U.S. Action Against Libya

President Reagan provokes and then attacks Libya to preserve the principle of freedom of international waters. But why was the United States the only nation to defend that principle? Where were Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Great Britain and Germany? Even with a token patrol boat.

I am afraid the answer is that the show of U.S. force came from the standing army and the hundreds and thousands of generals, admirals, colonels and bureaucrats in the Pentagon who must justify their existence. And they have a Rambo president to authorize the risking of American servicemen.

These are the precise reasons why military aid to the contras in Nicaragua as well as U.S. advisers must never be approved. There would be another provocation and the justification for the unleashing of another Vietnam.

PAUL H. WANGSNESS

Burbank