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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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patthnyc - 01:33pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13732 of 13824)
". . . how fragile we are . . ." -- Sting

cont'd . .

Two other governments who have been invited are India and Pakistan. That's handy. I suppose British Aerospace will send someone across to the Indian representative and say: "Here, you see that Pakistani cabinet minister. He just called you a wanker. You're not going to stand for that, are you? Well, as it happens, I've got just the thing..."

Similarly, Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Uganda are all invited, all of which are involved in the war in the Congo. Of course they're invited - there's no better customer for arms dealers than a country at war. Which is why any attempts to claim the process can be ethical is ridiculous. The nearest you can get is the statement by Denis Healy, when in 1966 the Labour government set up the Defense Expert Services Organization to promote the British arms trade. He said: "While the Government attaches the highest importance to... arms control and disarmament, we must... ensure this country does not fail to secure its rightful share of this valuable commercial market."

If only Gary Glitter had thought along these lines. "Your Honor, we must do whatever we can to eliminate child abuse. But kiddie porn is a growing market and if we don't grab our share we are being fools to ourselves."

Some people, clearly ill-informed as to the way the economics work, have called for protests against the fair, which will be taking place from next Tuesday until Saturday. The Campaign against the Arms Trade is promising to deliver a cardboard tank, so we'll know if there are any genuinely ethical arms dealers, by whether the campaigners manage to land an order for another 300. But such is the arms trade, that it's more likely that a spokesman for the fair will respond by saying: "My worry is that this demonstration against the firing of depleted uranium could result in violence."

cantabb - 01:38pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13733 of 13824)

fredmoore - 01:29pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13729 of 13732)

Saudis consider nuclear weapons

By Ewen MacAskill in London and Ian Traynor in Vienna September 19, 2003 ................................

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What do you think Robert?

Wow !

fredmoore - 01:41pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13734 of 13824)

patthnyc - 01:30pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13730 of 13730)

Sorry to dissappoint you ... but ... the article says Pakistan.

patthnyc - 01:48pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13735 of 13824)
". . . how fragile we are . . ." -- Sting

fred, where does Pakistan get its' nuclear weapons from . . . isn't the Pakistani Pre$idunce Bu$hit's best friend now?

They're all "in bed" together!

The "business of war toys"

Exposed: The Carlyle Group:

try to watch this documentary and not be outraged about the depth of corruption and deceit within the highest ranks of our government and the first family. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3995.htm

rshow55 - 02:14pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13736 of 13824)
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 spending time with my paretns - but some may find this interesting - as a background of headings on this thread over time

757 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@13.gKfQbUHeHtB.971708@.f28e622/949

Will read more later.

fredmoore - 02:15pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13737 of 13824)

patthnyc - 01:48pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13735 of 13735)

"We work the black seams ... together" - Sting.

Thanks Pat

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