{The Arms Race}[26th November 1970]

[Redbook1:188-189][19701126.0000]{The Arms Race}[26th November 1970]

Wednesday 26th November 1970

            ‘This whole situation is upside-down -- cracked – mad!  Here we are spending money on arms which could be used on education and raising the standard of living.  And why?  Because in another part of the world there are people wasting money in exactly the same way!  And why?  Because here we are, spending money on arms....’

            ‘Alright: so what are you going to do about it?’

            ‘Nothing.  There isn't anything I can do.  Do you think I can decrease our arms reserve and let them walk right in, all over the world?’

            ‘But don't you see?  That way we’ll never stop.  All of this communist-scare business is obsolete and unjustified, anyway.  It's about time we all grew up!’

            ‘Quite so.  But look: in your street you have a neighbour whom you don't much like.  He doesn't much like you either.  Your gardens adjoin.  One day the common fence blows down and [he] goes off on holiday.  What are you going to do?  Aren't you going to put the fence back up a little further over his way, and take in a bit of his garden so he won't notice?’

            ‘No, of course not.  I wouldn't dream of it.  It'd be a most improper thing to do.’

            ‘Right.  That's easy.  Now, he doesn't like you, and you distrust him.  One day the fence blows down just as you're due to go off on holiday.  You can see him eyeing it, thoughtfully.  He watches you getting ready to go.  Do you leave that fence down, knowing that if he moves it when you're away you won't know any better?  Or do you put it back up before you go, even at the risk of delaying a holiday?’

            ‘That’s a damn stupid analogy.  I’d have tried to make it up with him long ago.’

            ‘It wouldn't have done any good.  Supposing he’d tricked you -- pretended to be a friendly, suggested joining up your gardens, then taken over?’

            ‘Then I’d have gone to Court.’

            ‘There isn't any.  That's the crunch: there's nothing you can do afterwards.  It's always got to be prevention, and deterrence.  Punishment, actual use of punishment, is an admission of failure.’

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