The American Legion [Volume 121, No. 4 (October 1986)]

Cover: Nicaragua's Contras on Maneuvers by Charles Bonnay, JB Pictures -- Trouble in Panama: Drugs, Corruption and Anti-Americanism Threaten the Canal by Georgie Anne Geyer -- "What to Do When the Russians Come": A Survivor's Guide for Members of the "Worker's Paradise" of America -- Afghanistan's Importance to the Soviet Union: What Do the Soviets Hope to Gain in Afghanistan? by Rep Robert J Lagomarsino -- Changing Directions in Central America: War or Peace? The Fortunes of the Contras Will Determine That by Roger Fontaine -- Nicaragua: Fanning the Flames: The Sandinistas Are Convinced that the Soviet Union Is the Wave of the Future by W Bruce Weinrod -- Turing the Tide for Democracy: DoD's Nestor D. Sanchez Says the Hunger for Freedom Is Strong in Nicaragua -- Why Millions Can't Read: Why Our Cities Are Filled with a New Breed of Urban Illiterates by Rudolf Flesch -- Under the Big Top: Go to the Circus for Chills, Spills and Thrills by Gary Turbak -- The High Cost of Dying: At Today's Prices, Planning Your Own Funeral Now Makes Good Business Sense by Vernon Pizer -- Working for Full Veterans Employment: The Secretary of Labor Describes What DoL Is Doing to Help Vets Find Jobs -- What's Right with America: A Naturalized Citizen Can't Stop Singing "God Bless America" by Joe Rangel -- Speaking Out for Democracy: The Legion's Oratorical Contest Celebrates 50 Years of Educating Young Citizens -- Big Issues: Should Drug Tests Be Made Mandatory for Employees? -- Letters -- Dateline Washington -- Veterans Update -- Legionnaires in Action -- Veterans Adviser -- Post of the Month -- Legion News Briefs -- Veterans Alert -- Orban's World -- Parting Shots