THE decision of George W. Bush to forge ahead with the National Missile Defence (NMD) strategy breaks the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) which the US signed in 1972. This resolution stipulates that "the parties undertake not to develop, test or deploy ABM systems or components which are sea, space or mobile land based".

This obscene multi-billion dollar NMD ("Star Wars") fantasy world of Bush poses a threat to us all. The latest test of the NMD programme has shown that if a missile is launched from Iran and aimed at Washington it could be intercepted and exploded over, for example, Birmingham, with serious consequences.

Of course, countries would have a better chance of their missiles reaching Washington if the listening station at Menwith was to be wiped out, again with disastrous consequences for the population of Yorkshire.

This madness has to be stopped. More than 250 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion opposing this American threat to world peace and a Mori Poll has shown that more than 70 per cent of the British electorate oppose NMD.

Tony Blair must be made to represent the wishes of the population of this country and to stop hanging onto the coat-tails of Bush who, I believe, is promoting NMD to pay back the arms industry for funding his questionable victory as US President

ELIZABETH TEBBS,

secretary,

Prestwich & Whitefield CND.