[PBARC] IMHO: Editorial worth reading: On Rewarding Friends - By WILLIA M SAFIRE - New York Times, April 3, 2003

[WOLF, EARNEST G]

On Rewarding Friends

By WILLIAM SAFIRE  - WASHINGTON

New York Times, April 3, 2003

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Nations have alliances, based on short-term strategic or economic =
interests. But peoples have friendships, based on memories forged in =
times of trial. These are the times that make and break friendships =
among peoples.

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Start with a small-nation example. Latvia was one of the Soviet =
"captive nations," ultimately freed by the U.S. victory in the cold =
war. Recently, as some of us had long urged, Latvia gained greater =
security when the U.S. lobbied for the Baltic nations to be brought =
under NATO's umbrella, despite Russian disapproval.

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Under President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Latvia has been an outspoken U.S. =
ally in the campaign to liberate Iraq. But polls show a possible =
switch: Latvians, swept up in a wave of European pacifism, may send =
Americans a message by turning her out of office in June. Democracy =
gives Latvians the freedom to ride that anti-U.S. wave - but should the =
Russian bear growl, Americans would be free to remember that message.=20

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A more costly example of strains on friendship comes from Turkey, the =
ally that the U.S. hoped would lead the Muslim world to secular =
democracy. After dickering about an entry fee, its new Islamist =
government refused the U.S. request for transit of our troops to start =
a northern front in Iraq. Such cooperation would have shortened the =
war, saved lives and made Turkey a partner in extending freedom =
throughout the Middle East.=20

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Then the Turks added insult to injury. Turkey's military is threatening =
to grab northern Iraq's rich oil fields if the Kurds, recently ejected =
from the area by Saddam, dare to return to their stolen homes in =
Kirkuk.=20

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Secretary of State Colin Powell was in Ankara this week, pouring =
soothing syrup, pretending the political betrayal doesn't affect our =
"strategic partnership." And Israeli officials privately remind us of =
their quiet military relationship with Turkey, acting as if Ankara =
could still be relied upon.

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But trust is shot. With our ships laden with troops and tanks offshore, =
Turkey suddenly embraced neutralism. Generations of Americans with =
memories of gallant Turks fighting alongside us in the Korean War - and =
saving refugees after the first gulf war - are being replaced by a =
generation that will remember the slamming of Turkey's door in our =
faces.

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Of course, it is France, once identified with "the rights of man," that =
is most eager to bestride the world stage in gleeful confrontation with =
the U.S., and led the defense of Saddam's dangerous despotism in the =
U.N. The majority of French people care not a whit for the =
consequences.

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Some of those will be economic. The U.S. will live up to its =
eight-year, $881 million contract with the French company Sodexho to =
provide domestic mess-hall meals to our Marine Corps (provided the =
souffl=E9s don't fall). And most U.S. consumers will not boycott French =
perfume or wine (though Australian merlot deserves a try).

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But on future big deals that require a trustworthy ally, public opinion =
will drive public policy. Right now, our Department of Energy is about =
to award a $30 million contract to design a system for its nuclear =
waste program in Yucca Mountain, Nev. The consortium that wins will =
have the inside track on a billion-dollar deal transporting nuclear =
waste within the U.S. in years to come.

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Three bids were invited by D.O.E.'s general contractor, Bechtel. One is =
from an American-Japanese group; another is from an American-British =
combine; the third's from a mainly French, partly German nuclear =
conglomerate named Cogema.=20

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Assuming the expertise and price are in the same ballpark, which outfit =
should not get this sensitive project financed by American taxpayers? =
In light of President Jacques Chirac's torpedo into the Atlantic =
alliance, the question answers itself.

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What cements strategic and economic alliances is public sentiment among =
peoples. Britain and the U.S. are strategic allies, but Brits and Yanks =
are also genuine friends - free to disagree and compete, but when =
wartime chips are down and alliance has a cost, tightly together. That, =
as Winston Churchill and Tony Blair understood, is what makes the =
relationship "special."=20

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Peoples have memories that profoundly affect international ties. Those =
memories are being forged right now, and Americans won't forget our =
friends.  =20



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