The world must not be too quick in condemning Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev for this week’s atrocities in Lithuania.

The predawn military crackdown on the Baltic republic’s TV and radio tower leaving as many as 13 people dead is horrendous. Lives are never justifiably lost in a political tug-of-war.

Additionally, the bloodshed coming so close to the world’s apparent deadline to urge Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait heightens the frustrations and disappointment shared by political leaders and common folks throughout the world.

But the heartache in the Soviet Union is engulfed in confusion and unanswered questions.

Gorbachev’s previous strides to warm the Giant Bear’s relationship with the free world are too poignant to ignore.

It seems illogical that after all the work put into thawing the Cold War and instituting perestroika and glasnost that Gorbachev would throw it all away in such a barbaric fashion.

To be sure, Gorbachev is under the gun. Facing unrest from the citizenry and continuing challenges from his opposition, it is realistic that the Lithuania outburst was to quell the masses and move the country forward.

By no mean does it exonerate the government’s actions. However, it is enough to delay condemnations.

But not for too long.