Negotiations to Settle Mideast Crisis

After the Vietnam War, our government decided that it was not politically expedient to have American soldiers fight wars on foreign soil. So for the next 20 years when we wanted to “protect our interest abroad,” we just armed “freedom fighters.” We would pay the tab, sell them the military hardware, but let some poor Third World country provide the bodies.

Now, as we move into the ‘90s, we are supplying the bodies and other countries are paying the tab. What does this mean in the “new world order”? The same old story, different perspective. Money talks, debtor nations’ foot soldiers walk.

DOUGLAS INGOLDSBY

Santa Barbara