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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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lchic - 02:54pm Jul 15, 2002 EST (#3074 of 3085)

CORRECTING BACK
"Confidence is shot. People are losing the plot. People are selling stock to buy gilts (UK government bonds). It's panic and they want to get their money out," said one trader in London.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_2129000/2129979.stm

lchic - 03:14pm Jul 15, 2002 EST (#3075 of 3085)

Analysis - (bbc) - US military

"" Despite having the most powerful military machine in the world, US military planners react with horror to the idea that their forces may be tied down in peacekeeping or other long-term operations in different parts of the globe.

The Pentagon likes to think that its armed forces are the tip of the military spear.

It prefers to leave nation-building to its allies.

But it is clear to all shades of US opinion that some long-term military commitment is going to be needed .....

US operations in Afghanistan have depended heavily upon special forces and specialised intelligence gathering systems like unmanned aerial vehicles.

Both of these assets are in short supply.

And both will be essential for any campaign against Iraq

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_2129000/2129646.stm

bbc - Inside camp X-ray - http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/americas/2002/inside_camp_xray/default.stm

John Walker Lindh, who was captured in Afghanistan, has agreed a deal with US prosecutors to avoid serving life in prison

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_2129000/2129891.stm

Often guys go and work for foreign governments - as soldiers - when JWL did this ... was the Talibhan at that time - the USA recognised and favoured - government of Afghanistan?

It is said that only ONE of the camp X-ray guys is actually a Terrorist - the rest aren't. If they aren't, will they be suing the USA and if so for what damages?

lchic - 03:18pm Jul 15, 2002 EST (#3076 of 3085)

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rshow55 - 06:00pm Jul 15, 2002 EST (#3077 of 3085)

Born-Again Reformers Politicians Find Their Inner Nader as Corporate Collapses Hit Main Street By Howard Kurtz Washington Post Staff Writer http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6011-2002Jul15.html

"In countries where communist regimes have crumbled, most of the former apparatchiks quickly vow allegiance to the new democratic government and try to obscure their role in the past oppression.

"Which is not unlike what's happening now in Washington, where the politicians have suddenly recast themselves as corporate reformers and developed amnesia about their relentless efforts to shore up what is now seen as a discredited system.

"The press, with its notoriously short attention span, shouldn't let them get away with it. All these laws allowing sham transactions, insider loans, bogus accounting, stock options with phantom costs didn't get there by accident. The very same officeholders who are now bellowing their outrage are the ones who took the campaign contributions and did the companies' bidding.

"They were in a co-dependent relationship, and now they're in denial. Twelve-step program to follow. . . .

On military issues, including the missile defense boondoggle, they're still in denial. But once people start doubting, and checking - - a lot could sort out. About political dishonesty and betrayal MD1075 rshow55 4/4/02 1:17pm and about technical facts that can be established MD1076_1077 rshow55 4/4/02 1:20pm

We can be safer, and more prosperous.

Perhaps I made some progress today towards getting my classification status workable. We'll see. I'm working with the national interst in mind. Others should be, as well.

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