CIA'S COMMAND OF SPANISH TRAGIC

To the Editor:

An American missionary family had its plane shot down in the jungle of Peru
by a joint CIA/Peruvian Air Force drug patrol resulting in the death of the
mother and one of her children and serious injury to the husband.

Lest anyone make comparisons to the federal Ruby Ridge debacle, national
news programs are in concert airing video of the event in which CIA
personnel are heard in an unsuccessful scurry to stop the Peruvian attack
due to the fact that, apparently, the only Spanish words they know are
''bandito'' and ''amigo.'' If this weren't so tragic it would be comical.

I have a question for the news directors who would have me believe this
account to ask the CIA: How do these guys communicate with Air Traffic
Control in Peru so nobody mistakes them for drug runners?

Maybe we should send our tax relief checks back so the CIA can teach its
Peruvian operatives Spanish!

Garrett Dawson

Antioch