SAMu be by Tatto
DIEU
14 August 1992
Roger French Esq
NAD FCO
Mas calle
British Embassy Washington
3100 Massachusetts Ave N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008-3600
Telephone: (202)
Telex: RCA 211427 or 216760-WUI 64224
Facsimile: (202)
Jer hoger,
I woodyow 2/9
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CLINTON FOREIGN POLICY
1. Clinton has had a successful couple of weeks in foreign policy. Since the Vietnam War foreign policy has been a liability for Democratic Presidential candidates, and it is supposed to be President Bush's strong suit in this election. Clinton's strategists' aim has been to neutralise the issue, and show that Clinton is at least as tough as Bush. But they have exceeded their own expectations and Clinton is actually ahead on points at the moment.
2. Clinton managed to outflank the Administration to its right on Bosnia by calling for air strikes on Serbian forces to help get UN relief supplies through. He was immediately attacked by the President's spokesman, Marlin Fitzwater, as reckless. But Fitzwater had to eat his words when the poicy was later accepted by the White House. On Iraq Clinton has again gone to the President's right by urging fresh assaults on Saddam Hussein if he refuses to cooperate with UN resolutions.
3.
Clinton has also taken steps to build up his credibility in international affairs. Last week he met President Vassiliou of Cyprus and Prime Minister Rabin of Israel. He has succeeded in winning over a number of big name "Neocons" who deserted the Democratic Party a decade ago because of the Party's spinelessness towards the Soviet Union. Dick Schifter, who has just left Baker's State Department, has joined Clinton's foreign policy team, and even Jeane Kirkpatrick is reportedly considering support.
4. This does not mean to say that foreign policy will remain safe terrain for Clinton. The Bush campaign continue to attach his inexperience, and in a recent interview Clinton was forced back onto accounts of how he had deployed the National Guard in Arkansas. Any major foreign policy crisis could still knock him
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