Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace

P.O. Box 363 Geneseo, NY 14454

February 2, 2000

Dear GVCP Member:

SAVE THE DATES: APRIL 28 & 29, UC SANTA CRUZ , "THE COLOR OF VIOLENCE: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OF COLOR." KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: ANGELA DAVIS & HUANANI KAY TRASK. Free and open to public. For information: 831-460-1856 or <andysm@cats.ucsc.edu>.

THIS MONTH’S LETTERS: Say No to National Missile Defense! Savoring the defeat of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, defense hawks have set their sights on a National Missile Defense (NMD). NMD is a younger brother of the old "Star Wars"--a scaled-back system re-designed to detect, intercept and destroy a missile attack from a rogue nation.

Last year, Congress passed a law declaring it is the policy of the U.S. to deploy a national missile defense "as soon as technologically possible." (Even though the most likely scenario for an attack would come from a terrorist, not a ballistic missile.) The countdown now begins to June, when President Clinton will decide whether to deploy a NMD by late 2005. A Pentagon-appointed panel reported that the entire effort was riddled with waste and on a headlong "rush to failure."

•Unproven Technology: While 19 intercept tests are scheduled before 2005, only four will be conducted before the June decision date. In addition, these planned tests will not adequately simulate real-world conditions during wartime.

•No "Bang" for the Buck: Missile defense efforts have yet to produce a single workable device, yet it is the most expensive weapon program on the Pentagon budget, at over $4 billion per year plus massive cost overruns.

•A New Nuclear Arms Race: By far, the most disastrous consequence of NMD is that it would violate the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM). Both Russia and China have warned that deploying a NMD, or amending the ABM treaty, would threaten longstanding disarmament agreements and spark a new arms race.

Although the decision to deploy NMD rests with President Clinton, Vice President Al Gore will shape this decision and the debate in the presidential campaign. Republic National Committee Chairman Jim Nicholson has said NMD is "the most important issue of the 2000 elections." Sen. Bill Bradley is the only presidential candidate to date to speak out against NMD.

Action: Contact Leon Feurth, National Security Advisor to Vice President Gore. Urge him to advise Gore to publicly oppose NMD now because of its poor capabilities, high cost, and disastrous consequences. Remind him that the ultimate goal of U.S. nuclear strategy should be the abolition of nuclear weapons. Leon Feurth, National Security Advisor to the Vice President, Old Executive Office Building, Rm. 298, Washington, DC 20501. Phone: 202-456-9501. Fax: 202-456-9500. E-mail:www.vice.president@whitehouse.gov. [Thank Bill Bradley for speaking out against NMD. issues@billbradley.com; or 888-643-9799 [From 20/20 Vision, 1828 Jefferson Place, NW Wash DC 20036]

Renew your GVCP membership. Paying $20.00 dollars each year helps support this newsletter, GVCP donations to national groups and actions, and ads in local periodicals. We have had 100% renewal for two years. Let’s do it again in 2000! [We do not expect dues from international groups, or from any groups with which we exchange newsletters.]