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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, APRIL 23, 1982
PAGE 12
Some Administrative officials have fought a rear guard bureau
cratic
battle on behalf of Argentina. United Nations Ambassador
Jeane Kirkpatrick, Assistant Secretary of State Thomas
o.
Enders
and others worry that if [ Argentine President] Galtieri's regime
topples, its replacement may prove less willing to support
Reagan's East-West showdown with Communism in Central America.
In other words, it might disrupt U.S. attempts to hire Argentine military
help {which should be seen now as of questionable value}--in fighting U.S.
battles. Argentina is a hired "lover" (Jeremiah 30:14), pure and simple.
It is almost incomprehensible to see why the U.S. government considers
unstable Argentina to be such a valuable ally or wants to prevent its
government from falling. George F. Will writes in his April 26, NEWSWEEK
column:
Why save it? Consider a parable. A young preacher came to his
first church the day of a funeral and, not having known the
deceased, asked if anyone would care to offer a eulogy. From a
back pew a voice called:
"His brother was even worse.
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The
alternative to Argentina's junta--the Peronists--would be worse.
They would fill the jails with different victims and empty the
Treasury for different beneficiaries.
It has been said that
Argentines have no causes, only enemies. The Peronists' enemies
include "American imperialism," Zionism and rich people.
Peronism has perhaps the world's highest ratio of jargon to
thought.
There is a theatrical element in all politics, but there seem to
be few other elements in Argentina's.
When General Galtieri
became President Galtieri in December, he said Argentina suffered
from "lethargy, apathy and lack of confidence."
Perhaps the
Falkland adventure is intended as a stimulant••••Certainly
Argentina does not need the Falklands for Lebensraum. Argentina,
with a population of 27 million, is almost as large as India,
which has a population of 667 million•••••
Argentina ••• has the artificiality of a society based on mimicry
of Europe••••Many Argentines are, or are descended from, immi
grants from Spain and Italy. According to an American statesman
who likes them, they combine Spanish pride with an Italian sense
of the state ( meaning chaotic politics].
Many Argentines are Anglophiles••..But the junta's aggression
expresses contempt for Britain. Perhaps because of the notorious
Argentine machismo, the junta has misjudged Thatcher•.••The junta
probably is unsavable in the long run--whatever that means in
Argentina. Thatcher, an indispensable friend, needs help, and
the United States needs an opportunity to demonstrate reliabil
ity. Some
U.S.
ships
sailing
south would concentrate
the
junta's
mind on the fact that the United States intends to guarantee the
success of its NATO ally.
Will the U.S. in the interests of anti-British "hemisphere solidarity
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still try to save Argentina's face?
--Gene H. Hogberg, News Bureau