U.S. Troops in Honduras
President Reagan sent American boys more than 2,000 miles from home to do what Nicaraguans ought to be doing for themselves. But the President has assured us that they will assume a “noncombat role” (Part I, March 17). Promises, promises. Unfortunately, the last commander-in-chief to take such a drastic step plunged our nation into the longest war in its history. We became involved in the Vietnam War through increased involvement in a foreign civil war which never really concerned us nor threatened our national security. We are making the same mistake in Nicaragua.
As a pretext for this latest action, the Reagan Administration has cited the fact that the Nicaraguan army has invaded Honduras to destroy the rebel camps located inside that nation’s borders. In other words, it’s all right for invasions to be launched from Honduras into Nicaragua, but not the other way around.
It is ridiculous to suppose that any of this concerns our national security, as some have argued. If a war-torn nation of 3.5 million people poses any threat to a military giant of nearly 250 million people, then the moon is made of green cheese. We can only pray that Reagan’s personal obsession with Nicaragua will not once again drag our nation into the hell that is war.
WESLEY SKLARK
Los Angeles
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