Land Mines

Land mines kill 25,000 civilians each year (“Clinton Says U.S. Won’t Join Treaty to Ban Land Mines,” Sept. 18) and the U.S. won’t join 100 other countries in the world to ban land mines. Land mines are planted in someone else’s front yard, back yard and side yards. And this is OK with Uncle Sam as long as they are not planted at home in the U.S.

While Uncle Sam preaches about religious freedom, human rights and lots of other goodies, the image of Uncle Sam from the world perspective is: He is the world’s dominant arms manufacturer and dealer. He is armed to the teeth. He has land mines in his left hand, nuclear bombs in his right hand and hidden in his back pockets are biological and chemical weapons.

STEVE LAU

Fountain Valley