Sir: We are astonished that Peregrine Worsthome has only now
become cog- nisant of the depth of the desire of the American Right to wage and 'win' a nuclear war. CND made this point repeatedly dur- ing the 1980s when we were both staff members of the organisation. We were not arguing that it was better to be red than dead, rather that this was a false choice. ( A better soundbite was, `I'd rather be neither than either'.)
It was just such silliness, along with the accusations of 'one-sided disarmament' lev- elled at us, which detracted from the gen- uine debate which was necessary.
If Peregrine Worsthorne and others had paid attention, they would have seen mate- rial obtained under the Freedom of Infor- mation Act in the United States which we attempted to publicise — such as US Army Field Manual 100-5: 'Air-Land Battle', which displayed American-football-style drawings illustrating how nuclear cruise missiles were to be used. Air-Land Battle was the subject of numerous questions, an adjournment debate and one or two Early Day Motions in the Commons, but no one seemed to get very excited about it.
We are pleased to be vindicated, despite the phone taps, the opened post, MI5, DS19, F6, Special Branch, vilification in the media and accusations of naivety and com- munist sympathies ad infinitum. At least we `lived in truth', as President Havel would say. It's just too bad so much money was wasted making ever bigger and better, more accurate pieces of nuclear hardware, when it could have been directed to peo- ple's real needs all over the world.
And it's not too late for Peregrine Worsthome to join those who, unlike our- selves, still have the energy, commitment and enthusiasm to continue pointing out that there remains a nuclear danger, with weapons still on alert on both sides.
We await the conversion of Dr Julian Lewis and his cohorts in the Coalition for Peace Through Security and then our satis- faction will be complete.
Marjorie Thompson Claire McMaster
(Address supplied)
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