HAVING read your piece about a former minister giving his backing to the campaign against "Son of Star Wars" and your editorial backing the same campaign (Evening Press, June 14), I must say I am worried if this campaign succeeds.
The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty was only appropriate during the Cold War, when we had a communist enemy who had sworn to destroy capitalism. With the former Soviet Union now democratic and pro-western, the new threat of rogue states with missile capability forces us to tear up that agreement and build a "Star Wars" defence.
Surely, it is only common sense to give ourselves the capability to shoot down missiles.
The argument that having the defence system would suddenly make Menwith Hill and Fylingdales targets is laughable. All military establishments are natural targets, and it is well known that both these establishments were on the USSR's First Strike/Retaliation list.
The truth is that the two main targets for rogue states or terrorists are the United States and the United Kingdom, as we are beacons for democracy. Let's be grateful that the US will shield our country for only a little help.
P Spence,
Bowyers Close,
York.
Updated: 11:32 Thursday, June 20, 2002
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