History will decide....

Three Dominican nuns who, last October, trespassed at a Minuteman III missile silo in northeastern Colorado, cutting the chain link fence, banging on a railing with a small hammer, symbolically spilling their own blood - collected in baby bottles - and praying, singing and chanting for peace until they were arrested, were sentenced yesterday in Denver.

Ardeth Platte, 66, sentenced to 41 months, will probably serve about 29 months with time off for good behavior and credit for time already served.

Carol Gilbert, 55, sentenced to 33 months, will probably serve about 22 months.

Jackie Marie Hudson, 68, sentenced to 30 months; will probably serve about 20 months.

The sentences are less than the 92 months for Platte, 78 months for Gilbert and 70 months for Hudson sought by federal prosecutors. On the other hand, the nuns and their numerous supporters worldwide had hoped the judge would sentence them to time served and let them go free.

The women have been arrested many times for anti-war activism: Platte, at least 10 times, Hudson five times and Gilbert, at least 13 times. Platte and Gilbert live in the Baltimore activist community founded by the late peace activist Philip Berrigan, while Hudson lives in a similar community in Poulsbo, Wash.

Complete stories here and here.