High-Tech Sales

In your editorial (Feb. 17), “High-Tech Hardship,” you recommend the lifting of the restrictions on the sale of high technology overseas. These restrictions have been imposed in an attempt to limit the Soviet Bloc countries from gaining the benefits for military applications of U.S. technology. The short-term loss of sales by U.S. companies is far outweighed by the long-term prospects of this technology being used by the Soviets for further persecution of the free countries of the world.

An example of the use of U.S. technology by Soviets is the Kama River truck factory provided by Armand Hammer of Occidental Petroleum. The “farm” trucks produced in this modern factory were used to transport the Soviet occupation troops into Afghanistan.

Lenin’s boast, that the capitalists would sell the rope with which the Communists would hang them is an understatement. The rope today is computers, advanced composite materials, and missile-guidance systems. Even though certain components of these can be used for peaceful purposes the proper combination can be deadly to all of us. Instead of lifting these restrictions, we should be calling on Congress to pass a bill prohibiting all aid and trade with Soviet Bloc countries.

ROBERT W. BEST

Lakewood