Viewing the Cold War
Senate Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) is dead wrong when he judges the merits of an arms control agreement by the circumstances under which it was negotiated (Part I, June 5). Deadlines or no deadlines, a Strategic Arms Reduction (START) treaty, as with all arms control treaties, must be evaluated in terms of its ability to (1) reduce the threat of war, (2) limit losses in the event of war, and (3) reduce the economic burden of military expenditures.
To threaten President Reagan with the promise of nonratification, Sen. Byrd is confusing the criteria upon which we should judge a START treaty.
JOSEPH K. LYOU
Torrance
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