Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-02
Minute Man Psychology

Eugene Zuckert, former member OF
the Atomic Energy Commission, makes
the interesting point that this world Of
ours has been changing so fast that
most Of us really don't know what has
happened.
For example, we have been told
land we know what the words mean)
that one--just one-of today's megaton
weapons contains explosive power equal
to that used by all Of the allied forces
throughout World War II. In a dim
sort Of way, we do understand this.
But 1t is very difhcult for the mind to
grasp the implications Of the fact that
one bomb today can unleash fury
greater than all of the allied explo-
sions In the Second World War. And
If 1t is hard to grasp these implications,
1t Is even harder to use them as a basis
for rational planning and action.
Mr.. Zuckert, addressing gathering
at Texas AIM College. cited this cir
cumStance as one argument against the
folly Of on-again, off-again defense
planning. In the past IL years, he said.
there have been at least six major shifts
in national security policy-shifts which
reflect failure to comprehend the real
significance of RuSsia's swift rise In a
shrinking world. He cautioned against
the popular notion that competition,
which We cherish In private industry. Is
necessarily bad among the armed serv-
ices And then he said this:
The basic defect In our thinking
again say, Is that we do not really believe
In the basic elements Of the nature OF
modern war. and the one In which we
are engaged. We say. and think we un-
derstand. the potential OF missiles and
the complex Of skills and production re-
quired to create them. Yet. a single
world event or a temporary restlessness
at home. can. bring about q reversal Of
basic policies In a twinkline The mere
fact that 1t takes years to accomplish
the research. design development and
production Of modern instruments Of
war, is an inherent barrier 70 effective
ness on such q basis. The war in which
We are engaged today cannot be waged
on "mtnute-man" psychology
What this adds up to Is an appeal
for a greater effort to understand. to
really understand. the magnitude of the
danger which hovers over our world. II
is danger. we think, which cries out
for an earnest, dedicated search for a
peaceful settlement. II this fails. how
ever, or II we will not make this effort,
then Mr.. Zuckert Is incontrovertibly
right In calling for an end to minute
man" thinking. 1t Is not necessarily
true that science in free climate will
prevail over science in a dictatorship.
1t Is not true, or certainly 1t is not the
whole truth, that the Russians have
caught up because they stole some of
our secrets. And 1t is not true that the
Russian industrial plant, because 1t has
not yet provided luxuries for the Rus
sian people, is incapable Of matching
our effort in the military field.
1t is true, however, that the cushion
Of security which we have enjoyed be-
cause Of our geographical situation Is
shrinking, and will soon be gone. This
country simply must not slight It's mill
tary program because its people are I'M
willing to believe that a major effort
Is required. We hope. and all rational
people must also hope, that 1t will be
possible, through sincere negotiation, to
convert this world into something bet
ter than an armed camp. II not, II
the future holds nothing better than
a mad race to match missile with mis-
sile, H-bomb with H-bomb, this genera
ton of Americans should remember a
line from one of Lincoln's messages to
CongresS-"the dogmas of the quiet past