Middle East: A More Visible Presense

The Marines move into East Beirut, as the U.S. loses patience with Israel

At first there were astonished looks and open stares. Then cautious waves and shy smiles. Eventually, cries in English and Arabic of "Welcome!" Some residents even shouted "God bless America!" as the visitors passed by, followed by groups of children on bicycles.

The newcomers to East Beirut were U.S. Marines. Since their arrival in Lebanon six weeks ago, the 1,200-man U.S. contingent had been confined to relatively remote areas around Beirut International Airport, while their 1,560 French and 1,400 Italian counterparts were carrying out more visible assignments throughout the devastated city. But last week President Reagan agreed to a request by Lebanese President Amin Gemayel for additional help in providing security in the Lebanese capital. It consisted in fact of only four Jeeps, prominently displaying the Stars and Stripes and carrying three Marines each. Nonetheless, the U.S. presence in East Beirut was an important signal of the Reagan Administration's commitment to the stability of an independent Lebanon. Said a Marine on duty at the airport: "We're here to do whatever has to be done, including fight if necessary."

As the Marines defused land mines and improved their bivouac positions, Washington was also moving on the broader questions that face the Middle East. U.S. Negotiator Morris Draper was in Beirut and Jerusalem, trying, with little success, to negotiate a withdrawal of Israeli, Syrian and Palestinian fighting forces from Lebanon. Late last week the U.S. reacted with unusual vehemence to a speech by Israel's Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Minister David Levy, who declared that five new Jewish settlements would soon be established on the West Bank. In his Sept. 1 speech outlining a new peace plan for the Middle East, President Reagan had specifically urged the government of Prime Minister Menachem Begin to freeze the development of all new settlements in the occupied territories. State Department Spokesman Alan Romberg described the latest announcement from Jerusalem as "most unwelcome." Said he: "We cannot understand why, at a time when we are actively seeking broader participation in the peace process, Israel persists in a pattern of activity which erodes the confidence of all . . . in the possibilities for a just and fairly negotiated outcome to the peace process."