President Clinton

Re “Crowds Line Hanoi Streets to See Clinton,” Nov. 17:

Now that the “first draft dodger” has been in Vietnam, it may be appropriate to remind him that after World War II the Allies executed a lot of Axis military and civilian criminals for atrocities against civilians and military personnel. The Vietnamese surpassed these criminal acts in horror if not scale. The United Nations is pursuing criminals in the Bosnia and Kosovo conflicts, so a precedent has been set.

Since expansion of trade with Vietnam will enrich them beyond anything that they might have dreamed of until now, compensation to their victims for pain, suffering and damages should be a condition of any trade agreement.

ANDREW WORTMAN

Santa Monica

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I suspect that President Clinton made his trip to Vietnam in a desperate search for a post-impeachment legacy. As a college student, Clinton described his “loathing of the military” to the ROTC commander at his university. To many military veterans, Clinton made this trip to Vietnam 30 years too late.

RICK REISS

Temecula

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Clinton will be leaving office shortly, and it bothers me terribly that he will be one of the most underrated and underappreciated presidents we have ever had. This man has lived these past eight years constantly and viciously attacked by right-wing Republicans and the so-called liberal media. Sure, he has made mistakes. Were these mistakes other than of a personal nature? Absolutely not!

This man is brilliant, articulate, warm and caring, and he worked his heart out for all of us. He did not deserve that kind of treatment. I believe that he will be sorely missed and offer my thanks to him for all he has done and tried to do for the American people.

BEN BRONWEIN

Santa Clarita

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Dear President Clinton: Forget about Yasser Arafat and Ehud Barak. Instead, call George W. Bush and Al Gore to Camp David so you can mediate a resolution. If that is impossible, volunteer to stay on while they slug it out. Their wrangling is a far cry from your rousing reception in Southeast Asia.

PATRICK D. O’CONNOR

Seal Beach