Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 29, 2001

SECTION: EDITORIAL, Pg.B-2

LENGTH: 371 words

HEADLINE: CITIZENS MUST ARM THEMSELVES WITH FACTS

ON MISSILE DANGERS

Rather than finding the relief from the threat of nuclear weapons hoped for at the end of the Cold War, we find ourselves today in ever-increasing danger. Gordon Mitchell's "'Scarecrow' Missile Defense" (July 8 Forum) highlights the fact that the United States and Russia still have thousands of nuclear weapons on high alert (launch on warning) which could be instantly triggered by computer or human error, not to mention malevolent intent.

Now the folks at the Pentagon have added to this volatile mix a new element misleadingly called the National Missile Defense. Administrative spokesmen have said they will go ahead with NMD even though it nullifies 30 years of arms control treaties and results in a nuclear arms race. They seem to be willing to risk a return to a nuclear weapons build-up in Russia and China to gain the deployment of an unproven costly Son of Star Wars system. This plan is opposed by U.S. citizens, our NATO allies and much of the international community as dangerous and provocative and certain to lead to a renewed nuclear arms race.

In 1983, spouses of U.S. congressmen joined together in Washington to form Peace Links, a movement calling attention to the urgency to work for a reduction of the threat of nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. Betty Bumpers, wife of Sen. Dale Bumpers of Arkansas and founder of Peace Links, was joined in this effort by Teresa Heinz, wife of the late Sen. John Heinz, and Joan Specter, wife of Sen. Arlen Specter. Pennsylvania Peace Links was established with their help and has continued to work for 18 years toward ending the nightmare of nuclear weapons and increasing international understanding.

We have always maintained that the people of the United States must take responsibility for actions of its government and must speak out when they see the actions as contrary to they welfare and safety of its citizens. Speaking for the Peace Links movement, we urge U.S. citizens to make known their opposition to this new escalation of international nuclear terror.

ANN HARTY

President

Pennsylvania Peace Links

Downtown

Editor's note: This letter was also signed by 11 board members of Pennsylvania Peace Links.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 22, 2001

SECTION: EDITORIAL, Pg. E-2, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LENGTH: 95 words

HEADLINE: DESIGN A PEACE SYSTEM

I am responding to Gordon Mitchell's July 8 Forum commentary, "Scarecrow Missile Defense." Of all the reasons stated for not promoting such a defense, the most alarming to me is the high probability of triggering a renewal of the arms race. This would increase the dangers of nuclear weapons at a time when we should be actively seeking the complete abolition of all nuclear weapons. Instead of sowing the seeds of suspicion and mass destruction, let's sow seeds of peace and become known as a country that works as hard for peace as for military superiority.

JANE KOHMAN

Mt. Lebanon