U.S. Help for Food Shortages in Soviet Union

In response to “So What If the Soviets Starve?” editorial, Dec. 4:

I agree with the principles expressed in your editorial, on high moral as well as on practical political grounds. And yet, should Washington and the Bush Administration really rush to aid the crumbling Evil Empire which so long and so mercilessly exploited its captive and crushed fellow socialist nations in Eastern Europe, not to mention its own people? Or should public donations of food and medicine (Dec. 3) start pouring into the world’s mightiest nuclear power?

Should the selfless good-heartedness of the much-maligned American public be exploited so that the Soviet Union would not have to face serious military cutbacks or perhaps even temporary suspension of its no-expense-spared space program? These are disturbing questions.

If the food shortage is caused by the breakdown of transportation, distribution and storage by the crumbling government-run system, how could this hierarchy be trusted to store, transport and distribute thousands of tons of massive U.S. food and medical aid? Wouldn’t it be much more appropriate to redouble our efforts to save the starving and dying children in Africa who are helpless victims of drought and famine, rather than rushing to aid a European superpower?

One may indeed wish the Soviets well in their “perilous but necessary voyage into the unknown,” but perhaps not at the expense of U.S. taxpayers or charities, or perhaps just not yet.

E. PETER GABOR

Beverly Hills