World Response to Somalia

I applaud your “What Is the World Waiting For?” editorial (Nov. 20) concerning the tragedy in Somalia.

Much of the reluctance for action apparently stems from the need to protect the ground transport of food from ports to airfields to the people in need. It seems to me that most of the required food and medical supplies could be delivered by air drop, particularly to people in remote areas, thus avoiding most of the hazardous military activities on the ground.

In terms of cost per pound delivered to the ultimate user and in time, the results would be quite different. Number of lives saved, cost per life saved, and risk to our forces would in many cases, I’m convinced, argue strongly in favor of air drop delivery of major portions of the required supplies.

Once the American people perceive that solving the problem has low risks and is technically feasible, at least in the short term, they may be willing to part with a few dollars each to keep a million people from starving to death while diplomatic efforts search for a permanent solution.

TROY MILLER

Huntington Beach