Poland: The Vision Thing

Could George Bush imagine, even six months ago, that there would be a non- Communist government in Eastern Europe during his lifetime, much less his presidency? Probably not. Then why is his response so lukewarm to an ideological victory that his predecessors, from Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan, could only dream about?

The Administration is offering $119 million in aid to Poland's Solidarity- led government -- not a penny more than it was prepared to give the Communists who locked up Lech Walesa a few years ago. In contrast, U.S. aid to Israel this year will total $3 billion, and to Egypt $2.4 billion. Looking at the numbers another way, the total aid to Poland is less than one-quarter the price of one Stealth bomber.

To be sure, tossing extra money into the pot without follow-up thought and planning amounts to offering easy applause more than productive partnership. But the relative sum assigned is a symbol of priorities. Is the priority for Poland unchanged? Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki's success may depend on his ability to deal with Poland's economic situation -- quickly. Can the U.S. really afford to let him fail for lack of assistance? It is odd, to say the least, that George Bush appears to have been as comfortable with the Communist status quo as with this historic breakthrough for democracy.