MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CAMBRZDGE,MASSACHUSETTS 02139
Department of Biology, Room 56-423              Tel. 617/253-4707

May 15, 1973

The Editor
The Washington Post
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

The House vote refusing funds for the bombing of Cambodia; the threat
by the Administration to violate such a directive even if confirmed by
the Senate; and the public admission by Ambassador Codley that we have
been paying for 15,000 to 20,000 Thai mercenary troops in Laos -- these
three almost simultaneous events reveal more than a conflict between
two branches of our Government.  They outline an ominous pattern in
which the Congress, and thereby the American people, are being purpose-
fully challenged and belittled as part of long-range plan to subvert
our Constitution.

In 1971, Congress enacted the Cooper-Church Amendment, forbidding the
Administration to pay for any non-Lao troops in Laos. As stated by
Senator Symington (Congressional Record, August 3, 1971) "this legis-
lation, . . . by letter as well as intent, was designed to prohibit any
such practice."  Since then, newspaper correspondents as well as Congres-
sional investigators have reported our financing of the Thai troops.
Why could it not be stopped?  Because it was a C.I.A. operation? Yet,
we now know that Congress can get facts straight from the C. I. A., for
example, when this agency collaborates with the burglary squad of the
White House.

If the bombing of Cambodia will now continue in opposition to formally
'expressed Congressional will, the challenge will be, not a test of
Constitutional powers but an usurpation of power -- like those by which
dictators overthrow democracies (often with C.I.A. support).

We cannot trust that the lessons of Watergate will sober the Nixon-Agnew
team.  A cornered, wounded animal is often desperate and thereby more
reckless.  Never in the history of Anglo-Saxon nations, since the
revolution of 1688, has democracy been in such jeopardy. Will the
Senate, the House, and the American people wake up in time?

Sincerely yours,

sel/na

S. E. Luria
Institute Professor