It is extremely disappointing that President Bush, supposedly representing all Americans, calls on “science” only to support his particular views, while claiming a future world view superior to that in Europe where informed critics are raising questions. He dismisses the Kyoto environmental accords by his personal opinion that they lack scientific basis, yet he advocates a missile shield that is merely an idea, unproven, with serious scientific and technical flaws.

The missile shield also doesn’t make sense now that he hails Russia as a friend, yet fails to see that North Korea also need not remain an enemy, as shown by current efforts for reconciliation between North and South Korea. And small terrorists, unfortunately, could still slip a weapon past any missile shield by means of small craft, such as used against our Navy ship in the harbor at Yemen.

A better defense system is to disarm hostile intentions toward the United States. In time perhaps even Libya, another supposed excuse for a missile shield, could be disarmed of its hostile intentions using diplomatic means advocated by France and Germany.

Not only are there intelligent scientific viewpoints to be heard on these matters, but the people of the world, including many Americans, may share more common and enlightened views than the president’s.

Steve Osborn
1952 MSU graduate