The guest commentary “Education must be New London’s top priority,” (May 1), by New London schools Superintendent, Dr. Manuel J. Rivera,  produced a superlative summary of our schools situation. But in calling it our "top priority," he failed miserably. Compare our need for education to a more desperate plight; what many cognoscenti, perusing our spasming globe, see as the dawning of World War III.

We are the jugular of the world’s largest megalopolis, Bostington (the Boston-Washington corridor). If the Bold Start Bridge (Gold Star Bridge) goes down, the submarines docked upriver armed with nuclear warhead missiles will be ripe for the taking, along with the base, Electric Boat, and a Groton airport that can in mere minutes be a launching pad for kamikaze-like attacks. Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun and the tourist mecca in Mystic are sitting ducks, and in the opposite direction there is the ultimate target − Millstone.

Meanwhile bullseye New London, with its Amtrak station, ferry terminals, three colleges and seven-story hospital, is scarcely penny ante stakes.

If we are to weather this budding World War III we need to prepare to sacrifice all resources, including education, in favor of keeping our courageous cops and firefigthers in peak performance mode.

Martin Crane

New London