THE WASHINGTON POST, SUNDAY, MAY 2 3 , 1 9 8 2
Through the fog of war around the Falklands there emerges glaring evidence as to the ramshackle structure of world politics. Crucial American connections with Britain, Western Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and China seem suddenly to come up for grabs all at once.</br></br>In this hour of shifting balances, the first requirement is to reassert basic ties. Fortunately, the presidentÛªs trip to Europe next month offers an occasion for bringing together anew this country, Japan and the Atlantic allies.</br></br>The Latin American standing of the United States has already been damaged by the fight over the Falklands. In the crunch, the United States sided with Britain against Argentina. While most Latin American countries dislike the Argentines, they are also quick to resent slights from the United States. WashingtonÛªs tilt away from hemispheric solidarity, and toward an old imperial power, thus adds a new insult to an old injury.</br></br>No payoff in improved ties with Britain follows. On the contrary, the impartial stance taken by the United States when this country tried to mediate the conflict was seen as a violation of the ÛÏspecial relationshipÛ that London likes to claim with Washington. If the British emerge from the Falklands any less than triumphant, they will feel, not for the first time, that they were let down by the Yanks.</br></br>An absence of strong support has already poisoned British relations with the continent. At the outset of the Falklands crisis, BritainÛªs partners in the European Economic Community unanimously voted sanctions against Argentina. When fighting ensued, the Europeans began having second thoughts. A renewal of the sanctions was voted last MondayÛÓbut only for a week. Harsh words about the Europeans have been spoken by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and President Francois Mitterrand and Chancellor Helmut Schmidt have had some nasty things to say about Britain. The United States, once again, is caught in the cross fire.