A Nuclear Sub Is No Tribute

The press, including The Times, recently reported on the commissioning ceremonies for a new U.S. nuclear-powered attack submarine named after Pasadena.

In ready compliance with the Navy’s public relations campaign, several Pasadena-area dignitaries attended the commissioning ceremonies. Mayor William Thomson, Vice Mayor Jess Hughston, Director John Crowley and Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead (R-Glendale) were all on hand to bestow their blessings on the sub.

Thomson’s remarks that Pasadena is “fortunate” and “honored” to have the submarine named after it have met with favorable editorial response by one local newspaper. But before anyone breaks into jubilant celebration, I think the citizens of Pasadena deserve to know more about the Pasadena than has been reported by the press.

A front-page story in the Feb. 12 Star-News mentioned that the sub comes equipped with cruise missiles. Even less was revealed about the sub in The Times. Unfortunately, none of the press reported that some of these missiles are tipped with 200-kiloton nuclear warheads that have an explosive force 15 times more powerful than the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima.

In addition, these missiles have a range of 1,500 miles, pinpoint accuracy and capabilities that make them potential first-strike weapons. Because it is extremely difficult to distinguish between cruise missiles with nuclear or conventional warheads, such weapons present verification nightmares for attempts to ensure compliance with nuclear arms controls. They will make negotiations for future arms control treaties much more difficult.

In a time of massive federal debt, greatly decreased Cold War tensions and critical human needs in Pasadena and other San Gabriel Valley communities, it seems difficult to justify the expenditure of the $800 million it took to build this single submarine.

I call on Thomson, Hughston, Crowley and Moorhead to explain to the citizens of Pasadena why we need to deploy this submarine when the U.S. nuclear arsenal already contains the equivalent of two tons of TNT for every man, woman and child on this planet. I ask them to explain why they support the deployment of weapons that have first-strike capabilities and can only make new arms control treaties more difficult to obtain. And finally, I ask them why they expect Pasadena citizens to celebrate this $800-million expenditure when they know the critical human needs of Pasadena and many other communities.

To these Pasadena civic leaders I say “congratulations.” You have done your part to perpetuate the ever-more threatening and ruinously expensive arms race. I’m sorry, but I do not share your pride and joy in the commissioning of the Pasadena.

JOHN GRULA

Pasadena