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Missile Defense

Technology has always found its greatest consumer in a nation's war and defense efforts. Since the last attempts at a "Star Wars" defense system, has technology changed considerably enough to make the latest Missile Defense initiatives more successful? Can such an application of science be successful? Is a militarized space inevitable, necessary or impossible?

armel7 - 12:38pm Dec 14, 2001 EST (#10396 of 10657)
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lchic:How many 'off topic' posts to come ... ?

Indeed. I appreciate the good crowd here, but please let's keep this forum on MD. There is much to discuss on that subject.

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Michael Scott Armel

egypt46 - 12:51pm Dec 14, 2001 EST (#10397 of 10657)

food not bombs is something that comes to mind. we could also invest some of the defense budget into social security. i am sure some senior citizens might want that. i know bush talked about using the budget surplus to pay for this great program. wait, there is no surplus. i know we are in a slump post- september 11, but i think more about that trillion dollar tax cut that favors people that make over 150,000 per year.

this move makes no sense and shows we have no accountabilty in the global community as well. just last week we scoffed at the 1972 biological warfare convention in bonn last week. strange, how we want saddam to let un inspectors check out his arsenal, when we won't anyone to check ours. i am not confusing the missile treaty with the biological warfare convention. both were recently forsaken and have great implications on future conflicts.

armel7 - 03:19pm Dec 14, 2001 EST (#10398 of 10657)
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News:Behind-the-scenes agreement with Putin on withdrawl?

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Michael Scott Armel

artnanna - 04:33pm Dec 14, 2001 EST (#10399 of 10657)

I heard Secretary Rumsfeld imply that missile counts grew because of the ABM treaty and are now falling because of its demise. I think that's rubbish. Missile force levels were decreasing long before Messrs. Bush et al came to power.

wbtake1 - 05:11pm Dec 14, 2001 EST (#10400 of 10657)

Seems like my source was right about Mr. Putin!

gazoga - 05:51pm Dec 14, 2001 EST (#10401 of 10657)

How does MD technology not spread and make the world more dangerous not less?

gazoga - 05:54pm Dec 14, 2001 EST (#10402 of 10657)

This is a totally offensive move. Creating orbital weapons of mass distruction. Best D is a good O?! Something else is going on here. It is not being voiced, but there's too much capital being spent on an unworkable plan. Ergo, it's a misdirection.

gazoga - 05:56pm Dec 14, 2001 EST (#10403 of 10657)

Has anyoned answered the question about whether the Senate has a role in abrogating treaties, as they do in ratifying them?

jimiraj - 08:12pm Dec 14, 2001 EST (#10404 of 10657)

The treaty was o.k. at one time.But it,s time for a new treaty with the new nation of Russia,since the Soviet Union is gone.But it should be one that allows,for more effort towards defense.Than just offense.Because many things that have changed.Things are more unstable than they where then.With more countrys with nukes.Than in 1972.Plus where as we could more easily predict what the Soviets might do,it,s harder to tell what some of this other coutrys might do.

btsoap - 09:21pm Dec 14, 2001 EST (#10405 of 10657)

It's probably been said:

Does the threat justify the expense? Will the system be effective enough to make a difference? Would we be better off spending the money on public transit and energy research to free us from the dependence on oil from the Middle East?

The less money in the pockets of the rulers of the Middle East, the less political power and manuevering that can cause us misery. They currently sell us oil, use the money to oppress their people, and deflect the hatred from the masses onto the U.S.

Of course, if we don't reduce the demand for battleship-sized single-driver vehicles, we shouldn't gripe about others not liking "our way of life."

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