Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Free press and people

Friday, May 5, 2000 | 10:20 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

A FEW AMERICAN WRITERS and the Associated Press have made note of Israel's desire to sell a sophisticated airborne warning system to China. Last month Secretary of Defense William Cohen went to Israel and expressed U.S. concern about the Israeli-developed Phalcon radar system being sold to Beijing. He had every reason to express his disapproval because of the war drums the People's Republic of China was beating as it eyed our friends on Taiwan.

Because the Phalcon is part of a $250 million contract there would be no opposition from within the selling country without free elections and a free press. Israel has both, and the Jerusalem Post immediately dubbed the sale "an unwise arms deal." The newspaper then, in an editorial, pointed to the Taiwan Relations Act that makes United States defense commitments to the island nation.

The Post editorial goes on to say, "In this regard, it is disingenuous of Israel to argue that the Phalcon system is merely defensive. As former deputy undersecretary of defense Dov Zakheim recently wrote in this newspaper: 'When operated in conjunction with China's growing, increasingly modern long-range air force, the Phalcon could tilt the strategic balance not only between China and Taiwan, but more generally in East and Southeast Asia.' "

The editorial went on to tell readers, "If these dire pronouncements are correct, the argument that Israel must not deprive its defense industries of revenue does not justify the sale. The U.S., on the other hand, should show some sensitivity to Israel's need for an indigenous defense industry to maintain its qualitative edge.

"Though the U.S. has, at times, refrained from sales of sophisticated weaponry to Arab nations at Israel's request, Israel's effort to maintain its qualitative edge has been made more difficult by the sale of advanced U.S. fighter aircraft and tanks to Arab countries. But even if local defense industries are a critical component in staying ahead in a U.S.-fueled Mideast arms race, it would be foolhardy for Israel to harm the U.S. position in Asia. What is necessary is an honest, mature and discrete discussion between close allies."

Two weeks after the editorial appeared, China President Jiang Zemin arrived in Israel for a visit. The Post carried a front-page picture of the Chinese leader with the warning headline "Dancing with wolves." This time editorial comments, usually not seen on the front page, told of China's dismal human rights record.

Jiang, well aware of the sale controversy in his host country, declared, " 'It is becoming increasingly difficult for hegemonism and power politics to continue controlling the fate of other countries. Multi-polar politics is a more powerful contribution to the peace process and for stability and development.' "

The newspaper, in response to Jiang's remarks, commented, "Jiang's anti-American taunt should have prompted an immediate response from President Ezer Weizman, rejecting the idea that the U.S. should be treated as a latter-day imperial power. The remarks also should be treated as a general wake-up call concerning the company Israel is keeping."

The Israeli editors haven't forgotten the 1981 United States sale of AWACS radar to Saudi Arabia. That's when our country pointed out that the sale was a harmless, "defensive" system. The Post refuses to allow Israel to use this same weak argument when discussing the pending Phalcon sale. Very simply, they point out that two wrongs don't make a right. The United States was wrong in 1981, but Israel shouldn't be wrong in 2000.

The newspaper leaves no doubt that it views the little island democracy being in much the same position as Israel. The most recent free elections in Taiwan saw the ruling party defeated. This has impressed the Israelis. It was a rough and tumble election campaign much like one Israel put on a year ago.

In addition to being a free people, the Post writer makes note of other similarities: "Roughly Israel's size, shape and age, modern Taiwan has registered major economic accomplishments despite a dire lack of natural resources, a depressing existence in the shadow of a formidable enemy and a chronic need to spend billions on defense."

The Jerusalem Post has taken the correct position in siding with the United States' opposition to the sale of Phalcon to China. The cogent arguments in a free press should tilt the thinking of Israel's government and business leaders to do what is right. Phalcon should not become an airborne instrument which will allow China to see inside of Taiwan and target its defenses. The sale would be dead wrong no matter what rationalization Israeli salesmen may cook up.