Nuclear Weapons Spread

As the U.S. struggles with its military strategies to deal with the rogue nations that are now capable of nuclear terrorism (“Nuclear Dominoes,” May 8, 9, 10) it’s time to recognize our failed strategies that brought us to this point in the first place.

The facts of history have proven that the aerial tanker for in-flight refueling is the single greatest technology in aviation today. The global reach, global power, go-anywhere capability of the modern Air Force is the direct result of tankers. This technology was proposed in 1943 as a means to bomb a then-unreachable Japan. Luddites in the Air Force, comfortably seated in their armchairs overlooking the Potomac, could not see the potential in this technology and turned it down for the then-rapidly failing strategy of daylight formation bombing in the Pacific.

Had the Air Force accepted tankers and in-flight refueling, when proposed, and had long-range single airplane nighttime bombing, so successful late in the war, been introduced in 1943, Japan’s surrender would have occurred long before the introduction of the atomic bomb that brought the Soviets rushing to our “aid.” The costly (100,000 casualties) march up through the Central Pacific for the sole purpose of obtaining airfields closer to Japan could have been avoided. Our present nightmare in the North Pacific is a direct result of the Air Force’s reluctance to change its strategy and allowing the Soviets to claim hegemony over North Korea and the Kurils after only five days of “fighting” on our side.

WILLIAM J. SPELLISCY

Orange

The strategic missile submarine was a major contributor to winning the Cold War. Since 1960, our 41 Polaris ballistic missile submarines have made literally thousands of deterrent patrols. The SSBN (Submarine Ballistic Nuclear) is the most complicated machine ever made by mankind and yet one of the most effective, both militarily and economically.

All 41 older Polaris-type missile submarines will be retired by the end of this year and just our Trident submarines will remain; 14 of the 18 authorized have been commissioned. The Trident carries 24 missiles, whereas the Polaris carried only 16 missiles. Each Trident has the capacity to launch and deliver a staggering 240 warheads. A weapon system of such awesome power will definitely make an adversary think twice before nuking the United States. The SSBN continues to play a vital role in maintaining a stabilized nuclear deterrence against present and future threats to U.S. security. Incidentally, the U.S. will have 50-55 nuclear attack submarines on duty by the end of the decade--not 18 attack submarines as noted in the May 10 article. We will have 18 Trident strategic missile submarines.

DAVID D. SEMRAU

Naval Submarine League

Mission Viejo

Thirty-one billion dollars for “strategic nuclear weapons,” this year’s welfare for the Defense Department, is only one aspect of America’s insidious investment in nuclear weapons.

But The Times goes on to report, “To be sure, no one is advocating that the U.S. nuclear arsenal be scrapped” (May 10).

What part of “No Nukes” don’t you understand?

ANDREW KAY LIBERMAN

Beverly Hills