Sub-Rosa Chase

“Red Hunt” (April 12, by David DeVoss) makes a very clear case--without intending to--of what has gone wrong with our nation. While the other industrial countries surge ahead of us in the production of goods for use, we spend $22 billion on fast-attack submarines to “defend” us from Soviet nuclear attack by their Pacific fleet.

What the story does not mention is this one obvious fact: If nuclear war ever breaks out between the Soviet Union and the United States, these underwater technological marvels will be playing their deadly games at a time when both countries have already been reduced to radioactive ashes. Their triumphs and failures will be irrelevant, and unrecorded.

Richard M. Powell

Malibu