Egypt’s Action Against Hijackers

I have read Norman Kempster’s report (Nov. 26), “Despite Toll, the U.S. Applauds Tough Action on Terrorism,” with profound dismay.

In the Egyptian raid on the hijacked plane, with 60 dead, the United States approves the whole idea, as well as the action taken by the Egyptian government.

The whole thing was deeply immoral. The Egyptian leader sacrificed the lives of 60 people in order to show his strength with the “holy” purpose of putting an end to terrorism. The fact is that Hosni Mubarak, as the leader of the Egyptian government, felt deeply humiliated by the recent action of the American government dealing with the hijacking of the Achille Lauro. The over-result was an eagerness to demonstrate his strength by raiding the hijacked Egyptian airliner at Malta’s Luqa International Airport.

The main issue in every hijacking is not to seek revenge--as some people, whose lives are not involved, advocate--but to save the passengers. And if I were a passenger, I would not want to be a means to an end: I would not want to die so that the United States and Egypt may show to the world that they are being tough on the hijackers. I only have one life to live, and I want to preserve it.

What is the solution of the terrorist insanity? It is to look for the causes of terrorism: possibly an objective analysis of the situation could solve the problem. But certainly to fight terror with terror does not accomplish anything: it only adds death and destruction to more death and destruction in a world where there is no true peace.

ANGELO A. De GENNARO

Los Angeles