Nuclear weapons

Press, 9 August 1982, Page 12

Nuclear weapons

Sir,—How disheartening t (but hardly surprising) that the American Energy Secretary (Mr Edwards) is “excited" by a nuclear explosion he witnessed (“The Press,” August 7). He also repeated the evil myth: "Nuclear weapons preserve the ability for free political discussion and freedom of our civilisation.” For whom? Where is the evidence of these ideals operating in countries subservient to, strongly manipulated by, and under the "protection" of America? How much “freedom and civilisation" are enjoyed by the peasants of, for example, Central and South America, South Korea, .Indonesia, the Philippines and Turkey? Mr Edwards used time-worn, spurious excuses, “Wishing there had been another way” and, “Saving young American lives,” attempting to defend America's nuclear bombing of Japan in 1945 when authentic published material released since shows American priorities were: To test a terrible new weapon (twice) against people and buildings, and to intimidate Russia. President Truman knew that Japan wanted to surrender, weeks before—Yours, etc., M. T. MOORE. August 7, 1982.