Letter: U.S., eliminate nuclear arsenal

"Nuclear weapons are largely irrelevant to our safety," wrote William D. Hartung in "It's time to really drop the bombs" [Opinion, May 23].

Gen. James Cartwright, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former commander of the Strategic Command, which has responsibility for our nuclear arsenal, has also pointed out that the number of long-range nuclear warheads should be reduced by 80 percent.

Why then, are we planning to spend billions over the next decade to buy these weapons and the subs and planes that would deliver them?

Buying new nuclear weapons and their delivery systems is not only a mistaken investment, but would encourage other countries to increase or initiate their nuclear arsenals. That cannot be good. We spend more on conventional weapons than the rest of the world combined and have enough conventional armament to destroy any country that used a nuclear weapon.

Let us have the confidence in our own economic and military strength that will allow us to support Global Zero, the movement to achieve a world without nuclear weapons, and eliminate nuclear weapons from the world's developed countries.

Donald Scarl, Glen Cove