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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.

mazza9 - 10:11pm Mar 12, 2002 EST (#421 of 431)
Louis Mazza

"True Lies" was on the cable tonight and how prescient the story line was. We live in a world where hatred is manifest in many regimes. Indeed, it is the glue that binds the people to the despotic leaders. For example, Saddam has used his oil revenues to reconstitute his WMD programs and has built palaces and amusement parks for his cronies, (not exactly what the UN had in mind when it okayed renewed oil traffic to feed the children!). Then the United States is blamed for starving Iraq childrens. The same goes for North Korea and various other regimes who practice slavery and in general abuse their fellow man.

While you practice this hatefest you must realize that grown ups with a set of moral values lead this country and will degend it no matter what.

Almarst, you make fun of my space orientation. I would rather hope that the opening scene from "2001 a Space Odyssey {sic}" would come to fruition. When the pre hominid wins the battle for the muddy pool of water and vanquishes his foe he triumphally throws his bone/weapon/tool into the air. It rises to its peak and becomes a satellite. That simple statement by Clarke is that "hopefully the culmination of mankinds tool making will not be war implements but implements that mirror mankind's intellectual and creative aspirations.

LouMazza

mazza9 - 11:06pm Mar 12, 2002 EST (#422 of 431)
Louis Mazza

RShow55 says"

"The US needs to learn how to make peace"

Excuse me but did you perchance miss the entire 20th Century?

"The Rape of Nanking", the "Bataan Death March", Auschwitz, The Korean peninsula the invasion of China and the whole of WWII was a war that we won and a peace that we created.

The peace that has prevailed since the Cold War was "won" is another example of the US making peace. The reduction in the amount of nuclear weapons in the US and Russian arsenals is a start, (START Treaty). Those SS-22 and Pershings that were destroyed were real evidence of our desire for peace. We eschewed Biological and Chemical Weapons. So who has been pursuing these weapons? The Evil Axis that's who and their desire to do us harm was demonstrated on Sept 11.

LouMazza

almarst-2001 - 11:30pm Mar 12, 2002 EST (#423 of 431)

"hatred is manifest in many regimes" - And the masses of people. Does it occure to you that may be for reasn? Do you expect love from the abused? From marginalized? From isolated? From treatened by overhelming force? From feeling helpless? Only the feeling of mutual equality and respect can be a remedy. Not the increased abuse.

"Then the United States is blamed for starving Iraq childrens" - Didn't the US destroyed the Iraq's civilian nfrastructure, particularely the vital water purification system in Iraq? Didn't US commited a sensless massacre of Iraqi's solgers on their way out of Kuwait? Didn't US actions inluding imposed sunctions on Iraq punish the ordinary Iraqi's citizens first and foremost? Didn't US and other Western countries armed and supported Iraq in a war against Iran, looking the other way on the usage of chemical wearpons the West helped it to develop and produce? Didn't US set-up and support many of mass-marderous aggressive dictatorships in Latin America and Indonesia? Doesn't the US support Turky which oppresses and massacress the Kurdish population using the US supplied arms on a much larger scale then Iraq ever did? No "protection zones" here!

"various other regimes who practice slavery and in general abuse their fellow man." - See above.

"While you practice this hatefest" - Any example, please?

"Almarst, you make fun of my space orientation" - As a matter of fact, it's not funny at all. To understand what I mean: When Mary-Antuanette I believe, asked "Why the French poor is so unhappy on the streets? the answer was: "There is not enough bread to feed them". On which she replyed: "Can't they just eat the pie?". I quess you can surelly offer the poor and misarable a chance to see this planet from the space.

"throws his bone/weapon/tool into the air. It rises to its peak and becomes a satellite." - The military one, most of the time!

almarst-2001 - 11:47pm Mar 12, 2002 EST (#424 of 431)

"the whole of WWII was a war that we won and a peace that we created." - rather "the war, the fruits of wich the US won and the most dangerous confrontation on Earth was created" And the dosens of military conflicts costing millions of lives conducted. for the reasons having absolutly nothing to do with defending the American people or its territory.

"The peace that has prevailed since the Cold War was "won" is another example of the US making peace." - Not counting a dosen of countries bombed and invaded. Without any provocation or tread to Americans or its territory.

"We eschewed Biological and Chemical Weapons." - Not true. Grossly.

"So who has been pursuing these weapons? The Evil Axis that's who and their desire to do us harm was demonstrated on Sept 11." - Did it ever come to your mind you could as easily be born for example an Iraqi Citizen? just try to imagine such misfortune and what would you think about the US. If you have enough imagination dreaming about Space Odissey, you should be able to imagine this as well, I hope. After you do, please share with me your experience.

manjumicha2001 - 11:52pm Mar 12, 2002 EST (#425 of 431)

Well, ignornance is a bliss.

I do envy Rouis M's ability to view the world the way he does. How I wish I can do the same.

lchic - 01:27am Mar 13, 2002 EST (#426 of 431)

An American Genius child (the little blonde guy) featured here :

Oprah Memorable Thinkers 817394

He said he wanted the world to be peaceful.
Said he'd work for this through children.
Said the problem was ignorance.
The solution education and understanding.

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