THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 31, 1996 TAG: 9607310012
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 19 lines
In the early 1960s, the Kennedy administration made the U.S. ambassador in each country the ``head of the country team.'' This in effect places the military commander under the authority of the ambassador. Decisions by the military commander which may be considered offensive to the host nation, i.e., barricading of buildings, arming of sentries, can be and often are negated by the ambassador and the State Department.
The blame for the bombing of the U.S. barracks in Saudi has been placed on the back of the military commander. It is time for the responsibility to be placed where it really belongs.
R. L. CHRISTIAN JR.
Virginia Beach, July 23, 1996 by CNB