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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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rshow55 - 09:11pm Jun 14, 2003 EST (# 12537 of 12537)
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.

Thinking about what actually happens, you can think about how the scene might have played out with some changes. What actually happened wouldn't fit into a movie so well - though some of it seemed vivid enough - it wasn't funny - and didn't illuminate character and circumstances as it might have done.

Suppose the dialog had gone differently.

Suppose Gina Kolata, or any other NYT reporter in an analogous circumstance, had said something she did not say:

"I am Gina Kolata - the New York Times reporter ! You are a supplicant at best. Kneel down and such my big toe!

James Bond, I believe, would have knelt quickly, gracefully, and sucked with a will. Casey would surely have expected that. Given the chance, I would have done so, too.

I'll repeat that Kolata did not in fact say this - though she pushed her power effectively. But in the spirit of KISS - I'd like to make a point.

People are afraid of New York Times reporters - and sometimes, in my experience, New York Times reporters push their advantages.

New York Times reporters are themselves too afraid.

Both kinds of fears can get in the way of valid information flows - in the way of authenticity - and can act against the interest of the country and the TIMES.

That's a SIMPLE point that might be better understood. If it were understood, the TIMES might be more widely respected. Might make more money. And I might have an easier time sorting out my security problems, as well.

New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense