—Voices from the Sensible Center—

Interpreting the Middle East for North Americans—
Interpreting North America for the Middle East

Current Affairs

2 The PLO and Us—Our friend Humphrey, puzzled and persistent as ever, dropped into our office again the other day because he had a couple of questions about the PLO. We think we may have raised even more questions in his mind than we answered. But it just might have done him some good.

3 U.S. Records Mideast Surplus—If it weren't for the Middle East, the expected record U.S. trade deficit in world trade this year would be even worse. But a combination of growing exports and dwindling purchases of oil has given the U.S. its first surplus in trade with that region for nine years.

4 Lobby Activities—The American-Arab Anti- Discrimination Committee has been busy weaving a network of relations with church and other groups sharing similar concerns—a strategy which has helped lead to the formation of a new coalition devoted exclusively to Middle East issues. On the other side of the fence, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee lobbied hard for more aid to Israel and was pleased by the Senate Appropriations Committee's vote in its favor.

Regular Features

2 Editorial—It's now been a hundred days since the Administration initiated policies to end Israeli occupation of the West Bank and remove foreign troops from Lebanon. We'd hate to have to rate the Administration's success on a scale of one to ten.

6 Facts For Your Files—Chronology of U.S.-Middle East Relations

7 Book Review—With so little information available on South Yemen, Robert Stookey's new book South Yemen: A Marxist Republic in Arabia, is a much welcomed contribution. He reviews the country's history both before and during British rule and dispels some common misperceptions about its current regime.

8 Personality—Hal Saunders spent two decades at or near the apex of U.S. policymaking on the Middle East, but never became a Middle East expert—or so he says. What he did do, though, is develop a virtually unique background as an expert in U.S.-Middle East relations.