U.S. Troops in Somalia

So now U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali is begging nations to stop shipping weapons to Africa (Dec. 6). Fat chance! The United States is the world’s top merchant of death, and the arms business is just too lucrative.

Also these arms sales provide endless opportunities for the U.S. to gain a humanitarian reputation. Forget Iran and Iraq. Whenever wars break out, thanks to the big and often secret deals, we can dash to the rescue of millions of starving, dying people, especially if they have good TV coverage and the operation looks pretty safe.

RUTH LORING

Calabasas