Letters, Oct. 16, 1978

One Small Step

To the Editors:

What an ineffable thrill it was to watch Sadat, Begin and Carter shaking hands [Sept. 25]. It was as singularly breathtaking as the feeling I had when Neil Armstrong murmured through the heavens, "One small step for man, one giant step for mankind."

Edward S. Yoste Germantown, Tenn.

No matter what happens or does not happen as a result of the Camp David agreements, the next Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded jointly to Sadat, Begin and Carter.

David A. Lane Ossining, N. Y.

The "framework" for peace between Egypt and Israel that has emerged out of the Camp David summit meeting is the greatest harbinger for lasting peace in the Western world in our century. President Carter has earned the Nobel Prize for Peace; there can be no other claimant in the field.

Victor F. Scalise Sr. Nashua, N.H.

What's all the fuss about Jimmy Carter's "personal" success and "personal" achievement in the Camp David talks? It was not his spiritual faculties but the immense economic and military power of the U.S. that enabled the President to put pressure on Israel and Egypt and bring about some promising results. The summit was destined not to fail: What would Israel be without U.S. support?

Paul Fischer Reisensburg, West Germany

Once again opportunity has passed us by. Until America faces up to the unpleasant reality that the land in question is rightfully Palestinian, no number of treaties or summits will achieve lasting peace in the Middle East. The only positive results of the recent summit will be new drains on the U.S. taxpayer to coax Premier Begin to give up a few Israeli settlements in the Sinai.

W.R. Hellmann Mission Viejo, Calif.

Mr. Begin's strength of character and adherence to principles of honor have secured peace and fairness for the world and a place of honor to our free world leader, Mr. Carter.

Manfred R. Lehmann New York City

Nuclear Furor

Your TIME Essay on the use of nuclear power [Sept. 25] is the tonic the industry needs and the information the public should get.

Oscar P. Wong Glen Ridge, N.J.

It is my professional opinion that nuclear energy, and nuclear waste in particular, is the single greatest threat to the earth's biosphere. The solution to America's energy problem is conservation.

David Kelley Columbus

Even though nuclear waste-disposal problems have not been solved, your author calls for speeded-up licensing of nuclear plants. With that kind of logic, it's not surprising that you have the gall to call opponents "irrational."

James Privitera Arnold, Md.

Controversy or not, conservation or not, one overriding fact remains: we'll need the power sooner or later. So let's get it from the cheapest source at hand—nuclear.

Stephen Barrett Barrington, R.I.

Nukes is a cute expression for nuclear reactors, which leave nuclear waste. The best scientific minds are not yet in agreement as to a reasonable and economic method of disposition of nuke waste materials. Until this is resolved for future generations, nukes are for kooks.