However, the new aircraft and new enhancements are not only required for their nuclear role but are also vital to maintaining an adequate conventional deterrent.

Force and punishment are not adequate deterrents.

We should first decide, in view of likely arms control agreements, what number and type of nuclear weapons represent an adequate deterrent.

"By allowing the use of armed guards in a structured, legal framework we can move to a system where ship owners can provide an adequate deterrent against this scourge on the maritime industry."

An adequate nuclear deterrent can be achieved at a fraction of the cost of our current program, but not if we insist upon pursuing the "Star Wars" course.

To the Editor: Anthony Lewis (column, Sept. 5) is right: "force and punishment are not adequate deterrents" to terrorism.

The Home Secretary and the Commissioner assumed that the threat of dismissal from the force and loss of pension rights was an adequate deterrent.

In 1964, it was argued that we could not provide an adequate deterrent without five boats, but we took the decision to proceed with only four and we carried it through.

It is an adequate deterrent, without being so severe as to become counter-productive.