Letter: Israel needs retaliatory threat

We read that Syria is supplementing its re-arming of Hezbollah terrorists with Scud missiles having a one-ton payload and a range that includes all cities within Israel. Previously, Syria furnished thousands of short-range missiles, all in violation of UN resolutions.

One response would be for Israel to proclaim that for every missile launched into Israel, 10 would be fired into Damascus. This would follow the Cold War strategy of mutual assured destruction whereby General Curtis LeMay of the Strategic Air Command had nuke-loaded B52 bombers flying 24 hours a day near Russia ready to respond if Russia released any of the ICBMs pointed to our shores.

While some may protest that a 10 to one retaliation ratio might be excessive, terrorists in Baghdad recently used a much higher ratio against the 52 persons killed and the more than 100 injured. This high explosive ratio did not cause indignant protests.

Bud Rubin

Palo Alto