Chamorro’s Upset Win in Nicaragua
With all due respect for the retirement philosophy of one of history’s greatest generals, Douglas MacArthur, the freedom-fighter Contras shouldn’t lay down their arms forthwith, and “just fade away” into the Nicaraguan hills.
Why demobilize an existing viable force for protecting the new democracy from internal subversion?
Rather, these soldiers who, with only irregular U.S. support, fought long and hard for the democracy they now have, deserve an opportunity to use their hard earned experience and special skills to help preserve it!
What better way to demonstrate true unity in Nicaragua than for these soldiers (sans former hard-core Somoza supporters) to be offered positions as fully legitimate regulars in the Nicaraguan defense and police forces--answerable directly to President Chamorro or her own ministers?
This would not have to be inconsistent with achieving the goal of an overall reduction in the size of the army, since there are probably tens of thousands of unwilling Sandinista conscripts eager to return to civilian life.
HARVEY PEARSON
Los Angeles
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