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A rush to indiscriminately blast away

Letter: A rush to indiscriminately blast away
10:44 a.m. EST December 18, 2015
http://www.citizen-times.com/story/opinion/readers/2015/12/18/letter-rush-indiscriminately-blast-away/77554542/

robert howarthThe astonishing exchanges by the debating GOP presidential candidates seemed more like a group of juveniles contesting for goodies from an overturned candy truck than some of our nation’s finest aspiring to convince us why we should vote for them. The killings, slaughter, and bombings promised to protect our people were outrageous, ill thought out, reckless and irresponsible - in some cases violations of international law (as a few did point out). It appears that the bulk of the GOP presidential candidates are prepared to declare WWIII.

The U.S. has spent more on defense and military than all the rest of the world combined. To unleash this in a WWIII increases the likelihood of the use of nuclear weapons by design or by accident, thereby opening the door to the horrors of widespread toxic radiation and nuclear winter leading to the death and starvation of 2 billion people worldwide (see http://www.psr.org/resources/dr-ira-helfand-speaks-at-the-un.html). In apparent ignorance of this or denial, their thrust seems to be a rush to indiscriminately blast away in macho manner. I find this to be lamentably inadequate, lacking and short-sighted. We can do better than that and President Obama is trying hard.

Robert F. Howarth, Asheville

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