I OPINION Tuesday, May 15, 1984 Page 6 The Michigan Daily . _ clbe fidbigan B al Vol. XCIV, No. No. 6-S 94 Years of Editorial Freedom Managed and Edited by Students at The University of Michigan Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily Editorial Board' Abandoning stability IN AN AREA well known for brutal dictator- ships, Costa Rica has been able to maintain a relatively stable democracy - with no stan- ding army - for several decades. Last week, w6rd came that the Reagan administration has embarked on a course which may well change all of that. Reports from Washington and Costa Rica now indicate that the State Department has begun to apply considerable pressure on the Costa Rican government for a public ex- pression of "moral support" for the United States in the widening Central American war. The idea, apparently, is to use the latest Costa Rican request for military aid and the recent Nicaraguan border skirmish as a lever to push the Costa Ricans out of their delicate neutrality. The implications of this shift in policy are ominous. Even accepting the Reagan ad- ministration's characterization of Nicaraguan intentions, an end of Costa Rica neutrality can only worsen already strained relations in the region. The change would lend credibility to Nicaraguan fears of encir- clement; it would increase the incentive for Nicaragua to strike out at Costa Rica, by far the weakest of its neighbors. Further, a statement of "moral support" - which would almost inevitably be followed with the militarization of Costa Rica - promises to undermine those which make the nation a model for the region. Costa Rica has learned what the United States has not: Stan- ding armies are anathema to fragile democracies. If the goal is to protect the Costa Rica democracy, there are steps which the ad- ministration can take far short of forcing an end to Costa Rican neutrality. The United States, for example, could urge talks to establish a demilitarized zone of the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border. Or the administration could use its considerable influence to reduce the activities of the anti-Sandinista bases within Costa Rica. The present policy, however, is destined to create the very problems the administration seeks to avoid. Unsigned editorials ap- pearing on the left side of this page represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial Board. Sinclair F ,N . \ r r'-: 3 r- , ,, , 8E'5 TAKIIfG 4 A By M WASHIN administr, terrorism p "pre-empti strikes< terrorist o many distu U.S. foreig line questi long run, it more terro current ter it. The po National DirectiveI approved I April 3. All directive a administ acknowled U.S. milit agencies1 operations ted terroris THE NE quantum terrorism, Secretary Koch decla the reac recognition emptive) st In addit raids, the retaliator terrorists a the sort r Israel in re attacks on settlement: Underly ministratio that terrori the absenc counteract establishe works," George Se "its practi Tt Does new U.S. policy promote terrorism? and the threat to us will be all the as unprovoked intervention and ichael Klare reat thus trigger fresh resentments against the United States. GTON - The Reagan ALSO EMBODIED in the new " The claim that terrorist ation's new anti- policy is the conviction that many groups are supported by hostile olicy, with its call for terrorists groups are actively governments-while undoubtedly, ive" and retaliatory aided by established governmen- true in some cases-can rarely be against suspected ts-particularly those in Libya, fully substantiated, and, if ac- organizations, raises Iran, Iraq, Syria, and North companied by pre-emptive or irbing questions about Korea. punitive strikes, could be seen as n policy. The bottom- A widely cites axample is the unprovoked acts of war against a on is whether, in the October 1983 truck-bombing of sovereign nation and thus ignite may actually produce the U.S. Marine compund in full-scale hostilities. Such action rist violence than the Beirut, which is believed to have would be particularly harmful if rorism that provoked been engineered by Syrian they caused the United States to and/or Iranian agents. Such ac- appear as an aggressor, thereby licy, contained in tivities, Shultz argued, are "a lending popular legitimacy to the Security Decision weapon of unconventional war anti-American ravings of hostile 138 (NSDD-138), was against democratic societies." regimes. by President Reagan But while many experts agree FURTHER, envisioning pre- though contents of the that new measures are needed to emptive U.S. strikes against are highly classified, protect overseas U.S. interests terrorists and their supporters, r a tion officials against threats of this sort, it is NSDD-138 would provide a ged that it permits not at all clear that the ad- rationale for unilateral military ary and intelligence ministration's vigilante-like ap- action abroad. And because such to conduct spoiling proach is the best solution to this action-even if directed against in advance of expec- problem. Several aspects of the suspected terrorist t strikes, new policy are cause for par- groups-could well result in ex- W policy "represents a ticular concern: tensive civilian casualties, it leap in countering * There is no evidence that might ignite a regional conflict Deputy Assistant punitive raids of the sort en- that would prove very difficult to of Defense Noel visioned by NSDD-138 will reduce control or contain. red, taking us "from the incidence of anti-U.S. Certainly the United States Live mode to the terrorism abroad. Indeed, the needs to do more to protect its i that pre-active (pre- experience in the Middle East in- citizens and interests abroad teps are needed." dicates that retaliatory raids against terrorist activity, and tion to pre-emptive by Israel-which often produce certainly we need to identify and policy also envisions far more civilian casualties than punish those responsible for y strikes against those inflicted by the criminal acts of violence. This nd their supporters of terrorists - created a new crop of will require a greater sharing of egularly mounted by victims who subsequently seek intelligence with our friends and esponse to Palestinian revenge in fresh acts of allies and multilateral action to Israeli civilians and terrorism. The result is a never- isolate and disarm those found s. ending cycle of violence in responsibleforterroristactions. ing the ad- retaliation that engenders more But in our determination to in's policy is a belief terrorism, rather than less. deter such behavior, we must not ism tends to flourish in " The problem of escalating provoke fresh cycles of violence, e of rapid and vigorous violence arises with even greater or worse, provide a new rationale ion. "Once it becomes severity in the case of pre- for global U.S. military interven- d. that terrorism emptive strikes. While such raids tion. Secretary of State in theory could reduce the threat hultz declared April 3, to U.S. citizens and installations Klare wrote this article for tioners will be bolder, abroad, they are likely to appear Pacific News Service.