THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 11, 1995 TAG: 9503100015
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
After reading ``Tilt toward peaceful industries'' (letter, March 2), I shake my head in wonderment and try to imagine what would actually happen to this country of ours, not to mention the rest of the world, if we were to turn our military might into plowshares.
Oh, it would be wonderful if we could divert all of our present military assets and the monies yet to be spent to maintain them into helping those in need throughout the world.
I would surely welcome that possibility, but would these new-found assets for world relief be better spent that way today? I think not! Would it be preferred that such countries as Libya, Iraq, Iran and North Korea be allowed to gain control of the world by having the upper hand through their development of not-so-peaceful nuclear capabilities so that they can use that power to intimidate the rest of the ``peaceful world,'' including the United States?
A strong military deterrent to this action, which our country currently possesses, is not only desired but is absolutely necessary to ensure that mankind can live outside of such a menacing shadow. Living within a Utopian shroud may be enjoyable for the moment, but it is unlikely that anyone would be allowed to remain there for long without being brought back to the reality that the world in its current predicament is in need of a stabilizing force, be it military or not.
With this in mind, I say bring the F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18 Hornets to NAS Oceana. The air station deserves them, Virginia Beach deserves them, and the world, I'm sure, is very thankful for them.
DAVID S. LOCKWOOD
Virginia Beach, March 2, 1995 by CNB