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Show Much of the opposition to the MX system sys-tem and deployment results from confusion created by Governor Matheson and Governor List, and the-congressional delegations from both states. In their effort to mitigate the impact, and to get the most possible funding for state planning, etc.. they have consistently given Utah and Nevada the impression that they have far more influence in the decision de-cision of how and whether to deploy MX, than is true. When in fact, their only chance to stop MX is to convince Congress not to fund it. Fat chance of that as long as Russia is in Afghanistan. With all the political rhetoric, a tide of emotionalism has whipped up opportion . to MX. with spokesmen for the opposition using their own facts and figures, which have been liberally quoted and exploited by the media, adding to the confusion. The Air Force has been fairly consistent con-sistent with their figures, possibly to the extent of showing the most possible impact, Instead of the least. Right from the beginning be-ginning however, they have assured us that they would work with Utah and Nevada to mitigate the impact wherever ppssible. Even to the point of adjusting clusters from. one valley to another to avoid conflict with mineral exploration and development. However, in every meeting the Air Force representatives from Gen. GuyHeck-er GuyHeck-er to DOD undersecretary Chayes, and down through the ranks, have said that while every effort will be made to work with the states and the local impacted areas, if this proves impossible and Congress funds the project they will build it anyway. They would prefer to be accepted and allowed allow-ed to be good neighbors, but are also prepared pre-pared to construct MX in a hostile Utah-Nevada Utah-Nevada environment, if necessary. Knowing this, the politicians have continued con-tinued to feed upon the emotional outrages out-rages of the very vocal opposition, in this election year, to the point of testifying in Washington, D.C. last week before the House Subcommittee on Lands, that, while they believed MX Is necessary for National Devense, they don't want it in Utah and Nevada. They were forced to crawl though, when Rep. Robert McEwen, of New York reminded them they had both endorsed MX previously, and asked them if Utah and Nevada were now refusing to shoulder their share of National defense, as do the other states. With Russia in Afghanistan, and knocking on the door of the OPEC oil fields in the Persian Gulf, even the most liberal politicians are finally coming around to the view that Russia cannot be trusted, and that during the last 30 years, while the U.S. has let their military deteriorate, Russia has gained military superiority on all fronts. They are . not unaware that Utahns and Nevadans have been the most severe critics of our deteriorating ' national defense. v It's highly unlikely then, that Congress will give much countenance to emotional pleas to build MX elsewhere, and will sure -ly fund MX just as the military wants, deployed in Utah and Nevada. It seems to this writer that our public officials might be more influential if they tried cooperating with the military, than to oppose them every step of the way, just .to advance their political fortunes with the opposition. The Air Force seems willing to work with them to minimize the adverse ad-verse impacts as much as possible. But they never promised us a Rose Garden. N.E. "Red" Wilson |
