Guaranteed Terror

Re “U.S. Ineptness Invites More Terrorism,” Commentary, Oct. 28: To prevent nuclear attack by terrorists, the U.S. needs to employ the Cold War strategy of mutually assured destruction. All states that support terrorism should be warned that if terrorists set off a nuclear weapon, they will all be destroyed by our nuclear might regardless if they were involved or not. This threat, if believable, would give them a strong incentive to rein in the Bin Ladens. If terrorists do unleash smallpox or any other communicable disease, how will it know who to infect? It seems to me it could end up infecting large portions of the population--our side and theirs.

Robert Yesk

Los Angeles