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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?

Read Debates, a new Web-only feature culled from Readers' Opinions, published every Thursday.

almarst2003 - 11:41pm Oct 13, 2003 EST (# 14941 of 14963)

Australia, which led an international peace force to help East Timor become independent last year, has become the greatest barrier to the country's hopes of breaking free from reliance on foreign aid, according to stark budget figures released yesterday.

Despite starting out as one of the world's poorest and most war-torn states, East Timor stands to benefit from huge gas reserves which lie under the sea that separates it from Australia.

But harsh Australian negotiating tactics over disputed claims to the gas have forced the government to accept that long-promised revenues will not materialise for several more years, if ever.

As a result the Timorese budget deficit for the three years from June next year will be roughly double the $70m (£42m) previously projected, the finance ministry in Dili announced yesterday.

News of the revenue shortfall came as Xanana Gusmao, East Timor's president, started an official visit to Britain. "We're not asking too much from Australia. What belongs to us is ours. We hope Australia can understand that," he told the Guardian in London.

Mr Gusmao has been dubbed Asia's Nelson Mandela because of his long years in prison as leader of the armed struggle against Indonesian occupation, and more recently as a champion of post-conflict reconciliation.

But he could not conceal his anger at Australia's behaviour. "They still haven't agreed when to start maritime border negotiations," he said.

The huge reserves of gas in question are known as the Greater Sunrise field. Although they are closer to East Timor than Australia, they were "awarded" to Australia under a treaty with General Suharto, in 1989.

Economic factors were a key incentive in making Australia one of the first countries to recognise Indonesia's illegal invasion of East Timor after the territory declared independence from Portuguese colonial rule in 1975.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/indonesia/Story/0,2763,1062329,00.html

almarst2003 - 11:55pm Oct 13, 2003 EST (# 14942 of 14963)

One reason investigators are looking back is that even before Novak's column appeared, government officials had been trying for more than a month to convince journalists that Wilson's mission was not as important as it was being portrayed. Wilson concluded during the 2002 mission that there was no solid evidence for the administration's assertion that Iraq was trying to acquire uranium in Niger to develop nuclear weapons, and he angered the White House when he became an outspoken critic of the war.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A13696-2003Oct11?language=printer

gisterme - 02:56am Oct 14, 2003 EST (# 14943 of 14963)

"...Instead of encouraging rshow55's ramblings, as some of the 'regulars' (including you) seems to have done over time, I have presssed him to substantiate his claims, which he has not done yet and may not be able to do so. He says he feels the pressure..."

Plink, plink, plink, plink, plink....plink, plink, plink...

(The sound of the pesky woodpecker looking for bugs in the steel fence post). :-)

gisterme - 03:04am Oct 14, 2003 EST (# 14944 of 14963)

Fred -

"...Mind you I have not had very much success with Rshow either but at least I can claim that my INTENT is positive, scientifically and philosophically contributary to MD and maybe even a little enertaining..."

...A worthy cause and a good assesment.

gisterme - 03:20am Oct 14, 2003 EST (# 14945 of 14963)

"...Surprised by your choice, but that's fine. All we need is gisterme's okay..."

Sorry to be a wet blankey guys, but no thanks. One of you might be betting that which you couldn't afford to lose. I'd never forgive myself if I were a part of that.

Besides that...

"part of low to mid six figures"???

You guys must think I'm a piker! :-) My anonymity is worth much more to me than that to me.

gisterme - 03:29am Oct 14, 2003 EST (# 14946 of 14963)

"...ONCE AGAIN, asking him [rshow] to tell us what he thinks he has been working on for 2+ years here and what has he really accomplished during this time, in relation to his global claims is NOT "nitpicking." That's the crux of the problem: something he has NOT yet been able to state coherently, other than 'world peace' and big fihts/little fight and his own tortured rationalizations..."

Some of us have been trying to discover that for 2+ years in case you haven't noticed, cantabb. As I said before, just jump onto the bandwagon. If you must be nasty to feel better then do. If the NYT will tolerate what was here before you came then maybe they'll tolerate you're "contribution" to the forum as well. Or not.

(17 following messages)

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