Missile Defense

Re “The Gipper Had This Defense Figured,” Commentary, June 6: Although it was President Reagan who first proposed “Star Wars,” James Pinkerton infers that this so-called nuclear shield would actually work. To date, all real tests of the various components that would make up the shield have failed. The Pentagon has rigged several tests that met with only limited success in spite of its bias in favor of a positive outcome.

Successive administrations have wasted billions of dollars on this highly improbable and dangerous (because of its destabilizing effects on nuclear deterrence) concept. The fact that the Clinton administration continues to pursue “Star Wars” is to its shame, not to Reagan’s credit.

MIKE GREENE

Tustin