Failed Missile Shield Test

* The last paragraph of “Missile Test Off by 6 Seconds, Data Show” (Jan. 20), about the failed missile defense test, says the Department of Defense will consider the system a success if it works two times out of three. So, if we let them, our representatives and the Pentagon will spend hundreds of billions of our dollars and violate numerous arms treaties for a defense system that can be overcome by an enemy simply shooting three missiles at each of our cities, or really, any of our cities.

I don’t know how slowly or simply it needs to be stated, but there is . . . no . . . defense . . . against . . . nuclear . . . weapons.

“Star Wars,” SDI, whatever it’s called, impoverishes America while aggravating other countries and giving us only the flimsiest illusion of safety.

TOM TRAUB

Pasadena

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Re “Close Isn’t Good Enough,” editorial, Jan. 20: The Times’ stand that the missile interceptor system should be perfected before beginning construction is seemingly shortsighted. The best example I can think of was the development of the nuclear missile submarine before the Triton missile was perfected. It cut several years off the entire project.

BILL KLINGENSMITH

Long Beach

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Future headline and news story:

“Final Anti-Missile Missile Test Fails; Program Abandoned. The White House announced that despite spending over $3 trillion, the ‘Star Wars’ effort is not reliable enough. Acknowledging responsibility for proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in over 50 countries since the start of the 21st century through misguided efforts, the president announced the national holiday, Seattle Day.

“ ‘The tragedy of Seattle,’ she said, “will be with us forever. By creating this day of remembrance for the victims of the botulism contamination of that great city’s water supply by an as-yet-to-be-identified terrorist group, we are publicly stopping the arms race for all time.’ United Nations talks have been scheduled to sanction the U.S. and the other weapons states over their continued nonpeaceful programs. The new era begins.”

ARTHUR STRAUSS

Irvine