Executions & Torture–But in Moderation

The Reagan administration has a new approach to human rights which, while it won’t affect anyone in the U.S., may have some important ramifications for political prisoners around the world.

The philosophy of the new approach was expressed recently by Prof. Jeane Kirkpatrick of Georgetown University, who is a very influential Reagan adviser.

“If we are confronted with the choice between offering assistance to a moderately repressive autocratic government, which is also friendly to the United States, and permitting it to be overrun by a Cuban-trained, Cuban-armed, Cuban-sponsored insurgency, we would assist the moderate autocracy,” Miss Kirkpatrick was quoted as saying.

Nobody in his or her right mind...