Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!renner From: renner@uiucdcs.UUCP (renner ) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: cruise missiles - (nf) Message-ID: <5226@uiucdcs.UUCP> Date: Sat, 28-Jan-84 22:26:40 EST Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.5226 Posted: Sat Jan 28 22:26:40 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 5-Feb-84 04:24:13 EST Lines: 29 #R:taurus:-15000:uiucdcs:29200066:000:1395 uiucdcs!renner Jan 28 11:32:00 1984 > /***** uiucdcs:net.politics / taurus!jr / 7:18 am Jan 27, 1984 */ > Many european governments are going ahead with the deployment of > american nuclear missiles against the overwhelming wishes of the > majority of the people in their countries. This is apparent from the > not insignificant rallies and demonstrations in major cities all around > europe. As piet said: What happened to the idea of democracy? > > As I recall, the soviets have only recently announced major buildups > of their arms, while cruise deployment has been in progress for some > time now. Sorry, but this analysis of cruise missiles/European politics just won't fly. The cruise missile/Pershing II program is a response to the Soviet deployment of SS-20 ballistic missiles aimed at the NATO powers. They have been turning these out on a regular basis since at least 1979. The cruise missiles are very definitely the newcomers. There is a very vocal opposition to the NATO missile program in Europe, but I don't believe it constitutes an overwhelming majority. Certainly the voters in the UK had a choice on the matter: if there truly was a majority "overwhelmingly opposed" to cruise missiles, they could have voted Labor (or SDP or Alliance). Did they? No. Just because the voters made the "wrong" choice is no reason to mourn the end of democracy. Scott Renner {ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!renner