News Reports of ‘Secret Mission’

Your editorial (Dec. 20), “Secret Mission,” contains many statements and assumptions that are ridiculous.

First, it is not the prerogative of the press to determine what is in the best interest of the national security. Such determination is the responsibility of the Department of State and/or the Department of Defense.

Second, the press, with the exception of the Washington Post, agreed that the information about launching a spy satellite should be withheld.

Third, your editorial defends the Post’s violation of an otherwise accepted position by the rest of the press.

And, finally, you take the stand that the public should be informed. Wrong! The public in general does not want to share information that its country deems classified. The press’ high-handed action on this item serves no purpose more strongly than to show disdain for the government’s security and to attempt to discredit it in the eyes of the public and, worse, in the eyes of the Soviet world.

Your editorial is not only illogical, it is also dangerous. To think that such a powerful influence as the press is controlled by this type of “journalism” is sickening at least. It puts you into the category of idiotic. No, that is wrong. It isn’t fair--to the idiots.

BRUCE H. PLANCK

Mission Viejo