Bringing Peace to the Balkans

Christopher Layne’s criticism of President Clinton’s Balkan policy (Commentary, Aug. 19) should go much further. Haven’t Balkan-size distances and diversities ever been peaceably overcome before? We need only look at our own history for the answer.

After withdrawal of a foreign power, over 200 years ago, our best minds were able to build a complicated political architecture of multiple sovereignty based on separate powers and checks and balances. So far, the structure has stood.

Some such creative federalism is the only true democratic hope for southeastern Europe now. The best minds of the 21st century must be used for that construction, buttressing the frail beginnings of the Dayton accords. Where are today’s leaders who will step forth with the political wisdom and will the suffering people require?

TOM D. VOGT

Santa Barbara

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As a quintessential civilian, I must doff my hat to U.S. Army Maj. Steve Russell for his valiant efforts to get Serbian and Albanian farmers to work together harvesting their crops, mutual desires for revenge notwithstanding (Aug. 22). Like all really good negotiators, Russell set his sights higher--toward getting Serbs and Albanians actually working together--than anyone on the scene believed possible.

When that didn’t work beyond producing a few timid gestures by individuals, Russell realistically fell back to Plan B: providing fuel and protection to both Serbs and Albanians to encourage them to work (in separate groups) without trying to kill each other. In my belief, this still-continuing episode constitutes a working model of how to even begin untangling the knots of ethnic hatred and vengefulness presently besetting this fair planet.

HORACE GAIMS

Los Angeles