Dukakis Too Far Right on Africa, Jackson Declares

The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Friday escalated his attack on Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, saying the Democratic front-runner is further to the right than President Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in at least one aspect of foreign policy.

Jackson charged that Dukakis opposes sending military aid to Mozambique’s Marxist government--assistance that even Reagan favors. Dukakis thereby demonstrates “a lack of understanding of foreign policy in the Southern African region,” Jackson said. “He certainly is going to have to have a stronger and a clearer view of the world, and a more comprehensive view of the world.”

Jackson said Thatcher has pro vided Mozambique with military aid to use against South African-backed rightist guerrillas, the Mozambique National Resistance (MNR), known in Africa as Renamo. Reagan’s requests for assistance, he added, have been blocked by Senate conservatives, primarily Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee.

Asked at a news conference in Youngstown, Ohio, about Jackson’s characterization of him as being to the right of Reagan and Thatcher, Dukakis replied: “That will come as a surprise to 10 Downing Street and the White House.” No. 10 Downing St. is the residence of the British prime minister.

Prefers Economic Sanctions

“What I have said is that I don’t think at this point it is advisable to (send weapons to Mozambique)--that imposing tough, preferably international economic sanctions on South Africa” would be the correct course, he said.

Jackson’s attack is significant on two counts: For one, it zeroes in on what is considered Dukakis’ biggest political weakness, his lack of foreign policy experience. Second, it marks a departure from the campaign high road for Jackson, who until recently has pointedly avoided attacking his Democratic rivals, leaving that job to other candidates and focusing his criticism instead on the Republican Administration.

His more aggressive strategy developed after he was trounced by Dukakis in their first one-on-one match-up, Tuesday’s Pennsylvania primary. Dukakis is again favored in next Tuesday’s Ohio and Indiana primaries, where a total of 238 delegates are at stake.

In almost every speech he has made while campaigning here, Jackson has called attention to a State Department report, released last week, contending that South African-backed rebels in Mozambique have murdered at least 100,000 civilians over the past two years. In cataloguing “this heinous set of crimes,” Jackson has graphically described how the rebels have slit throats and cut open the bellies of pregnant women.

Non-Lethal Equipment

A State Department official said Friday that the Administration proposed the sale of $3-million worth of non-lethal military equipment, such as boots, blankets, and communications gear, and $1 million in military training for Mozambique in both fiscal 1985 and fiscal 1986. Helms succeeded in killing the sale in 1985. In 1986, he was able to write into a continuing resolution a provision, which is still binding, forbidding military assistance to Mozambique.

However, the official said, the Administration never proposed the sale of arms.

The Administration and Helms have been at odds over Mozambique policy for years. Helms backs the Renamo forces, which the U.S. government considers to be a bunch of thugs. The Administration has been courting the Mozambique government, which Administration officials say has been gradually moving away from its hard-left Marxist ideology. Helms objects strongly to the U.S. policy.

“Some of (Dukakis’) positions are closer to Jesse Helms than Jesse Jackson,” said Gerald F. Austin, Jackson’s campaign manager.

Jackson strategist Robert Borosage added that Dukakis’ stance on Mozambique is an “example of the bigger argument we’ve been making that Jackson is the candidate most qualified to be President.”

The Massachusetts governor, Jackson said, “either has a lack of understanding of what the options are in the region, or he supports a policy that is in fact inconsistent with the progressive and democratic thrust in the world.”

Challenges Dukakis

Jackson again called upon Dukakis to declare South Africa a terrorist state and to promise to sever U.S. relations with that country.

“He has no plan to contain apartheid and no effective plan to in fact eliminate apartheid,” Jackson said.

A day earlier, he had assailed Dukakis for refusing to outline his budget priorities. The Massachusetts governor, who has emphasized his administrative skills, would merely “manage Reaganomics,” Jackson contended.

Dukakis responded Friday by citing his record as governor of Massachusetts in a variety of economic endeavors, including housing construction and job growth. “I don’t talk about these things, I have a record,” Dukakis said. “What’s more, I balance budgets.”

Dukakis said that he would end U.S. support for other South African-backed rebels in Angola and assist in imposing international economic sanctions against South Africa. Those are “the kinds of policies which may finally bring the South African power structure to its senses,” he said.