U.S. Needs to Retaliate Against Japan’s Closed Markets, Not Continue to Bellow Idle Threats

The March 13 article “Bush Turns Up Heat in Meeting With Takeshita” tells of President Bush reiterating warnings of possible U.S. retaliation over Japan’s closed markets. Does Mr. Bush really think the Japanese will take his warning seriously this time?

We’ve threatened for years to retaliate. The Japanese merely stonewall, then finally make promises they never intend to keep. Eventually, the uproar dies down.

After all, they saw President Reagan warn terrorists, hostage-takers and hijackers of swift retaliation, which never occurred. Until we take action swiftly and bar Japanese products on a tit-for-tat basis, they’ll continue to make empty promises.

JERRY COWLE

Pacific Palisades