Waldheim’s Nazi Past

Waldheim’s well-deserved present predicament serves to emphasize several truths that have not been evident to the American public in their knowledge of Austria.

--Hitler was an Austrian.

--Austria elected Waldheim because of his wartime record and not in spite of it.

If he were to resign, Jews still living in Austria would probably suffer a nasty backlash in their business and social life.

--Austria is a sovereign nation and cannot be told what to do by other nations or people.

The only recourse is what we have done to other nations of which we don’t approve--economic sanctions--don’t do business with them or support their economy by tourism or whatever.

Money is the most effective argument.

GEOFFREY POST

Irvine