Missile Threat

There is a a widening rift between Moscow and Washington over cruise missiles and increasing patrols by nuclear-capable Russian submarines threaten the end of an era of arms control and bring back the rivalry between the world's two dominant nuclear arsenals. 'Tensions have been taken to a new level by US threats of retaliatory action for Russian development of a new cruise missile. Washington alleges it violates one of the key arms control treaties of the cold war, and has raised the prospect of redeploying its own cruise missiles in Europe after a 23-year absence. ' (Guardian, 4 January) A timely reminder of the major threat of military violence. RD