East and West

Press, 10 November 1986, Page 20

East and West

Sir, —I am glad that the Middle Ages have passed, otherwise our Soviet-haters would have me burnt at the stake for the heresy of suggesting that communism (or Russia) is not entirely black, nor the United States entirely white. If your correspondents want to know my assessment of the relationship, strength, etc., of the two superpowers they can read my book. P. J. Burrowes must be completely lacking in imagination if he cannot see the metaphor in “nuclear Armageddon.” “AntiChrist” is an unfortunate epithet for a “world dictator” — the nearest claimant being President Reagan. There is more wool in John Bateman’s letter than on most sheep. If Russia has spacenuclpar superiority, as he asserts, whwhould it press for nuclear

disarmament? His question is ridiculous; other countries besides the super-Powers have nuclear weapons. Mr Gorbachev: “Reagan was so taken (in Iceland) at my proposals that he ascribes them io himself.” (Source: Christian Science Monitor). Finally, what about the American elections?—Yours, etc.,

VERNON WILKINSON. November 6, 1986.

Sir, —Presumably, T. R. Loudon (November 7) considers himself one of the “level-headed commentators who scoff at” two authoritative defence groups as “notorious Left-wing non-think tanks.” Not even when they were forced into a life-and-death struggle with Nazi Germany did the Soviets spend 40 per cent to 50 per cent of G.N.P. on defence, as T. R. Loudon claims Sakharov now asserts. America spends almost 30 per cent of its budget on the military (officially) plus other sums under “research and development,” etc. America has never been invaded, yet will spend $300,000M this fiscal year countering an alleged “Soviet threat” but, in reality, seeking to maintain and extend its vast economic and political dominance of both the Western and Third Worlds. Oh, and maybe attempt “destabilisation” of any weakened socialist States, at the same time (e.g. Grenada). — Yours, etc.,

M. T. MOORE. November 7, 1986.