Madeleine Albright

Re “With Albright, Will Principle Return to Policy?” Column Right, Dec. 15: My hat is off to Jonathan Clarke for seeing so clearly the challenges Madeleine Albright will face as secretary of State. However, his exhortation that she “turn America’s core values into sustainable policy” is out of touch with reality. These values have been repeatedly and seriously compromised by unsavory activities a la Watergate and Irangate, to the point where they now seem more like hollow rhetoric.

Principled foreign policy starts at home with strict adherence to democratic processes and decency in the exercise of power. Without this kind of track record, it is very difficult to stand tall in the international arena and pursue a foreign policy that is credible and sets the moral tone Clarke calls for.

PETER MOUSSOUROS

West Los Angeles