DeVos has been threatened

On June 28, 1914, Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist, assassinated the Austro-Hungarian heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, leading to, through a series of interlocking alliances and events, World War I and the deaths of millions. I can think of a lot of reasons to start a war and even a world war. But the death — even the assassination — of one person is hardly a reason that millions should have died or should die.

The murder of Jamal Khashoggi was uncalled for and brutal. And the cover-up was inept. Saudi Arabia, a sovereign country beyond the reach of Turkish (or U.S.) law, has oil to sell, military arms to buy, and its influence may be crucial in any Middle East peace treaty.

If the United States treats Saudi Arabia and the Crown Prince as a pariah and an enemy alongside Iran, then we lose one friend and ally who may turn to Russia, China or elsewhere.

To answer letter-writer Renee Ostrowski as to why Betsy DeVos needs security protection, look to your left. DeVos has been threatened numerous times ever since she was appointed to office. I guess the Secret Service deemed it necessary as this is just one more example of violence directed at anyone Trump-related. Send letters of 250 words or fewer to openforum@denverpost.com or 5990 Washington St., Denver, CO, 80216. Please include full name, city and phone number. Contact information is for our purposes only; we will not share it with anyone else. You can reach us by telephone at 303-954-1201.