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It shocks me that in response to a question regarding U.S. intervention in East Timor [WORLD, Sept. 13], Defense Secretary William Cohen had the nerve to proclaim that "the U.S. cannot be and should not be viewed as the policeman of the world" and that the new hot spot is not in the "vital interest" of the U.S. This from the man who only months ago was advancing the Clinton policy that we all had a moral obligation to help the Kosovar Albanians against the oppressive Serbian regime. Perhaps U.S. motivations were not so humanitarian as claimed. ROBERT C. MULLINS Geneva
There is little hope for the future of an international community that says to a people, "Vote!," then a few days later sits back while the people are slaughtered because of the poll's result. JOAO CORREIA DE MAGALHAES Carnaxide, Portugal
If the international community lets the East Timorese people down, it will be formally throwing democracy into the garbage can. If respect for democracy goes down the drain, so will a stable political evolution in the region and a promising economic one. Remember, this is happening under the auspices of the international community. Armed intervention is not the only option. Economic sanctions do not kill soldiers and do not require permission from Indonesian officials. Furthermore, I bet no political force in Indonesia is willing to have sanctions imposed. PEDRO HOMEM DE GOUVEIA Lisbon
After Rwanda and Kosovo, another dark page of modern history is being written in East Timor by the Indonesian army. It's a shame the international community did not react faster in condemning Indonesia and preventing the genocide, which has been ongoing since the mid-'70s in East Timor. Above all political and economic considerations, the international community should never forget that the brave people of East Timor are struggling (and dying) for something that is so dear to all of us: freedom. MIGUEL LUCAS Lisbon
DEMOCRACY'S KINGS
Congratulations to Charles Krauthammer on his serious and funny exposition of the dynastic impulse in democracies [ESSAY, Sept. 13].
Not only Presidents are favored here: the offspring of government heads are routinely elected as governors or designated as ministers. The dynastic preference may be due to brand-name mentality as well as political connections and debts to be collected. Sometimes we cannot rule out a certain merit derived from superior education: they were able to attend the best schools. We also have a saying: Mejor un mal conocido que un bien por conocer (Better a known evil than an unknown good). ALBERTO GIBBS San Antonio de los Altos, Venezuela
PRINCE EDWARD IN TINSELTOWN
Prince Edward's fatuous outburst must be the ultimate example of "biting the hand that feeds you" [PEOPLE, Sept. 13]. I would be truly happy to see him become so successful that he could do without the $255,000 of taxpayers' money handed over to him every year for the few public duties he carries out. Edward and the rest of his dysfunctional brood are in no position to criticize Britain. They are overprivileged, overpampered, overpaid and, very unfortunately for us, over here.
It is a certainty that without his royal connections, the Earl of Wessex would have a hard time making a living. He is the archetypical example of what the Australians refer to as a whingeing pom. ROBERT READMAN Boscombe, England