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- 09-May-88 09:09 EDT
- Sb: APn 05/05 0214 Reagan-Space Invaders
- Copyright, 1988. The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
-
- By TERENCE HUNT AP White House Correspondent
- WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Reagan says he wonders what would happen if the
- Earth were invaded by "a power from outer space," and imagines that it would
- unite all nations of the world in a common defense.
- He made the comment Wednesday in Chicago during a question-and-answer
- session after a speech about human rights and the Soviet Union.
- His telling of the story followed one day after the disclosure that Nancy
- Reagan has consulted an astrologer about the president's schedule and travel
- plans. Several members of Congress chided Reagan about the use of astrology and
- a group of scientists complained that it was a discredited practice.
- Reagan, asked what he felt was the most vital factor in international
- relations, spoke of the importance of frankness and about a desire for peaceful
- solutions.
- He went on to say that there had been "about 114 wars" since World War II,
- including conflicts between smaller nations.
- "But I've often wondered, what if all of us in the world discovered that we
- were threatened by an outer -- a power from outer space, from another planet,"
- Reagan said.
- "Wouldn't we all of a sudden find that we didn't have any differences
- between us at all, we were all human beings, citizens of the world, and
- wouldn't we come together to fight that particular threat?" the president
- asked.
- The president found an analogy in the threat of nuclear destruction.
- "In a way, we have something of that kind today, mentioning nuclear power
- again. We now have a weapon that can destroy the world, and why don't we
- recognize that threat more clearly and then come together with one aim in mind,
- how safely, sanely and quickly can we rid the world of this threat to our
- civilization and our existence?"
- The comment drew applause from the audience, a nonpartisan group that
- specializes in foreign policy and national security issues, the National
- Strategy Forum.
- As his next summit with Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev approaches,
- Reagan has been emphasizing the need for arms control in particular and for
- cooperation among nations in general.
- In light of his past anti-Soviet rhetoric, he offered startling praise for
- Gorbachev during his speech Wednesday, saying the Soviet leader's reform
- programs are "of tremendous significance."
- "It is my belief that there is hope for further change, hope that in the
- days ahead the Soviets will grant further recognition to the fundamental civil
- and political rights of all," Reagan said.
-
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