OPINION:
Two recent commentary articles highlight the deterioration of America’s deterrence capabilities (“Biden’s change in nuclear power weakens deterrence,” Web, March 31 and “The space weapons race is here,” Web, April 11). The writers’ aim: to convince the Biden administration that significant changes are needed if we are to retain security in this rapidly changing world.
The policy of deterrence has never been a precise entity. Rather, it is dependent on the perception a nation can induce into the mind of a potential opponent such that the opponent will be dissuaded from taking offensive actions. As both authors indicate, deterrence can only be effective from a position of strength. America has to have proven systems — coupled with the clear determination to use them — if pushed beyond an unspecified limit.
The problems clearly identified in both commentaries are that American retaliatory capabilities have been allowed to decay over decades while the apparent willingness to trade strength for appeasement has grown.
Recent actions by President Biden have exaggerated these declines, but none of his predecessors since President Ronald Reagan took the issues of deterrence seriously. In terms of national security, we have been badly served by them all for the past 37 years.
If we are to remain a world power, changes are needed — and soon.
STANLEY ORMAN
Rockville, Maryland
Please read our comment policy before commenting.