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US, two big questions answered, but one still lingers. Clarity
on Soviet Union and S. Korea, but not on Gulf  By Joseph C.
Harsch / July 3, 1987  The past week in world affairs has seen
the clearing away of two big uncertainties. There is not going
to be a blood bath in South Korea. And there is going to be a
major push in the Soviet Union for radical reform of the entire
economic, social, and political system.  Skip to next paragraph
A third important uncertainty remains: Will the Reagan
administration be able to go ahead with its plans for the
Persian Gulf in spite of its remarkable inability to explain
rationally to Congress what it wants to do there and why.  The
key moment in South Korea came on Tuesday, when riot police in
Seoul and Kwangju packed their gear and went back to their
various local posts and duties. The fighting and rioting was
over. The Army would not be called in to suppress political
opposition.  We do not know yet just how