Danger to U.S. Troops

* “U.S. Worries About Iranian Unit in Bosnia” (Dec. 5) testifies to the most recent U.S. government’s hypocrisy regarding the religious and international aspects of the Bosnian civil war and the connivance of the press. One learns that “the Clinton administration is deeply concerned about the status of more than 200 Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Bosnia who are considered a major threat to the safety of American troops.” Revelations follow about the Iranian military training program in Bosnia, the 5,000 tons of arms provided to the Bosnian Muslims and the 2,000 foreign Muslim fighters from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Until now, one heard only about the defenseless and nonfundamentalist Bosnian Muslim government--which is now being asked to remove these international freedom fighters, lest Americans be shot at, thus marring Clinton’s reelection pros- pects.

VLADIMIR J. KONECNI

Solana Beach

* “GOP Lawmakers to Back Clinton on Troops in Bosnia” (Dec. 1) shows what wimps members of Congress are when dealing with the president on foreign policy. Bob Dole and company say that they must support the president, even though they dislike his policies. I disagree. While the Constitution makes the president the commander in chief of the armed forces, it also gives Congress the power to raise and support armies, appropriate funds and declare war. Congress is an equal player in the game.

There is no reason to timidly follow President Clinton when he is taking our troops down the path of death and destruction. For too long Congress has let presidents send our troops off to foreign lands to die, when all they have to do is assert their constitutional power. Or do they want that power? When Dole says, “[Clinton is] the commander in chief. He made the decision,” what he likely means is, “I would like to be the commander in chief so I can make decisions like this.”

A pox on both Clinton and Dole! I protested the Gulf War back in ’91 and will be out again to protest the Bosnia travesty in ’96.

TED BROWN

San Gabriel

* It’s interesting that the same people who urged American troops into Kuwait for Desert Storm a few years ago can find no justification today for sending them into Bosnia. What’s the difference? Oil is apparently thicker than blood.

DAVID PECK

Laguna Beach

* In the discussion on Bosnia, members of Congress and the news media repeatedly emphasize that the American public has no tolerance for casualties. In August, The Times reported the killing of 20 people in one weekend as a result of drive-by shootings and other acts of violence. The victims were mostly young people.

What is our standard of tolerance? It seems it is OK to have our young people killed in the streets of our cities, but it becomes an issue when the best army in the world is on a peace mission. Tolerance for casualties? Perhaps it is time that Washington and the media initiate the same vigorous debate about casualties in our cities as they have on our peace mission in Bosnia.

KURT M. BEIER

Hacienda Heights

* Why is it that the American armed forces, which we are told are the most highly trained, best-equipped military on the face of the Earth, suddenly are described as “children” when a risk appears?

JOSEPH E. STASCH

Newport Beach

* I am troubled to hear the misgivings of those in our armed forces stating their reluctance to go to Bosnia to keep the peace, as well as their discontent at the prospect of being away from their families during the holidays. This is amazing to me, a taxpayer who subsidizes their salaries, as their job description clearly includes such situations.

Our (all-volunteer) military forces are currently on our payroll, and it is to be assumed by all reasonable taxpayers that once in a while they must step up to the plate and perform their jobs as they are paid to do when called, sans whining, moaning and/or grumbling.

DOTTY HAIGHT

Arcadia

* As a mother whose only child left on Dec. 9 to serve in Bosnia as a member of the U.S. Army’s NATO peacekeeping force, he and I need the strength of our fellow Americans’ good wishes and prayers. We also need to cling to the belief that what all of our soldiers are setting about to do is meaningful and necessary. For, clearly, some of them may not come home and those who do will be changed forever by what they have experienced.

As Americans, most of us live a privileged life. I believe, with privilege comes responsibility. As my son, Paul Young, goes to Bosnia to fulfill his responsibility, can we do no less than support him and pray for him?

KATHIE WHEELER

Valencia