West’s Role in Bosnia

* The world is ignoring a safe and powerful weapon against Serbian barbarity in the Balkans. The Serbs should be warned that if they refuse to stop their savage war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the United Nations will declare “Greater Serbia” an economic pariah. Seal the borders and let nothing in or out except refugees.

Such an embargo should include the Belgrade regime of Slobodan Milosevic, which is currently being rewarded for tiring of the slaughter. This would undermine an evil man who gained power by encouraging racial hatred, and might even add his voice to the cause of peace. DAN KELLY

Pasadena

* If the United States is not willing to help the Bosnians then it shouldn’t hinder their chances of protecting themselves either. Lift the arms embargo and let the Bosnians have a chance to protect themselves!

ASMA FARUKHI

Buena Park

* Regarding the UNPROFOR “peacekeepers” in the former Yugoslavia, how can anybody explain that among so many top world politicians and chiefs, no one knew how to do the job? All they showed throughout the last four years was an endless string of stupid, ignorant, inefficient and cowardly acts.

From the very first, in Croatia, it was obvious that UNPROFOR was partial toward the Serbs. All we hear is that no one wants to get involved other than to “keep the peace,” and yet they are all involved, including us, the Americans, beginning with President Bush. He was desperate to save Yugoslavia. It did not matter to him that all peoples under Serbian rule wanted freedom, democracy and self-determination.

Croatians and Muslims never asked for foreign soldiers to fight against the Serbs. All they ever asked for was to be recognized in their need for freedom and in their right to fight against the aggressor. The high-ranking “chiefs” would say that lifting the arms embargo would mean more bloodshed. Whose blood? Only Serbian, because the other people’s blood was flowing in rivers. I blame the Western world’s politicians. They came with a promise of life and hope for the future, but brought only rules for the victims and a green light for the aggressor.

REGINA HERCEG

Manhattan Beach

* The blatant use of photographs (July 14, 15) of grieving Bosnian women, emaciated old men and wailing children to kindle animosities about the Bosnian war hardly becomes a newspaper that prides itself on impartially reporting the news. It is as if The Times believed shells and bullets were fired in but one direction.

Until The Times publishes, in turn, the photograph of a Serbian wife bent in grief over the dead body of her husband, many of us overseas veterans of World War II will consider coverage of Bosnia not news but propaganda designed to incite rather than to inform.

JOHN HERMANN

Long Beach

* As long as the Bosnian government refuses to talk peace with the Serbs unless they agree beforehand to the contact group plan for division of Bosnia the war will get ever more violent. A look at the proposed map will explain better than words the refusal of the Serbs to accept the plan. It would leave the territories of all sides fractionated and the chance for future fighting more likely.

The Serbs own almost two-thirds of the land area in Bosnia as they are mainly a rural people, while most of the Muslims live in more urban areas. In spite of this the Serbs would be willing to accept one-half of the territory if it was cohesive and did not cut them off from all the industrial assets of the area. The United States is encouraging the Muslims to believe that they will be rescued by the West and this thereby leads to a lack of a new cease-fire. The parties should be left to negotiate their own peace with the help of real mediation without a take-it-or-leave-it stance.

HERBERT E. SELWYN

Encino

* What is happening in Bosnia is sickeningly reminiscent of the actions of the League of Nations 60 years ago in response to Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia. Paralysis at that time led to the demise of the League.

The West appears to have learned little from history. Either we stay out and let people slaughter each other, or go in with the massive force necessary to enforce civilized standards of behavior. The latter will require much killing and some casualties, but will be effective. What is being done now makes a mockery of the high-sounding phrases spoken at the birth of the U.N. It also shows the unbelievable cowardice of the Western democracies.

JOSEPH R. ABRAHAMSON

San Diego