Ron Brown

The ill-fated flight to Croatia that claimed the life of Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown, along with many prominent business leaders, is a tragic loss, in fact, profoundly sad.

It reminded me of Rep. Mickey Leland’s unfortunate death in the Ethiopian highlands in the ‘80s. Your article (April 4) makes a reference that perhaps this accident may have a negative psychological impact on profit-driven firms not to take risks in locales that are perilous. I fully agree with that assessment. After Leland’s air crash, even humanitarian support to Ethiopia dwindled.

Accidents can happen anywhere. If the business firms shy away from venturing in the redevelopment of Bosnia because of this accident, this is nothing but a cop-out. America has a great stake in the region. Brown and all the business leaders who died in this unfortunate accident would have nothing less than total commitment for the region. The president’s task now is to find an able person to fill the shoes of Brown.

DAN GIZAW

Tustin

* The Bosnian trip, not mission, was about corporate economic power, global control and politics. The humanitarian tone of “Commerce Secretary Hoped to Sell Peace During Bosnia Venture” (April 4) is misleading. If peace and stability will only be ensured through economic stability, then why is our nation’s war against crime failing? Why is the prospect of prisons outnumbering schools a frightening possibility? Why are millions of people losing their jobs to cheap labor pools in foreign countries? Why is our infrastructure falling apart while corporate CEOs pursue greener pastures abroad?

With all due respect, Secretary Brown and the entourage of corporate CEOs were not saints. They were simply human being working within a misguided capitalistic system. Instead of championing it abroad, our leaders should first prove its worthiness by resolving some of the pressing problems it has created here at home.

TERRI GAISHIN

Camarillo

* The plane flew through the “worst weather in a decade.” Who made the “go” decision? Where was the hurry?

JACK BLANKLEY