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Editor: 

A bill now in the House seeks “to preserve the cooperative, peaceful uses of space for the benefit of all humankind.” One hundred thirty-eight countries signed a similar bill in the United Nations a few years ago. Only the United States and Israel abstained.  

On Dec. 12 President Bush publicly exulted in our “victory” over the Taliban. He said Afghanistan was a “proving ground “ for the type of operations he plans against other “rogue nations.” Sounding almost jaunty, he said the anti ballistic missile treaty is “opening up” and the space weapons program is going forward. Our president has made it clear we do not need treaties, even domestic ones like the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  

Rather, we need supremacy, grown in stages, from air to ground to space. We're almost there. We already have the technology to read a license plate from space or target a bird's eye. While the people of Afghanistan are dealing with radiation, land mines and unexploded cluster bombs on the ground, for us, the sky is the limit. If need be, we can retire there to a gated community. With less oxygen we'll have even fewer thoughts and memories. Peace on earth will be words to a forgotten song. 

For information about Preservation of Space, www.peaceinspace.com or call Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Ohio 202-225-5871. 

Gael Alcock 

Berkeley, CA