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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?

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almarst2003 - 11:55pm Mar 15, 2003 EST (# 10034 of 10056)

"The demise of the UN, in my view, sooner or later will be the result of entirely darwenian forces."

Why don't we call it by its name - The Law of Force?

almarst2003 - 11:58pm Mar 15, 2003 EST (# 10035 of 10056)

Robert,

Believe him. Gisterme is as far from Bush as a Moon. He is just a small kiddy compare to the big real sharks.

rshow55 - 12:02am Mar 16, 2003 EST (# 10036 of 10056)
Can we do a better job of finding truth? YES. Click "rshow55" for some things Lchic and I have done and worked for on this thread.

The functions the UN is supposed to serve are so important, and the sentiment for it so strong and so widely held - that the UN isn't going to go away - it will get stronger.

A time may come where US basing rights overseas may go away - and the welcome for US military ships in ports - or close to shorelines - may go away. Overflight rights may go away.

Contracts and informal agreements favorable to the US may go away.

Wasn't it just last week that the Bush administration went on TV and predicted that a Security Council vote would go its way? The US can misjudge its own popularity - and the willingness of other actors to be pressured, as well.

It makes sense to be careful, and tactful.

I hope that gisterme isn't who I think it is - and I suspect that a number of diplomats know that answer. If gisterme is who I think he is - his cocksure responses are costing the US support - and should make competent Americans ashamed.

almarst2003 - 12:07am Mar 16, 2003 EST (# 10037 of 10056)

"The US can misjudge its own popularity - and the willingness of other actors to be pressured, as well."

May be exactly in anticipation of such outcome, US is rushing to snatch the remaining independent World Oil reserves?

almarst2003 - 12:10am Mar 16, 2003 EST (# 10038 of 10056)

"UN isn't going to go away"

We have about a week left to see.

rshow55 - 12:15am Mar 16, 2003 EST (# 10039 of 10056)
Can we do a better job of finding truth? YES. Click "rshow55" for some things Lchic and I have done and worked for on this thread.

The ploy wouldn't work - oil is important - but it is also widely held.

Oil, important as it is - is a surprisingly small fraction of the GDP of advanced nations - and a small part of international trade.

There are millions - billions - trillions of reasons - more than you could count, most small - many large - why is does not pay for the United States to outrage the world.

No, if that's what it looks like is happening - well - it is a mistake in one or more senses.

A crazy mistake. Krugman is a responsible academic, with a good position at an outstanding University - and he writes for The New York Times.

Look what he wrote. I think a lot of people should read it - http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/14/opinion/14KRUG.html and a number of other pieces Krugman's written - and see if Krugman's got his facts wrong - or makes interpretations that don't fit a great deal.

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