To the Editor:
Re “Abandon the Open Skies Pact” (Op-Ed, May 22):
While I agree with Tim Morrison that any arms control agreement should enhance American national security, the reality is that the Open Skies Treaty was achieving just that.
This treaty has been a pillar of post-Cold War peace and has given the United States and our European allies surveillance access to Russian military deployments, which not only enhances our mutual understanding of each other’s capabilities and intentions, but also serves to lower military tensions between Russia and NATO allies.
As a former senior State Department official who dedicated several years to effective arms control agreements, I know that even when treaties aren’t perfect, implementation problems should be solved through diplomacy. Abandoning agreements without concrete solutions in place is dangerous for our country.
By abandoning the Open Skies Treaty, we divide ourselves from our allies, and signal to the world that the United States welcomes a renewed arms race.
I fear that Mr. Morrison and others who share his views in this administration will also use similar arguments about imperfection to target other national security agreements that are being fully implemented, like the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. New START has measurably reduced and restricted the two largest nuclear arsenals on the planet.
Some have argued that it, too, is imperfect because it does not include China. While a multilateral agreement with China would be valuable, the perfect should not be the enemy of the very good.
Thomas Countryman
Chevy Chase, Md.
The writer is a former acting under secretary of state for international security and arms control.
The Necessity of Good Child Care
To the Editor:
Re “How to Build a Better Child Care System” (Op-Ed, nytimes.com, May 29):
As a child abuse pediatrician, I applaud Shantel Meek and Conor P. Williams’s rallying call to direct resources to high-quality, safe and affordable child care not only for the sake of our economy but also for the sake of our children’s health, development and overall well-being.
Good child care helps children thrive, and it also prevents child abuse and neglect. Low-income parents and caregivers leave children in unsafe environments not by choice but because they must work and have no other option.
Furthermore, quality child care can prevent child abuse by some parents. The many downstream consequences of child maltreatment are both devastating to the individuals who manifest them and extremely costly to our society.
Funding high-quality child care for all families will not only solve many immediate problems during this crisis, but it will also save lives.
Andrea Gottsegen Asnes
New Haven, Conn.
The writer is an associate professor of pediatrics at the Yale School of Medicine.
A View From Hong Kong
To the Editor:
Re “Between an Iron Fist and a World on Fire” (Business, June 4) and “31 Years Later, Tiananmen Sq. Casts a Shadow Over Hong Kong” (news article, June 4):
Restrictions on public gatherings in Hong Kong have been in place for more than two months, and their need is reviewed in light of the actual situation, in particular whether there are any cases of community transmission.
In recent days we have seen a new community cluster with some as yet unexplained transmission vectors. This is a legitimate concern. Based on our experience containing the virus, the only prudent course is to extend restrictions on public gatherings until we are confident that this latest cluster is under control and we can understand how and why it has spread.
The decision has nothing to do with any political considerations, just the public health of our people. To throw caution to the wind and allow any large public gathering at this time would be reckless.
Sophia Chan
Hong Kong
The writer is secretary for food and health in the Hong Kong government.