(CPT Reservist Claire Miller (Norfolk, VA) wrote this letter to the editor
which appeared in the Virginian-Pilot on February 8, 1998. We share it as
part of our effort to provide background for your own communications
regarding the threat of attack on Iraq.)

As the United States considers military action against Iraq in
response to Saddam Hussein's denial of access ot UN weapons inspectors, I am
concerned about he double standard of the U.S. regarding weapons of mass
destruction. A July 1996 ruling of the World Court declared most uses of
nuclear weapons, particularly first-strike use, illegal. The United States,
however, continues to plan for nuclear war.
On January 18, 22 U.S. and Canadian citizens, citing the Nuremberg
Principles, attempted to inspect the U.S. Navy's Project ELF (Extremely Low
Frequency) facility near Clam Lake, WI, for violation of international law.
The ELF transmitter at the site is designed to communicate with submerged
Trident submarines, and thus constitutes part of a nuclear first-strike
system. The inspection team was denied access, instead being issued arrest
citations.
The United States holds stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction
(nuclear weapons) and denies access to inspectors. It is difficult to see
how this country can claim the moral high ground when confronting Iraq on
issues of international law.

Claire Miller (Norfolk, VA)