‘A Matter of Balance’

It took an immigrant, Henry Kissinger, to write an article about the most important issue in the Iran- contra hearings (“A Matter of Balance,” Opinion, July 26). The balance of power between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government is and shall be the most important government issue under this Constitution. Too bad most Americans don’t seem to realize it.

Hoorays must go to Kissinger for pointing out that the Reagan Administration’s real objective with the contras could only be the overthrow of the Sandinistas. (This accusation has been repeatedly denied by the Administration.) In retrospect, Kissinger graciously observes that deceiving Congress about policies was the Nixon Administration’s biggest mistake concerning Vietnam. (Bombing Cambodia comes to mind.) Two of the covert activities kept secret from Congress are those that directly contradict stated policies. This hypocrisy only hurts the United States when the eventual truth comes out.

We should act on Kissinger’s three suggestions to better define the relationship between the three government branches, but we need more than that. A democracy is no wiser than the sum of the electorate.

Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan both won landslides by saying they had a “secret plan” for victory (Nixon against North Vietnam, Reagan against terrorism). Apparently the American people like this kind of secrecy from their politicians. Maybe that’s because the voters want “plausible deniability.”

JOHN NEAL

San Diego