For the Record

First poll (Washington Post/ABC News) taken as hostages arrived in Syria en route to Wiesbaden shows 75 per cent approval of Ronald Reagan’s handling of crisis, but 51 per cent doubtful that his handling of it will help “reduce the chances of such things happening in the future.” Thirty-six per cent thought RR had not been tough enough. . . . Mary McGrory, for what it’s worth, thinks Reagan “is the luckiest politician alive.” … In general the Right lined up with the 36 per cent: The President was blasted by George Will, Norman Podhoretz, Paul Weyrich, and Moral Majority’s Ronald Godwin, who called for George Shultz’s resignation. … At Georgetown’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, Robert C. Neumann commented: “Every Administration has to take a course in Reality 101. To talk tough without being able to carry out what you say simply weakens you.” . . . Former State Department Middle East expert Joseph Sisco believes this is Ronald Reagan’s “coming to terms with reality.” . . . Washington Post’s David Broder, lining up with the hards on this one, says country that offers terrorists shelter should be held responsible. Broder’s plan: Day One, cease all commerce with sheltering country. Day Two, order all Americans out and help them to leave, using force if necessary. Day Three (or as soon thereafter as practicable), take retaliatory action, unless sheltering nation a) tries to get rid of terrorists or b) frees the hostages.

In Athens, diplomatic channels abuzz with report that TWA 847 became target when it was discovered a top U.S. Middle Eastern intelligence agent would be aboard. Question they’re asking: Who was responsible for the leak? . . . Greek Minister of Culture Melina Mercouri is much offended that Zubin Mehta and N.Y. Philharmonic Orchestra have canceled two performances in Greece because of poor airport security, putting crimp in designation of Athens as 1985 Culture Capital of Europe. . . . Jordanians report that high-ranking member of ruling Baath party in Syria whom they captured in May, Hassan Hajaj Obeidat, has revealed a Syrian-instigated terrorism campaign in Jordan aimed at destabilizing King Hussein. Bombs were to have gone off about one a day. . . . Not much publicity to signing of strategic alliance between Libya (Qaddafi) and Iran (Khomeini) a fortnight ago to establish joint military force to free Palestine from “Zionist occupation.” . . . Western Europe was No. 1 terrorist target last year. Terrorist attacks took 349 lives.

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First poll (Washington Post/ABC News) taken as hostages arrived in Syria en route to Wiesbaden shows 75 per cent approval of Ronald Reagan’s handling of crisis, but 51 per cent doubtful that his handling of it will help “reduce the chances of such things happening in the future.” Thirty-six per cent thought RR had not been tough enough. . . . Mary McGrory, for what it’s worth, thinks Reagan “is the luckiest politician alive.” … In general the Right lined up with the 36 per cent: The President was blasted by George Will, Norman Podhoretz, Paul Weyrich, and Moral Majority’s Ronald Godwin, who called for George Shultz’s resignation. … At Georgetown’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, Robert C. Neumann commented: “Every Administration has to take a course in Reality 101. To talk tough without being able to carry out what you say simply weakens you.” . . . Former State Department Middle East expert Joseph Sisco believes this is Ronald Reagan’s “coming to terms with reality.” . . . Washington Post’s David Broder, lining up with the hards on this one, says country that offers terrorists shelter should be held responsible. Broder’s plan: Day One, cease all commerce with sheltering country. Day Two, order all Americans out and help them to leave, using force if necessary. Day Three (or as soon thereafter as practicable), take retaliatory action, unless sheltering nation a) tries to get rid of terrorists or b) frees the hostages.

In Athens, diplomatic channels abuzz with report that TWA 847 became target when it was discovered a top U.S. Middle Eastern intelligence agent would be aboard. Question they’re asking: Who was responsible for the leak? . . . Greek Minister of Culture Melina Mercouri is much offended that Zubin Mehta and N.Y. Philharmonic Orchestra have canceled two performances in Greece because of poor airport security, putting crimp in designation of Athens as 1985 Culture Capital of Europe. . . . Jordanians report that high-ranking member of ruling Baath party in Syria whom they captured in May, Hassan Hajaj Obeidat, has revealed a Syrian-instigated terrorism campaign in Jordan aimed at destabilizing King Hussein. Bombs were to have gone off about one a day. . . . Not much publicity to signing of strategic alliance between Libya (Qaddafi) and Iran (Khomeini) a fortnight ago to establish joint military force to free Palestine from “Zionist occupation.” . . . Western Europe was No. 1 terrorist target last year. Terrorist attacks took 349 lives.