A Question of Defense

Re “Bush Began ‘Shadow Government’ Hours After Sept. 11 Attacks,” March 1: If the danger of a terrorist nuclear attack on Washington is so clear and present as to require a shadow government residing in underground bunkers, does not President Bush have the obligation to evacuate all civilians and nonessential personnel from the city? The shadow government raises the question: Are the terrorists running scared from Bush or is Bush running scared from the terrorists? It also raises the question whether the hundreds of billions Bush wants to spend on the Strategic Defense Initiative--an antiballistic missile defense system--are worthless against the real threat.

Gary Brown

Santa Monica