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Missile Defense

Russian military leaders have expressed concern about US plans for a national missile defense system. Will defense technology be limited by possibilities for a strategic imbalance? Is this just SDI all over again?

rshowalter - 07:59pm Jun 7, 2001 EST (#4584 of 4597)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I've now read your post just above pretty carefully gisterme.

There's been a lot said since
MD3353 rshowalter 5/6/01 10:55am . . . MD3354 rshowalter 5/6/01 10:56am
, which are directories, with links, of many postings by gisterme. These directories contain summaries of highlights, make interesting reading -- and show interesting development of ideas.

Since that time gisterme has posted 178 more times -- and I've read many of those posts today. All these postings are carefully thought out and well written. Many show much distinguished thought.

We have differences of opinion and interpretation -- about how we feel about basic facts. But if you look - and the record is open here -- basic facts are not much in dispute. There's quite a lot of common ground. Much of which involved matters that seemed to be unknown to gisterme before this thread.

The idea that the US press is a "liberal conspiracy" is pretty amazing to me, but perhaps others will feel differently.

rshowalter - 08:05pm Jun 7, 2001 EST (#4585 of 4597)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

In fact, gisterme has taken some very honest positions -- and I've tried to be honest, too.

Here is a cite from MD3354

Gisterme:

" I'm willing to give up any point I've tried to make if you prove it wrong. You won't see me complaining about being "cut off from any possibility of discussion, compromise or focus to a solution" just because I can't rationally respond to your reasoning.

" As you've noticed before, Robert, we do have a lot of common ground. We both want to find a way to "no nukes in the world".

( I responded with 3327: rshowalter 5/5/01 10:06am which cites http://scienceforpeace.sa.utoronto.ca/WorkingGroupsPage/NucWeaponsPage/Documents/ThreatsNucWea.html THREATS TO USE NUCLEAR WEAPONS: The Sixteen Known Nuclear Crises of the Cold War, 1946-1985

by David R. Morgan

I asked: gisterme, do you contest this?

She didn't. (excuse me if I have the gender wrong -- I'm only guessing.) And the conversations thereafter were constructive.

lunarchick - 08:18pm Jun 7, 2001 EST (#4586 of 4597)
lunarchick@www.com

Alex and GI .. the bear and the eagle .. both strong and symbolic .. one with feet on the ground - the other mid-air ... will soon learn to live in harmony - yes !

rshowalter - 08:38pm Jun 7, 2001 EST (#4587 of 4597)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

In fact, though both sides are angry - a lot of progress has been made -- and given what has happened, discomfort, and anger, on both sides, is to be expected now.

The amount of work on this thread, by both gisterme and almarst , is based not on any casual desire for friendliness -- but by a serious, careful concern, on both sides, for survival -- and for humane values that both share.

rshowalter - 08:40pm Jun 7, 2001 EST (#4588 of 4597)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

It isn't necessary that anybody like anybody else. We should make shift to live in peace.

lunarchick - 08:53pm Jun 7, 2001 EST (#4589 of 4597)
lunarchick@www.com

A mantle of peace decending sounds fine ... sleep well Showalter ... you've worked hard for PEACE today ... and THE WORLD IS WITH YOU !

rshowalter - 09:10pm Jun 7, 2001 EST (#4590 of 4597)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I think the world is -- once facts are established, as common ground -- and we're a long way along toward that -- there's a lot of reason for hope, and more comfortable, more prosperous, more proud times for the whole world, and especially the United States, and Russia.

One fact is that some distinguished people are working. Here are posting, by gisterme , since the directories above.

If you sample them at random, you'll be impressed, I think, with both the intellectual quality, and the quantity, of the work in each posting.

(7 following messages)

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