THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY

1230 YORK AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10021

July 9, 1987

 

JOSHUA LEDERBERG

PRESIDENT

Dr. Albert Wohlstetter

R&D Associates

P. O. Box 9695

4640 Admiralty Way

Marina del Rey, California 90295

Dear Albert:

You will not be surprised that I enjoyed DISCONT, very
much.

The technology of the. guided missile is just as you say.
But it does not seem to have made the least dent on the planners
of our Navy, who design fleets that must be amortized over
the next 30-50 years during which that technology will not
diminish.

“Crumbling of.alliances" is another dimension. Unlike
the inexorability of the technology, we can take measures to
change the course of history. Taking our partners for granted
is hardly the way. Not that they are always clearheaded and
cleanhanded either.

In my view, the most likely course df events is the con-
tinued attack on NATO by the USSR -- not by force but by far
more subtle "peace" campaigns,. (backed by unmitigated military
capability, to be sure). And the Russians are likely to turn
their attention to the US-Japan-China encirclement as soon as
they can devise a strategy to exploit the US-Japanese economic,
and the never absent undercurrents of Japan-China, tensions.

I am sorry to miss the meeting on July 14: my schedule
just does not match the majority. But I look forward to seeing
you August 25-28 in San Diego.

Yours. sincerely,

Jo a Lederberg

ce: c/o Col. Sullivan