18 FEBRUARY 1966, Page 8

Mr. McNamara in Camera

No doubt our guided missiles will Be quite enough to overkill, But prudence urges it will serve To keep some bombers in reserve. So those who, being killed, remain Can comfortably be killed again— Since to the pure all things are pure, Making assurance doubly sure. For, blur as complications will The line `twixt kill and overkill,' It certainly can't be denied We must deter the Other Side. So, if the worst comes to the worst, At least we'll get our blow in first. For just conceive Our loss of face, If They wiped out the human race.

CHRISTOPHER HOLLIS