To the editor:

With all the forms of modern media, one could suppose that the American people are becoming better informed about world affairs. This assumption is sorely tested in the recent letter by Mr. O’Connell (“Betraying Allies,” Journal-World, Sept. 22). Mr. O’Connell might want to consider that the proposed anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system for Eastern Europe was designed to defend against an Iranian missile threat, not Russian. If they were so inclined, Kremlin leaders could wipe Poland and the U.S. off the map in about 30 minutes. Believe it or not, sometimes political leaders have to compromise to protect their people.

Historical analogies are often misleading. There were all sorts of reasons that led Hitler to attack Poland, to include earlier concessions by western leaders. It is wrong to suggest, however, that by canceling this expensive and specious ABM system to counteract an Iranian missile threat, the Obama administration condones today’s thuggish behavior in Moscow. For all their negative qualities, Russian leaders are not willing to risk nuclear Armageddon for their cause, and like the wartime alliance with the USSR in WW II, today the U.S. might have to work with the Russians to defeat a greater threat.

Finally, to make a hackneyed connection between the decision to cancel this weapon system and encouraging Israel to go to war (presumably against Iran) borders on the apocalyptically absurd. Besides the Palestinian issue, the fact that Israel possesses a robust nuclear arsenal confounds many in the Middle East.