Saudi Arabia Truck Bombing

Re “Brutal Reminder of Need for Stringent Security,” editorial, June 27: Don’t we need to remind ourselves of the support of the shah of Iran and the consequence of the (failed) ostrich approach to that problem?

We cannot allow ourselves to be guided by the cost of crude oil, which may become a burden in the short run, but may turn out to be a blessing if we can create and encourage political freedom. I understand that political freedom as we know it is not necessarily political freedom as others see it, but we cannot continue to support repressive regimes around the world simply because they are there. We must have some standard of comparison, and it needs to be high, or we shall succumb to the vicissitudes of danger in world games and we will have no one to blame but ourselves. Had we moved properly and effectively years ago, Khomeini might never have come to power and we would not have had the disaster in Iran.

There must be a better and more honorable way to conduct our international relations.

MICHAEL J. KANE

Palm Desert

* With the goal of reducing casualties, infantry platoon sergeants have always admonished their men to “Spread out! Don’t bunch up!” After several bombings of embassies, troop dorms and housing facilities in the Middle East, maybe Washington will finally come to realize that, in order to minimize casualties, all our representatives in that part of the world must be quartered in one-story buildings.

HUGH BURR

Chula Vista

* America’s energy policy is based on the following equation: No energy conservation = Persian Gulf body-bag shipments.

CHRIS WILLIG

Agoura

* Regarding our presence in Saudi Arabia, I found the headline “Welcome or Not, We’re In for Keeps” (Commentary, June 28) interesting. Reminds me of illegal aliens here in the U.S.

GASTON D. SERRATO

Rowland Heights