In the Middle East, Bush has been eager to frame his policies in clearcut terms of right and wrong. But in the spirit of Realpolitik and a vision of international harmony, he will tactfully overlook Soviet injustices in search of his elusive New World Order. He will invoke morality only when it is convenient to do so.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it? So much for the New World Order. It isn't particularly New, it encompasses little of the World and it provides barely a modicum of Order. Its future looks ominous indeed.

THERE ARE PLENTY of good reasons to fight in the Gulf: eliminating Iraq's offensive capability, preserving oil supplies and yes, deterring aggression in the Middle East. But if Bush expects to extend this vision of collective security to a global New World Order, he may be in for a surprise.

Right now, Bush is too busy to worry about the Baltics. He'll deal with the Soviet Union after his military action is complete. After the volatile, unpredictable crisis in the Baltics has run its course. After a de facto New World Order has begun to take shape without his input.

As Kundera noticed, our consciences can only grapple with a certain amount of bloodshed and oppression at one time, anyway. Instead, we look away, distracted by events that strike closer to our hearts.

But the stakes we ignore in the Soviet Union are remarkably intense. And so is the suffering we quickly forget.