Time For A Nuclear First Strike

To the Editor:

We have all heard that the terror is still with us and we must expect more attacks. What I fear more than anything else is a nuclear catastrophe. The fact is a nuclear device needn’t be brought into the country; many are already here.

The nuclear powered plants spread throughout our country are totally vulnerable to being invaded here.

The nuclear powered plants spread throughout our country are totally vulnerable to being invaded by any small band of crazies and certainly by a hijacked aircraft. The immediate death toll alone would overshadow tenfold the number lost in the Twin Towers attack with the continuous effect for years after.

What action do we take if this was to happen and I firmly believe it will happen soon enough? Do we sit by and wait for it to happen before we retaliate in any way?

Here’s the reality of the situation: there are many groups of terrorists waiting in line to be martyrs. These terrorist are made up of all ages; from kindergarten aged children on up.  So again, how do we stop them?

I heard on CNN retired General Clark, whom I have the greatest respect for, state that we have to pinpoint these terrorists before we strike so as to not involve innocent people. I have never been so displeased with any publicly stated military maneuver as this one. This attitude is exactly how our forces will be destroyed. We will lose more fighting men attempting such a maneuver. Look at the Russians. When they were a formidable power they were destroyed by the bands of Afghans; many of which were at odds with each other. Their terrain is such that they can hide and strike at will with little chance of being detected let alone defeated.

The best chance to prevent a nuclear holocaust is to strike first. To strike first with nuclear weapons. Radical? Yes. But is there an alternative? Do we wait for them to strike such a blow before we act? What about those innocent people? Let’s get real. There’ll be a lot of collateral damage. And worse than innocent Afghans will be the possibility of adverse effects on our allies. But then do we really have any?

What might deter many of these terrorist from acting out their intentions will be the realization of the effect that it’ll have on members of their families.

Attacking Afghanistan in this manner followed with a similar attack on Iraq might just do it. As one retied military man, in disagreement with General Clark, stated, they have to be killed and not simply brought to justice where they would have a platform and rally those still on the loose. Wow, radical, nuclear weapons, kill. All very bad words. How many Afghans and or Iraqis would any true United States citizen be willing to see die to save one American? I, for one, would like to see not a one American die.

My suggestion is very unpopular, this I easily realize. Being the first to use nuclear weapons is, even in war, sinful. But how righteous will be feel burying our loved ones?

In the meantime I suggest that the Government give up the tax refund and use it not only to bolster our armed forces but our security agencies. And whatever else it takes to go after all of the undocumented immigrants and send them out of the country along with those who are moles and hold citizen papers. They can easily be identified now that their images have been captured on film dancing in the streets of Patterson, and Newark, N.J. If they  have no country to go to we can subsidize a Carnival Cruise to stay out in the deep until the last one passes on.

George Arfaras

Great Ring Road, Newtown                                        September 18, 2001