Jacobsen on Hostages

I was appalled by David P. Jacobsen’s foolish, even dangerous, proposals to secure the release of the American hostages in Lebanon (“Start Talking and Save the Hostages,” Op-Ed Page, Aug. 28). Jacobsen begins by attacking the State Department, unfairly blaming them for the deaths of William Buckley and Peter Kilburn. He goes on to imply, again unfairly, that timid, overly cautious State Department officials, including Secretary George Shultz, failed to take decisive action in order to save these two men.

First, once the terrorists identified Buckley as the CIA station head in Beirut it is unlikely that anyone or anything could have prevented his murder. But much worse is Jacobsen’s shocking, and mean-spirited statement that, “The very best thing that could happen to further the goals of the bureaucrats (meaning the State Department) would be for all the hostages to be killed by the kidnapers.” Is he serious? One reaction to this type of thinking is that Jacobsen’s personal suffering in Lebanon now makes him unable to deal rationally with the entire hostage situation.

Nowhere in his article does Jacobsen condemn the arms-for-hostages deal that secured his own release. Rather, he praises what he calls “creative and resourceful individuals,” an obvious reference to Oliver North et al.

If people (perhaps Americans) in the Persian Gulf are killed by these weapons, on whom will Jacobsen place the blame? Nowhere does Jacobsen criticize those Americans who, in defiance of their government, chose to remain in Lebanon. Though we all feel great sympathy for the plight of the hostages, these men were warned that the U.S. government could neither protect them nor guarantee their freedom if kidnaped.

Finally, Jacobsen’s comment that “talking with the terrorists is not the same as making concessions . . .” is pure sophistry. The Lebanese terrorists will free the Americans only if they receive the deals they desire. Jacobsen knows this; his own release is evidence enough.

Jacobsen should instead be more forthright with the American people. Ask us if we are willing to send the terrorists more guns and ammunition. Ask us if we are willing to see convicted terrorists, murderers all, set free. And then what? Americans will simply wait for the next time, for more kidnapings will inevitably occur. Terrorists, knowing a good deal can be made, will start to track their targets.

STEWART HOROWITZ

Los Angeles