Ex-Joint Chiefs on Gulf Crisis

We could offer, and Hussein should accept, a peaceful solution to the gulf crisis in which he gives up more than he gains from his aggression, e.g., he gets to keep an oil island, but gives up, verifiably and permanently, all chemical and nuclear warfare capability, plus accepting a substantial reduction in the size and scope of his conventional armament. (We got a lot worse trade-off in resolving the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.)

If he won’t, then I believe that those experts who advocate the use of air strikes alone are right. We should give continued economic sanctions, plus the air attacks, at least another year to work before contemplating launching any land offensive into Kuwait.

HARVEY PEARSON

Los Angeles