We clearly need defense

Letter writer Victor Darst who says "Why no reduction in defense spending?" must be living on some other planet. He says "There are no major or even minor military conflicts anywhere in the world and the chances of one developing are slim to none."

Is he kidding? How about Iran building a nuclear bomb, sponsoring terrorism around the world and vowing to destroy Israel, how about the Taliban bombing civilians and American soldiers in Afghanistan, how about China trying to militarily take over the South China Sea, how about North Korea threatening to send nuclear rockets everywhere, how about Russian military taking over parts of Ukraine, how about the wars in Syria and Yemen and how about the constant military threats from totalitarian governments all over the world?

Like it or not the U.S.is the only military power in the world that is capable of saving the world from such tyrants. Get real.

Roland G. Ley

Arlington Heights