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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 - 02:53pm Sep 20, 2002 EST (# 4451 of 4456)
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.

Full Text: Bush's National Security Strategy ....The document, entitled "The National Security Strategy of the United States," will soon be transmitted to Congress as a declaration of the Administration's policy. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/20/politics/20STEXT_FULL.html

This is a very well written, very interesting document.

As written, it is consistent with some key stability conditions

. Berle's Laws of Power

. Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs

. The Golden Rule

4251 rshow55 9/10/02 7:16am

I've disagreed with the Bush administration from time to time, but I agree with a lot, though not everything in http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/20/politics/20STEXT_FULL.html

It provides a policy framework - and says things that make a difference. It is not a good reason to trust the administration, however well intentioned it may often be, without careful, detailed checking.

As noted in lchic "Corporate Scandals and Investor Confidence (A Moderated Forum)" 1/27/02 11:58pm . . . words and deeds can, and often are, quite inconsistent.

Enron Report 2000 http://www.enron.com/corp/investors/annuals/2000/

Enron - values http://www.enron.com/corp/investors/annuals/2000/ourvalues.html

. Integrity: "We work with customers and prospects openly, honestly and sincerely. When we say we will do something, we will do it; when we say we cannot or will not do something, then we won’t do it."

. Excellence: "We are satisfied with nothing less than the very best in everything we do..."

The reality, in Enron's case, fell a good way short of the words.

Checking matters.

At the same time, it seems to me that the "The National Security Strategy of the United States" is an impressive setting out of principles - worthy of a great deal of respect. There's a certain amount of corruption and inconsistency in any political process, but it matters what people say - and how what they say fits with what they do. Sometimes, as in the case of Enron and many other organizations, the fit is a very poor one.

I'm spending a good deal of time and thought on the document. It says some things about missile defense , and other things, that ought to be checked.

lchic - 04:49pm Sep 20, 2002 EST (# 4452 of 4456)

Read this http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/20/politics/20STEXT_FULL.html

- a series of speeches - each a media sound bite opportunity

Wasn't sure about this one