Western Press and the Soviets
Hough’s article provokes the question: “How much is the American public propagandized?”
Periodic exaggerations of Soviet arms strength have persuaded Americans into accepting burdensome military spending. As long as we enjoyed overwhelming economic superiority, we could afford the cost of a gigantic military establishment. Excessive military spending now threatens our ability to compete in the rapidly growing world economy.
The time has come for Americans to make profound appraisals of the real dangers facing their country, inside and without. But how can an accurate appraisal be made of the world situation, if we do not have the facts?
Without the truth we are led to accept distortions of what is really happening. Then everything snowballs and we are made to support a corrupt military establishment that is insulated from reform because a disruption of the status quo might endanger our national security.
ROBERT L. JORDAN
Los Angeles
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