Letter: Work needed to head off new arms race

To the editor:

Seventy-one years ago, the U.S. detonated two nuclear bombs in Japan, killing 200,000 people — mostly civilians. This day should be used for reflecting on the horror and tragedy, not for political posturing.

Unfortunately, the threat of nuclear weapons is still all too real. But our leaders can take steps to decrease the chances that something like the bombing of Hiroshima could happen again.

I urge Rep. Todd Young and Sen. Joe Donnelly to oppose the administration’s proposal to “modernize” the U.S. nuclear arsenal, a project that could start a new arms race to rival the Cold War.

In addition, the U.S. has not adopted a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, suggesting the nuclear danger remains a threat.

The only way to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists is to eliminate them all together.

On this day we must say never again and know that as an international community we must continue work to reduce the likelihood of nuclear warfare.

Tom Hougham

Trafalgar