<The attorney general proposes that Americans denounce one another to the government for suspected subversive actions or affiliations. This naturally recalls the years of McCarthyism; but Joseph McCarthy was a senator and a demagogue, not a member of the president's cabinet.

This is not new. This is called looking after what’s yours, and notifying the authorities for suspected wrong-doing. It is up to the witness to step forward and face the accused in a court of law. If this smacks of McCarthyism to William Pfaff, perhaps he should "re-examine" the use of this term the next time he suspects a prowler in his backyard, or witnesses unorthodox, possibly shady goings-on at his place of employment.

The Greek story is a minor one in the international press, and not a story at all in the American press outside metropolitan centers.



That is too bad, because it could teach Americans something about terrorism as it really exists, with its real activists and in its real dimensions. The lesson is to have a sense of proportion about terrorism. If you don't have that, you, and not the terrorists, may become the problem.





Ah, and reality finally rears its ugly head. I was wondering where it was.

The current concern is global terrorism, not Pfaff’s mom-&-pop-shop variety. While November 17 has excellent potential as an NBC miniseries, the group remains a minor footnote for today’s battles. Communiqués are transmitted to limit, or caution, American travels to hazardous regions abroad, but beyond this, and the local embassy, we’re pretty much out there on our own -- as would be any other traveler.

Home-grown terrorists are the worst kind, simply because they know the territory and can blend in, but they really amount to little more than local criminals. Had November 17 exhibited a greater circle of influence, one that might further threaten the continued sovereignty of Greece, we might have cared a little more.

Hard telling, since November 17 was most active during a different administration.

Would we have gotten involved? Well, that would require either a direct attack upon U.S. interests, and/or a request form the government-under-attack for assistance.

Dan