The American Military Action in Panama

Congratulations to Matthew Rothschild for his perceptive analysis of the U.S. invasion of Panama as “illegal, unwarranted and cynical.” (Op-Ed, Dec. 21).

One thing more needs to be added to his observations of possible U.S. motives, and that is to understand the need of the Bush Administration to maintain a measure of tension in U.S. foreign policy that could justify a slower end to the Cold War.

Confronted with the dismantling of the iron curtain in Europe and willing to maintain cordial relations with the People’s Republic of China despite the Tian An Men massacre, the Bush Administration lacks a major threat to U.S. security that would justify so large a defense budget.

ANTHONY GARAVENTE

Los Angeles