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Show rSQDO-" Feedback, L ' J investigate other basing alternatives al-ternatives and to report back to the Secretary by July 1. I have had the opportunity to meet this group on one occasion and we have promised to meet again prior to the conclusion of their study. During that meeting I took the opportunity to invite the panel to come to Utah on an informal basis and talk with the people who will be the most affected by this project. They indicated that they would like to do this and were hopeful that some of their members would be able to accomplish this in the near future. The statement by the First Presidency of the Mormon Church reflects the concern we all feel. I am confident that their decision was reached only after a great deal of thought. The concern they show for the impact upon the area is shared by both myself and President Reagan. The thought that this may not be the most effective effec-tive means of deploying the MX missile is a concern that I have raised in the past but what other deployment might be a feasible alternative alterna-tive has not been clearly established. The two proposals, pro-posals, that seem to be getting get-ting the" most attention are the possibility of splitting ' , some of the new missiles between be-tween the Great Basin and the plains ofTexas-NewMexico, and the deployment of theMX in cannisters strapped to either submarines or surface sur-face ships. Each of these alternatives has some serious seri-ous problems and will require re-quire additional research. One alternative that I am In process of vlosely investigating investi-gating involves the use of the Minuteman silos currently in use. It is my understanding that a large number of these silos are capable of holding an MX missile. These missiles mis-siles could be defended by an Anti Ballistic Missile system. sys-tem. I will be visiting the Huntsville, Alabama Ballistic Ballis-tic Missile Defense center in the near future to discuss dis-cuss the ABM technology and how feasible it is to deploy such a system around an MX field using Minuteman silos. The third question that I have asked deals with the impacts on the Great Basin area. For the past three years we have endeavored to gain as many adjustments from the Air Force as possible, possi-ble, both thrnup-h negotiation Dear Mr. Wilson; Thank you for your recent letter concerning the proposed pro-posed deployment of the MX missile In the Great Basin area of Utah and Nevada. Since the beglnningof theMX missile debate, I have repeatedly re-peatedly asked myself three questions: Is the MX missile mis-sile a necessary addition to our nation's military defense capabilities? Is a land based multiple shelter deployment mode the least expensive and most defensible launch system for this new weapon? Are the socio-economic and environmental Impacts too great for our state. The answer to the first question is yes. On this matter I feel that President Reagan agrees with the vast majority of Congress, for none of us are so naive as to look at the current de -fense posture of the U. visa-vis the Soviet Union and not realize that we must take corrective action. This is demonstrated in the budget for national security which the president has submitted sub-mitted to Congress. At the same time none of us believes be-lieves that any nation will profit from a world wide nuclear war. I support the development of the MX missile mis-sile as part of a national devense system which will prevent such a holocaust. To me the ability to wage war can only be justified as a means to keep the peace by deterring war. The second question is much more difficult. The Air Force has spent over ten years studying this issue is-sue and they continue to study it today. At the pres -ent time the Secretary of Defense, De-fense, Caspar Weinberger, has tasked Dr. Charles Townes, a noted physicist, to head a prestigious panel of 15 experts in a study of the proposed deployment of the MX in the Great Basin Area. They have been asked to and the legislative process. The efforts of the entire Utah delegation have been centered center-ed on providing sufficient funds to plan for new facilities facili-ties needed in case the decision de-cision to deploy in the Great Basin area is arrived at by the Administration. I will continue my efforts in this ' area as well. In summation this issue is likely the biggest issue to face the people of Utah in this generation. It will have an enormous impact on how our future lives will be directed. di-rected. At the same time , I don't think that I need to point out that no matter how threatening the MX may appear ap-pear to our life styles, no matter how great the problems prob-lems facing us in its deployment deploy-ment may seem, they pale when compared to the threat posed by the Soviet Union to the freedoms of the world. If that proposed deployment is the only feasible way to meet that threat, Utahns will have the courage to meet that challenge as they have met all others. The Constitution Consti-tution directs the Congress to provide for the national defense of the nation, to protect pro-tect us from outside aggressors aggres-sors who seem bent on destroying des-troying what we have worked so hard to ahieve. We owe it to our children to ensure that they will be able to live in a nation that enjoys the freedoms that we now enjoy. I think you for the time you have taken to communicate communi-cate your feelings to me. I hope that you will continue to do so on this and other issues. Very Truly Yours, ORRLN HATCH " United States Senator |
