New York Times on the Web Forums Science

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 - 03:27pm Mar 31, 2002 EST (#998 of 1017)

http://politicstalk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.eea14e1/674

Thomas Friedman made the argument, recently, that "if suicide bombing became "normal"-- no political leader would be safe." It isn't that simple, or fearsome in just that way.

The suicide bombing would have to have a purpose - - a purpose that a bomber who was in some ways rational, and part of a support system that was in some ways rational -- thought worth dying for.

In that sense, suicide bombing is "just another weapon" -- and a weapon somewhat harder to use than many.

609 http://politicstalk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.eea14e1/676

Since the Americans won't, the EU SHOULD use FORCE - or offer FORCE -- to get the two sides into an arrangement where they CAN make peace.

It shouldn't be impossible, or even so difficult -- because so many want a solution -- and without 3d party intervention - none is possible. The Bush administration position of -- "just have a ceasefire, then we might talk" can't possibly work. Sometimes, solutions have to come into existence together.

For reasons that are partly mechanical -- for instance, in a lot of manufacturing - you have to install assemblies - - for reasons that can be compelling in detail.

. . . .

A good deal else was discussed.

rshow55 - 03:29pm Mar 31, 2002 EST (#999 of 1017)

It seems to me that MANY of the problems that Almarst, lchic, and I have been discussing since March 2001are getting clearer and, for all the ugliness, nearer solutions. MD757 rshow55 3/22/02 10:54am

The key issues of missile defense are now much clearer. http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/281

MD84 rshow55 3/2/02 10:52am

http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/288

lchic - 03:40pm Mar 31, 2002 EST (#1000 of 1017)

Responding to mAzzA ... For this

Islamic extremists attack Hindu temple in Kashmir.

People attack building in Kashmir.

Then ask - does the building have symbolic meaning?

The concept of the multi-denomination place of worship needs 'positioning' in local minds. Next mAzzA suggests to

link this barbarity to the United States?

America support(ed) Pakistan - who had a desire to annex Kashmire - because America_USA viewed Pakistan as an Anti-Communist Ally.

There is a neuclear problem in this zone.

rshow55 - 03:45pm Mar 31, 2002 EST (#1001 of 1017)

MD834-835 lchic 3/26/02 11:49am

Here's part of an undelivered speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt, written shortly before his death:

" Today, we are faced with the pre-eminent fact that, if civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships --- the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together and work together in the same world, at peace."

Our "missile defense" programs aren't techically workable, against any reasonably expectable countermeasures - even if they work as stunts. No defense - even against missiles. No "shield" that provides reasonable security.

But if we could make steps toward peace -- that would increase our security. To do it, we have to deal with everybody involved, even our adversaries, as human beings .

lchic - 04:43pm Mar 31, 2002 EST (#1002 of 1017)

Did he have heeling hands?

mazza9 - 06:50pm Mar 31, 2002 EST (#1003 of 1017)
Louis Mazza

lchic

You didn't-won't answer the question. Obfuscation is your forte.

The Pakistan/India confrontation can be linked to European colonial excess but surely not to the United States.

I enjoyed you pun in post 04:43pm Mar 31, 2002 EST!

LouMazza

lchic - 10:56pm Mar 31, 2002 EST (#1004 of 1017)

The face of time - when nukes were designed http://www.getafixit.com/gallery/pages/Clock_gif.htm

lchic - 02:25am Apr 1, 2002 EST (#1005 of 1017)

mAzzA ... “Poisson d’Avril!” ... watch your back!

lchic - 04:06am Apr 1, 2002 EST (#1006 of 1017)

Drama-depictions

Wednesday night's episode had a bunch of Russian Rambos routing a gang of evil Muslim extremists in the forbidding mountains of Chechnya.

The same mood is evident at the cinema in the new box office smash, War, by Aleksei Balabanov, whose previous Brat-2 movie had Russian hit men outwitting and gunning down feckless Americans in Chicago.

^{http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,675601,00.html}

(11 following messages)

New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense