An Unmistakable Footprint

By Hugh Sidey

The Presidency

There is a new American view of the world that is struggling to be born. "If detente is in limbo," asked one of the President's men last week, "what is going to take its place?" "We are forging a new method of response to the Soviets," suggested another key Carter planner. "Until now, responses have been mostly military. This will be much more political, cultural and economic."

What encourages such expansive and philosophical ruminations is that the world seems to be tilting ever so slightly, for a change, toward the U.S. There have been mistakes, hesitations and excesses by almost everyone in these past few months of crisis. That is not, however, an uncommon condition for a vigorous democracy. Out of the confusion at last comes the faintest suggestion of a coherent and effective force against the terrorism in Iran and the Soviet aggression in Afghanistan. Bit by painful bit, sometimes because of Jimmy Carter, sometimes in spite of him, the protests and actions of the U.S., though often appearing puny by themselves, are beginning to take on heft. Access to more bases near the Persian Gulf, a floating contingent of Marines, increased aid to friends and more of everything to follow--all this makes an unmistakable footprint over there. Draft registration, talk of war, so deplored by some, are nevertheless a measure of seriousness. The Olympic boycott, which eventually may not win very many actual backers among other nations, has elevated concern about Soviet aggression in almost every part of the world. New courage to speak out is manifest in many countries because the U.S. has held steady this time. A unity born of crisis is enhancing, be it ever so slightly, American prestige and presidential impact.

"Three years of experience in this office is inevitably going to pay off," says Jimmy Carter himself. He knows whom to consult on what within this country, which foreign leaders want to be led or consulted or pampered. "We know better how to use the public education process," he continues. And this skill has helped him to be increasingly persistent and consistent in policy. Carter feels that Congress now better comprehends the challenges. "The leaks are down," he says--no small aid in national security planning. That yields a freedom of thought and discussion backstage that steadies policy. The support of the U.S. people has been like a surge of new power for the White House, and the President believes that it has helped America's cause in the United Nations, particularly in the Islamic countries and the nonaligned world.

Carter can be forgiven a little pride. "The staunchness of our position has been an anchor," he declares. "It has given others time to build up their positions." He sees now the possibility of long-range impact in world opinion against any other extensions of Soviet power.

Carter has increased his private correspondence with the other world leaders. He has sent off secret messages to 120 nations about the Olympic boycott. Now there is a discernible shift to our side in their replies.

His tough language about American intentions in the Persian Gulf was deliberate, not to define a battleground but to send a message that this is not going to be a transient attitude. "The U.S. has a broad strategic group of forces," says Carter. Thus he carefully chose and used two words in last week's news conference--"tactics" and "terrain." The U.S., he said, would not allow the Soviets to choose either in any confrontation. Translated, that means that an American response to new aggression might come any place in the world where Soviet interests are handicapped by narrow waterways or other confining geography. By standing so firm, by being aggressively resolute, by sending a sharp signal to Moscow, and by being moderate in demands, the President is convinced, this nation "can best avoid war."

Carter has been rereading Winston Churchill's history of World War II, studying in particular that part where Hitler moves unchallenged into the Rhineland in 1936. "Nobody sent a clear signal to Hitler," says the President. "War became inevitable. We are not going to let that happen."

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