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Show oN IN THE (PELESA NkTWUNCOMMnTEPPELEfiATK Weekly pBgnatH SS::" Soviets step up efforts to win hearts and minds in Latin America Washington Many Americans worry wor-ry that tensions in Latin America could lead to a military showdown with the Soviet Union there. The United States can undoubtedly bring more military muscle to bear in our own back yard, so the outlook is favorable if a little scary at least for the short term. But embassy officials in the region fear that, while we may win the battle, we're losing the war. The reason is that the Kremlin is outdoing us in the subtle art of political indoctrination, a skill at which the Soviets are masters. Call it education, friendly persuasion or brainwashing: They're experts at it, and they're using it to win the hearts and minds of our Latin neighbors. One of the important ways they do this is by bringing Central American students to Moscow to study and putting them through a basic training course in Marxism. Of course, the students are also taught technical skills. But underlying their free education is a solid Marxist view of life so that when these future leaders return home, they are understandably sympathetic to Moscow. Mos-cow. Our embassy in the Dominican Republic did a survey of students who had gone to the Soviet Union. Typically, they spend from four to six years studying there. The first year is pretty much devoted to the study of Russian and to Marxist ideology. After that, the students are not required to continue political indoctrination. indoctri-nation. Yet the embassy survey found that a year was usually enough. Most of the students returned with a positive view of Soviet society. According to one confidential memo, the Soviets succeeded suc-ceeded in "winning the good will of the students in gratitude for the education they receive." The survey said the students did not feel that they were being brainwashed by their Soviet benefactors: "They felt that their hosts were not seeking to build communists, but rather to change the way people perceive the Soviet Union," the memo states. The U.S. Information Agency, which conducted the study, sounded another ominous note in the report. It pointed out that the Soviets are no longer giving scholarships just to members of the working class the proletariat revered in Marxist ideology. They have also been recruiting young people from the middle class, who have a better chance of becoming leaders when they return home. PRESIDENT'S PLOY-Secretary of State George Shultz's recent trip to Nicaragua signals the first cautious step in easing tensions in Latin America. But critics say this may have been just another political ploy. Secret policy guidelines and interviews with top White House officials give a clue to President Reagan's true intentions. We're told that the president is determined not to allow the communists commu-nists to win their important beachhead on this continent. He is not inclined to lessen military pressure until the ruling Sandinista regime holds free elections in Nicaragua. And he looks upon the people who now hold power there as Soviet agents whose true allegiance is to Moscow, and not their own country. Reagan has told close associates that he is drawing the line at Nicaragua and will do whatever necessary to stop the communists from spreading their revolution. He is not deterred by adverse press reaction and believes the majority of Americans are behind him. Reads one secret policy guideline, "The apathetic, neo-isolationism of the post-Vietnam era is fading." v-P FRONTRUNNERS Now that the race for delegates appears to be over, the talk among politicos has turned to who Walter Mondale will pick as his running mate. Here is some of the inside chatter: Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, D-Texas, is the favorite among Mondale's finance men. Besides his important ability to carry his home state, Bentsen is well-respected among his Senate colleagues. His ties to big Texas oil will also bring in needed funds. But those same ties could alienate some liberal Democrats. A strong faction wants the bid to go to Sen. Gary Hart, D-Colo., Mondale's surprise competitor. If he were to accept, the Democratic ticket would have a strong, seasoned "pulpit thumper" on board. It would also help heal campaign lacerations. And if he turned the slot down, at least his backers would be mollified. Mid-level Mondale operators are talking up Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young. Young could help bring out the black vote. But one insider says this choice would force Mondale to court Rev. Jesse Jackson with the promise of a Cabinet post. Despite all the talk, a woman candidate seems to be just more political banter. There has been no clear concensus on which woman to pick. COSTLY REPRINT-Transportation Department officials have ordered 9,000 copies of a Federal Aviation Administration report to be destroyed for the dubious reason that they didn't get their changes in soon enough. A mere two pages of errata would have taken care of the concerns. But according to an internal memo, officials feared that would "impact negatively on the agency's credibility." The cost to the taxpayers for this bungle $35,000. Copyright, 1984 United Feature Syndicate, Inc. |