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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?

Read Debates, a new Web-only feature culled from Readers' Opinions, published every Thursday.

rshow55 - 11:08am Jan 22, 2002 EST (#10958 of 10987)

The number "1071: above should have been 10701 rshowalt 1/8/02 9:07am

People have differences of opinion on questions of technical fact. In a forum format, they only go to closure given a modicum of good faith on all sides -- which sometimes occurs on this thread, but often not.

But issues of technical fact can be checked . And with the stakes here, the checking is worth doing.

Except for reservations about the phrase "easily made" -- and perhaps questions about different plastics with different indices of refraction, do you have any reason to doubt what was said, taken from an independent source, in MD10920 rshow55 1/21/02 2:45pm ?

lchic - 12:29pm Jan 22, 2002 EST (#10959 of 10987)

mAzzA - a major point re recent posts relates to accuracy v inaccuracy wrt human fallibility with words, numbers and process. Small unintentional errors can have major effects.

There's concern in the US community re similar Enronification of major companies - when the Enron matter requires the equivalent input of 55working_days effort from everyone in the USA workforce to make-up for wastage.

How many working_days have been squandered re wastages related to MD budgets? Is the accounting watertight, transparent and open to scrutiny ... or .... are those waters muddied?!

In world terms much to do with Nuclear sits in the 'error' zone ... Nukes are unusable .. when both 'The Earth' and 'Humanity' are put in perspective. Do military folks have perspective - no - they rely on fly-by-night politicians. How safe is the world?

mazza9 - 12:42pm Jan 22, 2002 EST (#10960 of 10987)
Louis Mazza

Lchic:

The human condition, aka "Original Sin" colors all our endeavors. You speak of Enronification as if it's the only example of our system's foibles. There is no doubt that there was major criminality involved. I say, "Off with their heads!" Then let's get on with life.

On the whole I would much rather spend the BMD funds on Space Exploration. In fact I would much rather spend our federal budget in a different fashion but... as you said there are those pesky politicians. But, they're what we prefer to the dictators and malcontents that rule other societies on this planet.

I believe that BMD is doable because of who we are and what we have accomplished. Heck it took us 100 years but we finally civilized Europe,( well the Balkans are still a problem but maybee...!) Now we have to bend our efforts to the rest of the world.

You know I've done alot of looking and I believe that the human race is capable of so much if democracy, education and freedom are espoused.

LouMazza

rshow55 - 12:49pm Jan 22, 2002 EST (#10961 of 10987)

My own view, at the beginning of last year, was that the risk of the world being destroyed by a nuclear "accident" -- was running about 10%/year - - a risk discounted "expected value" the equivalent of 3-4 WTC disasters per hour. With risks from terrorism on top of that.

I think the total risks are somewhat less now - - but still terrifyingly large. When I read some of the "technical judgements" of gisterme , and Mazza , my concern doesn't get any less.

Checking for technical facts that can be determined in the open literature, and checked by independent authorities (for instance, people in charge of writing the professional engineering exams, and similar examinations in other countries) would be a good place to start. MD10764 rshow55 1/14/02 7:36pm

rshow55 - 12:50pm Jan 22, 2002 EST (#10962 of 10987)

Mazza? rshow55 1/22/02 11:08am

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