An additional risk

It continues to be a miracle no nukes have been fired in anger since we dropped the second on Nagasaki, August 9, 1945. A day short of five months old, I don't recall that one and won't mind if I never experience one. But we've had more close calls than we deserve without one going off. We've truly been more lucky than good. Unfortunately, the Trump Administration displays an almost psychotic disregard to the fragile structure of peace that has prevented the third hostile nuke explosion now for 75 years.

Tho consumed with combating the coronavirus crisis, Trump officials still find time to prepare withdrawing from the Open Skies Treaty, a 28-year-old agreement designed to avoid accidental war with Russia by allowing overflights of each country by the other to monitor military facilities. Senate Democrats are furious, arguing its cancellation will make America less safe.

This third whack at peaceful détente with potential adversaries follows Trump's May, 2018 withdrawal from the 5-plus-1 Iran Nuclear Agreement and his August, 2019 withdrawal from the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. In baseball, three strikes and you're out. In Trump's game against peace, three strikes and you're just getting started.

Walt Zlotow

Glen Ellyn