Waldheim’s Nazi Past
Waldheim’s well-deserved present predicament serves to emphasize several truths that have not been evident to the American public in their knowledge of Austria.
--Hitler was an Austrian.
--Austria elected Waldheim because of his wartime record and not in spite of it.
If he were to resign, Jews still living in Austria would probably suffer a nasty backlash in their business and social life.
--Austria is a sovereign nation and cannot be told what to do by other nations or people.
The only recourse is what we have done to other nations of which we don’t approve--economic sanctions--don’t do business with them or support their economy by tourism or whatever.
Money is the most effective argument.
GEOFFREY POST
Irvine
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