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Show Tht DtSy Utxh Chrontete. Vfedacstfr, Octsbw Hatch's decision escapes all logic Sadat: How vital was he to peace 7 Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch announced after the tragic shooting of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat that he has changed his mind on the AWACS issue and said he will now support the administration's proposed sale of $8.5 million dollars worth of arms. Hatch said his decision reversal was "in part" due to the assassination of Anwar Sadat. Hatch's logic must come from the idea that the United States needs to make as many friends as possible in the Middle East, but the insecurity of most of the governments in that region should discourage selling arms to them. Instead of delivering arms to these countries arms which may fall into the hands of potential adversaries we should seek other, safer methods of gaining their respect and support. In 1977, when President Carter sold some of the same AWACS planes to Iran, the possibility of the Shah's overthrow was an issue. Congress allowed that sale after being promised special security guarantees however, and it was only the delay in delivering the AWACS that prevented the Ayatollah's regime from having them today. The AWACS were to be delivered to Iran in 1981. Had the AyatoIIah taken over Iran after the AWACS delivery, America would likely have lost one of its biggest technological advantages over the Soviet Union. The technology in the AWACS is so important to U.S. security, in fact, that NATO allies cannot operate AWACS without U.S. presence. Sadat's assassination is but one more terrible reminder of the volatile situation in the Middle East it reminds us that, in that section of the world, today and for most of recorded history, governments are never secure enough to count on for indefinite periods of time. AWACS would do absolutely nothing to protect the Middle East from domestic turmoil like that which apparently took the life of Sadat, and his unfortunate death should not sway anyone to voting for the sale of arms to Middle East countries which today seem to be favorable to U.S. interests. Rather, the incident should remind us of the danger in counting on any type of governmental consistency in many of the Middle East countries. It was only four years ago that Congress decided toallow the sale of the AWACS equipment to Iran. Today, after the Iranian revolution, the hostage problems and the Iran-Irawar, we can only be glad that the delivery of the AWACS came four years after the arms sale. Tuesday President Anwar Sadat of Egypt became the third world leader this year to feel the sting of a gunman's bullet. This time, however, the bullets proved deadly. Sadat's brutal death underscores the volatile nature of the Middle East and raises questions about Egypt'sability tocontinueactingasa leader in efforts to establish lasting peace in that region. Another problem is the possibility that radical Moslems may view Sadat's absence as an opportunity for them to seize control of the Egyptian government from Vice President Hosni Mubarak, a man who undoubtedly has less public support than Sadat. Above all, the incident illustrates thedanger of making U.S. policy toward the Middle East dependent on the continued stability of governments that are more or less friendly toward this country. Such policies can be destroyed with the firing of a single shot. Sadat was the leader of the moderate Arabs who sought peace with solution to the Palestinian situation. He has Israel and a been almost solely responsible for the progress made so far his death thus raises doubts about the prospect for further strides toward of peace. A State Department official said Sadat was "the linch-piour policy" and that his death was a "very serious blow." Former Secretary of Stale Henry Kissinger underlined the significance of Egypt's leader. "If there is an indispensable man in the diplomatic process, it is Sadat." Egyptian Ambassador Ashraf Ghorbal, almost immediately after official reports of Sadat's death had been released, tried to reassure the United Slates and Israel that Egypt will continue the policies and programs of their late president. "The peace process under Camp David will remain the . . . policy of the country," he said. "A close relationship with the United States will remain a cornerstone of Egyptian policy." Despite these reassurances, it is doubtful the Middle East peace process will move forward without Sadat, unless someone in either Egypt or the United States decides to take up Sadat's aggressive, initiating role in future peace talks. Sadat always understood his role. "In Egypt, personalities have always been more important than programs," he said. non-viole- nt n q msm y par The ftai'y I'ttih Chrmiklrim student newspaper Hiblished daily during tall, winter ami spiing quaiKYs. excluding test weeks and qtianer btraks. by the t'niversiis Publications Council, Edilot ials the opinion of the rditm ial lioard. and not itecvssai ily the opinions tf body of the ailministiatiou. Subscriptions: S20 a veal. S6 an academic quaitci. AH subset ipt ions must Ik- prepaid. Eorwaid all - subscription cotrcspondctMe. iih hiding change of addiess. lo: Business Manager. Dailv I'lah Chioni le. 210 t'nion. l'imcim of flail. Sail I like Citv. 81112. Editorial Bcvud Sieve Fraihis. O'Bikn. Jean Anneni Oiim. Edi:or-in-Chi- H Avawiaie FeWtoi Managing f'i:ci Business Maitng'i I ni.olii Ilthb. Bill Raines Ciopx tuiiot Bill News Editor Ediloiial Edilot Edit. Senior Reporters Spoils Editor Photographcis Asm. Raim-- 'v J s Iee JoanOBiicn J an Ann. m Ormc Catheimc U Avm ),,,. Baud Entertainment Editor Spoils EdiUM Photography Edilot Assistant Copy Editors P.iiikk kling.im.in. Joan P.inirk Kling.un.ui Lincoln Hobbs Steve Flam is Ruben MtOinlm 7. 1 C31 Jhn J,hc Karen Jeiman Tim Haves Ti.hiOVcis , DongCI.uk John Ned Ramh Hoffman Amv Robinson Kim Oslmiii r,m Tsakakis Paul Bcaice Mike Johnson Kaien Vendcll Batksliop Eotcnfan B.Hkshoi Assistants Ti;m Ad RcHescutaties Ac Stiiicjuist Jean Nolle Kaien Smith Ruth Webb Ron Vaiela Ijiis Collins i O Veiy Julia Jenkins toiim.iitl Mxiicis Sheila llamillou Volt Pin Kaiin Slone Debbie Yaiighaii I.isha Youngling Bull Budd Samba f.ama Sue 1. an Peg M( Elllee Cwiihia Sel.ikis 1 OllKeafl , |
