‘WHAT’S REALLY WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE’: CENTER’S GAFFNEY DISSECTS CLINTON SECURITY POLICY

(Washington, D.C.): In a major address to the Royal College of Defense Studies in London last week, Center for Security Policy director Frank J. Gaffney, Jr. described the most worrisome aspect of the Clinton Administration’s conduct of foreign and defense policy: Its deliberate campaign to dismantle or otherwise undermine key institutions, arrangements and capabilities upon which the United States and its Western allies have long relied for their security.

As the attached excerpts of Gaffney’s remarks indicate, the targets of these efforts include: strategic defenses, NATO, multilateral export controls, free radio broadcasting and U.S. nuclear deterrent, counterintelligence and continuity of government programs. Gaffney observes:

"It is perhaps ironic — but certainly no accident — that many of those in the U.S. government who are currently involved in undoing these institutions, arrangements and capabilities are individuals who vigorously opposed American policy during the Cold War. In fact, they were among those who routinely railed against these very assets during that long, "twilight struggle."

 

"Arguably, had their advice concerning relations with the Soviet Union, reducing American forces in Europe, canceling military modernization programs, arms control, etc. been heeded at the time, the outcome might well have been different. It is certainlythose policies will leave the United States very ill-prepared to contend in the future with the portentous developments taking shape at present in Moscow, Bosnia, the Korean peninsula and elsewhere." true though that their present policies are squandering the fruits of that victory. Worse yet,

Gaffney warns that matters are being made worse by "the Clinton Administration’s embrace of new institutions and arrangements. Most of these derive from its commitment to what might be described as "mindless multilateralism." Gaffney cites as examples the Administration’s decisions: to put U.N. authorities in the command "loop" for U.S. military forces; to dedicate American military assets to the United Nations; to share intelligence with the U.N.; and to observe an invalid U.N. embargo against Bosnia while weakening the President’s ability to impose them elsewhere.

Copies of the full text of Gaffney’s remarks may be obtained by contacting the Center.