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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 - 10:28pm Jun 8, 2001 EST (#4640 of 4654)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Much has happened in a month, and there has been much more dialog. But a lot had been accomplished by a month ago - and has been solidified, by additional consistency reinforcement, since.

MD3532 rshowalter 5/8/01 6:51pm reads in part:

" We've had outstanding contributors -- who have furthered discussion by taking a special "stand-in" role.

" We've had "stand-ins" who have imitated, or tried to imitate, the thought processes of important world figures, so that the discourse here could progress, and simulate more important dialogs to be hoped for. We've had extremely well written, thoughtful, and extensive contributions with a "Bill Clinton -stand in" a "Vladimir Putin -- stand in" i , and a " Bush Administration Sr Advisor -- stand in" . Sometimes I've been in personal doubt whether these people have been stand-ins, because the work of these people has been so good. If you sample the work of these people, you may agree with how good their work is.

' Here are links to directories , with many links and highlights summarized, for these stand-ins --

. . . . . . . . . .

MD3533 rshowalter 5/8/01 6:53pm reads in part:

" My conclusion from the dialog here is that very much improved levels of understanding seem to be possible with improved and more extensive discussion processes and that the internet, in a format such as this, is making improvements in negotiation possible.

" I don't think nations will all become brothers -- or will even learn to like each other.

" But it does seem reasonable that the severe misunderstandings that now justify the impersonal, massive murder that is war may be much less justifiable, and less likely, with talk of the general sort ongoing here.

rshowalter - 06:55am Jun 9, 2001 EST (#4641 of 4654)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

The discussions with respect to gisterme in
MD4584 rshowalter 6/7/01 7:59pm . . . MD4585 rshowalter 6/7/01 8:05pm
seem worth citing here.

I think it is important to emphasize the common ground at the basis of fact, not interpretation and morality, that gisterme and I and almarst share with respect to the subject matter of 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

rshowalter - 06:57am Jun 9, 2001 EST (#4642 of 4654)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Here are linked directories of the 170+ postings by gisterme since
MD3353 rshowalter 5/6/01 10:55am . . . MD3354 rshowalter 5/6/01 10:56am

If a person samples the many posts in these linked directories, at random, I think that person would be impressed at the intellectual quality, and the quantity, of gisterme's attention to this thread. The directories are:

MD4591 rshowalter 6/7/01 9:10pm ... MD4592 rshowalter 6/7/01 9:12pm
MD4593 rshowalter 6/7/01 9:12pm ... MD4594 rshowalter 6/7/01 9:13pm
MD4595 rshowalter 6/7/01 9:14pm ... MD4596 rshowalter 6/7/01 9:14pm

rshowalter - 07:00am Jun 9, 2001 EST (#4643 of 4654)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

After
MD3353 rshowalter 5/6/01 10:55am . . . MD3354 rshowalter 5/6/01 10:56am
and a short comment from gisterme , almarstel_2001 reappeared, after an absence.

almarstel_2001 , this forums "Vladimr Putin stand-in" has made the following postings since that time. If a person samples the many posts in these linked directories, at random, I think that person would be impressed at the intellectual quality, and the quantity, of almarstel_2001's attention to this thread.

I've also been impressed by the very many and very interesting links almarstel_2001 has offered -- many of which have shown me things from new perspectives that I find important -- if people are to come to understand each other, and live together in a satisfactory and just way. The directories follow.

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