2008/08/19:Don't renew Cold War with missile talks - Lee Brown

Don't renew Cold War with missile talks
Wisconsin State Journal :: FORUM :: B1
Sunday, August 19, 2008


Regarding Friday's article "U.S., Poles agree on base: Missile-defense plan angers the Russians," if the United States-Poland agreement to place an American missile-defense base on Polish territory goes forward, it will re-start the Cold War.

We must not allow our government to revive those days of "mutually assured destruction." Russia and the United States still have over 95 percent of the world's total nuclear weapons, with many on each side maintained on constant alert, able to be fired within minutes of receiving a launch order.

It's been nearly 20 years since the end of the Cold War -- the U.S. and Russia should be working together to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in world affairs instead of exchanging threats.

This agreement flies in the face of the world community. The United Nations' General Assembly member states adopt the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) resolution annually by an overwhelming majority.

For the past three years every nation has voted in favor of PAROS -- except the U.S., according to "Keep Space for Peace" in Nebraska Report.

American citizens must demand that our government get serious about negotiating for peace, which is much more important than billion dollar contracts for U.S. military-industrial-complex corporations.

-- Lee Brown, Madison