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.

almarst2002 - 07:49am May 26, 2003 EST (# 12033 of 12046)

War, oligarchy and the political lie - http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/may2003/war-m07.shtml

"the war against Iraq was justified by the US government on the basis of lies, and that, when these lies are clearly exposed, the response of the American media is one of dismissive indifference, a big “So what.”

rshow55 - 07:50am May 26, 2003 EST (# 12034 of 12046)
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.

There are some similarities - but some significant distinctions between the US and Nazi germany - and between the "barbarism" under US command in WWII and that of Germany.

Eisenhower embodied both the toughness (and he knowingly killed a lot of people, many innocent) and the desire to do better than war.

We're back, now, to some of the same problems the world faced in 1952. With these differences. We know a great deal more - and power balances are very different.

With some losses, too. US administration is nothing like as honest and sophisticated as it was in 1952 - and that's a problem.

I feel sure of this. Moral indignation is of limited use.

rshow55 - 07:51am May 26, 2003 EST (# 12035 of 12046)
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.

Eisenhower worked his ass off for disarmament - and to find ways to make the United Nations work.

At the same time he was the most sophisticated, ruthless, and able military leader the US ever had.

I see no contradiction.

almarst2002 - 07:54am May 26, 2003 EST (# 12036 of 12046)

"Moral indignation is of limited use."

As is the wall thermometr against winter cold.

almarst2002 - 07:55am May 26, 2003 EST (# 12037 of 12046)

"I see no contradiction."

Nor see all the consequential dead bodies.

The ultimate PEACE.

rshow55 - 07:57am May 26, 2003 EST (# 12038 of 12046)
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.

So far, body counts are low. That's progress.

With work - we can make more progress. In terms of the real practical and emotional needs that people actually have.

Without asking anybody to do anything they can't actually do.

Indignation does have some uses - but it can cause paralysis.

I'm doing the best I can - and know that you are - but we ought to be able to sort things out better.

rshow55 - 08:00am May 26, 2003 EST (# 12039 of 12046)
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.

I'm only so sweet and gentle.

I'd willingly, personally, shoot every supporter of Al Queda I could get my hands on - given "executive priviledge" to do so.

But the amount of effort I've put into peacemaking _ and that gisterme's put into peacemaking - is substantial, too.

And if things I knew were actually used - we'd live in a much safer, more prosperous world - a world where your interests and needs would be much better served than today.

almarst2002 - 08:02am May 26, 2003 EST (# 12040 of 12046)

Pentagon’s top 50 list - http://www.truthinmedia.org/Bulletins2002/Top50-1.htm

11th proudly stays CARLYLE GROUP

(6 following messages)

New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense