Hardship in Russia

I found “Kremlin May Move to Rein In Democracy” (Feb. 26) to be one of the most chilling examples of what has really been going on in the world during the past year. There was once an American who bore witness to the bread riot that brought down the czar in Russia. In 1917 America, we bore silent witness to the dawn of the American Century. After World War I, the U.S. and its allies embarked on what was to become our de facto foreign policy regarding the conquered: We would help rebuild those nations that waged war on us.

We continued this policy after World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Though this century, we have been consistent in our use of compassion as an important part of our foreign policy. Not only for the obvious reason that it was the right thing to do, but for its real political impact as well. A lack of domestic unrest creates stability, and a stable world is the preferred choice among most people.

One of the most bitter and costly victories in this century was the Cold War. Without our historic use of compassion, this victory will be very short-lived. The bread lines are forming once again in Russia and my heart goes out to her citizens. I hope Washington gets its collective head out of the gutter in time to grasp this: Time is running out on the American Century and is this to be our legacy? That America let the world stand once again at the brink of totalitarianism and hunger?

DAVID A. KOWAL

Los Angeles