The Middleast Crises
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Authors
Spiers, Ronald I.
Issue Date
1984-04-04
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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Mr. Spiers entered Government service in 1950 as a Foreign Affairs Analyst in the US Atomic Energy Commission. In 1955 he joined the Foreign Service and was assigned to the Bureau of International Organization Affairs as a Foreign Affairs Officer. Mr. Spiers was named Officer-in-Charge, Disarmament Affairs, Office of the Special Assistant to the Secretary of State, in 1957. He was Director, Office of Political Affairs, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, from 1961 to 1962; from 1962 to 1966 he was Director/Deputy Director of the NATO Affairs Office in the Bureau of European Affairs. In 1966 Mr. Spiers was appointed Counselor for Poliical Affairs at the American Embassy in London and in 1969 he became a Deputy Assistant Secretary and Director of the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs.
ANNECDOTE
Because he is responsible for the U.S. Foreign Service Institute that trains our career diplomats, in informal conversation, outside the OCFR meeting, I asked Spiers to assess the quality of U.S. politically appointed ambassadors: "They make us the laughing stock of international diplomacy; their growing proportion in this Reagan Administration is destroying morale among U.S. Foreign Service Officers."
SUMMARY
Secretary Spiers surveyed three crises: the Arab-Israeli imbroglio, Lebanon, Iran-Iraq War. US goals: prevent those who oppose us from achieving injurious influence, contain and manage regional conflict -- specifically, seeking resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict and Iran-Iraq War, move us toward peace through negotiation rather than through arms. US main role is as facilitator. He praised the Camp David Accords process and Reagan's 1982 initiative. He noted those fighting now cannot negotiate until they all feel strong. A couple policy points: Jerusalem should be part of a final settlement; moving the embassy would prejudge the settlement; opposing aid to a moderate state undermines our credibility. Informative points: the US works everyday with all factions in Lebanon; urging UN Sec General role in Iran-Iraq War, not a US mediating role. Q+A: On Afghanistan, "USSR acted out of fear of radical Moslems and the overturning of a Communist government and were surprised at the negative world reaction. Prospects for settlement are bad because relations with the U.S. are bad.": Palestine: Israel's settlements policy is shortsighted and guarantees perpetual war.
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