From Nicholas Taylor
Ian Gilbert cites many examples of how civilian life has benefited from military scientific advances (17 April, p 25) but he misses a subtle point: military spending does not in itself increase the number of innovators, it just excludes them from the constraints of the civilian market. Military activity itself depends on the existence of an underlying peaceful economy. The real question is: how can we have the same benefits without such a destructive vehicle?
Little Sandhurst, Berkshire, UK
