reagan ad- ministrations have refused to recognize them as a legitimate political force. The State Department, despite the success of negotiations in Zimbabwe, has dismissed talks as unworkable. Instead, it sends more guns and the senseless slaughter of men, women, and children continues. Despite recent Reagan pledges of more em- phasis on economic aid to Central American countries, the administration has not backed away from its hardline military stand in El Salvador nor its refusal to negotiate. Secretary of State Alexander Haig has promised the United States will do whateveris "prudent and necessary" in El Salvador. So far, U.S. policy has pointed toward -a military solution that is becoming increasingly elusive. And apparently, for the Reagan ad- ministration, a negotiated settlement is neither prudent nor necessary. Redding is a Daily Opinion Page staff writer. the land. Throughout the bloody civil war, the administration has continued to send arms to Salvadoran troops known to - have wantonly killed innocent civilians. To be sure, both the leftists and government troops have been guilty of atrocities. But U.S. policy makers have insisted on a military solution to a problem that is' much more complex. In its haste to prevent a communist takeover in El Salvador, the administration has exacerbated the situation. All it takes is a few more guns and we can eliminate the problems of El q Weasel Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan '4-.... Vol. XCII, No. 121 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial Board IF THE AUTROJUIES ---- CATC1+ YOU, TNEYU L K YOU UP N -ME =G !7" SEEMS EVERYt}IINfa IS UPSIDE TOWN Olt THIS PLANET, VV 60T TO ,,"., 6Er AWAY. WHAT WILL. I ,!{ RNP IF L RIDE ALM& 1 e g. H? s 4 THEER E %~~' JfVE GOT To Ft ND U P~ HR. ourW~~i TER. -5 WHAT WELLr WILL HE. SINCE This FIND OUT FILM WAS MADE THE~RE, fIN fou.ywoOOP.libE TH4URSTON? I4KELY TD PJNp 4oETIi4 VE&- CONTRIVEP AND vERY TRITE. 014 N0! THE STATUE-. OF 1.I BE KWY THIS 16,ROALL( 'Selling ILIR short TMAGINE WAKING up in the morning Disabilities as already eliminated. and receiving a letter like this: What chance does a targeted unit stand "With the announced and planned when people already are offering their axing of two rather large Institutes by services for its staff's relocation? the UM administration, I'm sure that What's even worse is that Hudge many of you are giving serious con- worked at the University before going sideration to selling your home and into real estate. His position in the moving to a less depressed area." College of Engineering should have in- This very letter was sent to formed him that reviews do not ensure professors and administrators working budget cuts-in fact, they shouldn't at the University's Institute for Labor even suggest them. A review initiated and Industrial Relations Wed- by the administration should, in nesday by area realtor Edward Hudge. theory, look into the efficiency and The institute is currently facing a strength of a targeted unit. It should budgetary review initiated by the ad- not, as Hudge and too many others ministration earlier this week. believe it does, spell gloom and doom Beyond the fact that the letter is in for a University program. the worst possible taste-the oppor- Because the general impression on tunism apparent in the letter borders campus is probably much the same as on repellent-it demonstrates a com- that held by Hudge, the review process mon, and all too prevalent misconcep- is beginning to resemble a precon- tion at the University. Too many ceived verdict. When this happens the people believe that a budgetary review future of our university moves farther spells the worst possible fate. and farther from our control. Too many people at the University Selling homes-or selling our in- have written off ILIR, the Center for stitutes and centers short-on the an- The Continuing Education of Women, nouncement of a review, is both ,and the Institute for the Study of Men- premature and unsound. tal Retardation and Related LETTERS TO THE DAILY: Racism will not vanish if ignored 0 To the Daily: It can't happen here. That is what Howard Witt (Daily, March 2) and others who oppose a com- munity demonstration against the Nazis on March 20 would have us believe. But the destructive threat of Nazi ideals grows every day. Our nation is in a state of decay that extends far beyond its economic plight. Psychologists, sociologists, and political scien- tists have been noting for some time the decline of mutual respect between individuals and the lack of trust in our gover- nment and traditional institutions that pervades the citizenry. Our social bonds are unwinding. And The law of the ruling class I' To the Daily: Wayne Williams was convicted on evidence from a drunk cop, falsified reports, and coinciden- ce. That makes sense. What would you do if you were part of the ruling class in Atlanta and the black people were getting mad because the cops were not trying to find a mass-murdered? You would grab some black and convict him on anything you could contrive. Then you would call off the people's special task force, which wanted to find the murderer, so that it would be much harder to expose the cops' lies. Conveniently anough, the Public Safety Commissioner can group the two victims, whom Williams is charged with killing, with all the other victims, disregarding the large age dif- ference. But can he make a distinction when black youths continue to be murdered in Atlan- ta after William's arrest? Surprised? If you had been reading the "Revolutionary Worker," of the Revolutionary Communist Party, then you would have forseen it. They have been showing with careful logic how, from the view of the ruling class, it is necessary to keep the blacks' anger checked; to keep them from striking out at their oppressors; to deny that this is a logical and necessary result of the capitalist system. The amount of blacks in prisons testifies further to this. What about anti-black groups? The police will protect the Nazi march, (March 20th) in Ann Ar- bor. That is fitting, too. The Bourgeois can say, "Look at those Nazis! It would be even worse fdr the blacks and Chicanos if those fascists were in power !" But try marching for the workers on May 1st; you will get police harassment, because the mere act of standing up for freedom is considered dangerous, be you in China, the USSR, the United States, or whatever. -Ralph MacFadden March 3 during times such as these, anti- Semitism, racism, and all forms of elitism have a special appeal to many. The Nazis embody and promote these ideals. The com-, munity must demonstrate that such behavior is unacceptable. But public abhorrance of Nazis should not be based merely upon their intentions. Their past ac- tions are reason enough. Millions lost their lives because of them. This nation fought a war against them. Has our outrage dissipated already? Mr. Witt displayed a lack of sensitivity to this history by comparing the Nazis with the Revolutionary Communist Youth1 Brigade and the Women's Gar- den Club. Neither of these groups have destroyed individuals and changed the world as did the Nazis. The Nazis' presence should provoke the Ann Arbor community into action. The actions of those who oppose the Nazis should not be based upon some expectation of the press's behavior, as Mr. Witt proposes. Indeed, Mn. Witt only pointed out a possible quantitative difference in the amount of press coverage a counter-demon- stration might attract for the Nazis: Certainly, there would be a qualitative difference as well. A small article hidden on page ten might be the only coverage of the Nazi rally if a counter demon- stration does not take place. But that article would probably fail to mention any opposition to the Nazis since none was present. Public complacency toward the Nazis could very well be viewed as public acceptance. However, a front page article on a counter demonstration would emphasize the anger of the community. March 20 provides a great opportunity for those who loathe the Nazis and disdain bigotry to obtain equal press time. Anti-Semitism and racism will not vanish if it is ignored. Con- structive actions must be taken to remedy the conditions that foster such attitudes. I hope that all members of the community will demonstrate their anger towards the Nazis and their resolve to fight bigotry at city hall on March 20th. -Don Solomon March 4 WAoAog0" ' t 3' Letters and columns represent the opin- ions of the individual author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the attitudes or beliefs of the Daily. I I ) S k x1 4 I 1t 'I A Wasserman . 0 AMERICM5 SHOULD 6i' TH#E A. CANGE TO WOR.K -W~E OJAr TE(LOMI MES A ALON& HI -Rc2y Wq: CWT K- WELTD T SIX~ IN A FrEw I'ONTS... WHAT IT NOOK A ~IJOLE EAK Tn GC AT I v k r\ur\ I ra I