Letters, May 15, 1995

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So McNamara has finally gone public with lessons he learned from the Vietnam War: don't underestimate the forces of nationalism, and don't ask the military to achieve more than weapons can deliver. Could another lesson, which went unmentioned, be the danger of self-deception by leaders who choose to ignore the rational voices of the opposition? Now, 20 years later, after many lives were lost for a mistaken mission, "When will they ever learn?" Anthony T. Lee San Francisco

I commend McNamara for finally discovering and admitting the truth. Right is not always (or ever) determined by might. The U.S. was following a path that suggested it alone could control the world. That wasn't true in the '60s and '70s, and it isn't true today.

Robert M. Brown Tacoma, Washington AOL: Robert2755

McNamara has only confirmed what those of my generation already knew. But even though the cause was unjust, that doesn't mean the soldiers who fought in Vietnam were unworthy. Some of those who returned are still fighting the legacy of that war every day. They deserve our help and respect.

Barb Grimes Chalfont, Pennsylvania AOL: TchrBarb

In view of what McNamara said of his mistake regarding Vietnam, Jane Fonda deserves a medal and an apology.

Harry Torossian Dearborn Heights, Michigan Via America Online

WAITING FOR PEACE

Tobias Wolff's article was the most poignant and thought-provoking short piece I have read to date on the reasons for our downfall in the Vietnam War [ESSAY, April 24]. I am a Vietnam-era veteran, and I found that Wolff has portrayed masterfully that conflict's lingering aftermath and the painful rift it has left in U.S. society. Let us hope that someday soon, via efforts like Wolff's, the rest of us will reach a higher understanding of the Vietnam vet's ongoing ordeal.

Jon Meredith Helena, Montana

Wolff does a terrible injustice to most military units, their men and their commanders when he writes, "we opened the gates of hell on that country, and we didn't spend much time making distinctions between enemies and friends. Entire towns were destroyed, others devastated by our jets and artillery. Most of the dead were civilians.'' In Vietnam, well-run and honorably commanded units took extraordinary care and considerable risk to minimize civilian casualties and damage. Wolff demeans those of us who tried with all our hearts to be as humane as war allows.

John T. Carley Brigade Commander, U.S.A. (ret.) 1st Infantry Division (1968-69) Shalimar, Florida

THE YEN'S NOT THAT STRONG

You don't have to be fluent in Japanese (although I am) to understand that the caption under the photo accompanying your article "An Uncontrollable Yen" is incorrect [Trade, April 24]. It says restaurants in Japan "charged $10 for a cup of coffee at the going exchange rate." But the article noted an exchange rate of 80.15 yen to the U.S. dollar, so the 100-yen price tag shown in the photograph comes to only $1.25.

Elizabeth Matsunaga New York City

BROADWAY IN NEVADA