Value judgment

Andrew HN Gray (Letters, 6 September) is mystified by the letter from Professor Bryan MacGregor.

This shows what a difference has appeared in the values of the two sides in the referendum debate between the concerned and forward-looking views of the professor, and those of Mr Gray, who still considers it a rational position to consider exchanging nuclear missiles with a country such as Russia.

Owing to the geographical vastness of Russia, the largest country in the world, whose 
immense size thwarted Hitler and Napoleon, and the comparative density of the UK which 
has almost 90 per cent of its population in urban areas, this putative conflict would be quickly over.

But do not worry, the Americans would never let us do it unilaterally – which makes the whole concept of an independent nuclear deterrent null and void.

Iain WD Forde

Main Street

Scotlandwell