Camarena Case

I was surprised by The Times’ editorial (“Excess of Zeal in Camarena Case?” Nov. 10) regarding the (murdered U.S. drug agent) Enrique Camarena case. You seem upset that our government has had to deal with unsavory people in order to make its case. Well, welcome to the real world. The drug trade is full of these people.

You say that this case is being pursued with an “excess of zeal.” How is this possible? Foreign drug lords kidnaped, tortured and murdered an agent of our government. No expense should be spared to send a message that this will not be tolerated.

As to the $2.7 million spent, where was your concern when special prosecutor Lawrence Walsh spent at least $40 million on his ongoing Iran-Contra investigation? Would you trade Walsh’s several plea-bargained misdemeanor convictions for say, feeding the homeless?

STEPHEN H. SEYLER

Riverside