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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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commondata - 12:48pm Oct 3, 2002 EST (# 4746 of 4749)

gisterme 10/3/02 12:18pm

The article I took the quote from also comes with a more Republican outlook, "There is a threat," Lott told Fox. "It's real, it's here, it's now. We need to move beyond the old way of thinking."

http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/07/15/missile.test/

If there is a real threat, here and now, that the missile defense system could remove then it's from others' ballistic missiles. The negotiation of the destruction of these weapons is a moral and logical imperative. Robert is right when he says IT IS NEVER ALRIGHT TO USE NUCLEAR WEAPONS. That doesn't seem like a difficult thing to understand. The diversion of massive human resources into something more constructive will immediately benefit millions of people across the planet. That's not naive. It could be done. Carefully, in ways that Robert has outlined, if you like.

gisterme - 12:59pm Oct 3, 2002 EST (# 4747 of 4749)

rshow55 10/3/02 11:29am

"...For some purposes, it is the logic that matters - and identies don't matter. For example, the logic of the technical arguments on this thread don't change, whether you believe the story I've given of my background, or "call me Ishmael" http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/289 . But some things do depend on my background..."

How did we get from logic of technical arguements to your background again, Robfert? You NEVER present any technical arguements. You express your opinion of "can't be done" but don't back that up with anything but your feelings, sometimes accompanied by some technical-sounding nonsese. So there's no logic involved at all in your "technical" arguements...and I have to agree that you've been very consistant about that.

"...For example, the seriousness of my personal situation - the question of whether or not the U.S. government owes the AEA investors about forty million dollars -- ..."

Why would you ask that question on this forum? What does that have to do with missile defense?

"...and the question of whether I have a right to say that the United States is making serious mistakes - including technical mistakes that are wasting vast amounts of money - ..."

Who's asking that question? You make those allegations all the time; but I notice you never quite get around to saying just what the technical mistakes are that are wasting these vast amounts of money...except to say "well, all this money is being spent on something that just can't be done".

"...and making the world far more dangerous than it has to be..."

Nice conclusion, Robert...but what does that mean in any measurable terms?

As for your "message to the government" well, you've said what you have to say. If what you say is true then all the planes, ships and missiles will be replaced by something even more terrible. Personally I believe I'll think of you as "Ishie" from now on.

wrcooper - 01:01pm Oct 3, 2002 EST (# 4748 of 4749)

gisterme:

I've made many comments about Robert Showalter similar to yours. I've finally taken the step of placing him on my "Ignore Posts list," along with lchic. You might consider doing the same.

rshow55 - 01:06pm Oct 3, 2002 EST (# 4749 of 4749)
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.

gisterme 10/3/02 12:59pm - - I'm moving a little slowly - - trying to assimilate some of the profound things you are saying.

And in my small way, trying to be constructive.

I don't necessarily believe you, gisterme when you deny you're Rice - but of course it could be. If you were Rice - I think Commondata might be being too hard on you - and on your boss, as well.

Looking at what you've said in your more than 700 postings on this thread - you've worked hard - and sometimes taken things seriously, not laughingly.

And by the standards Nash might have applied, pre-injury, you're doing fine.

I'm not so pure myself, and don't expect it of others. I like this quote:

" The young are naturally romantic, and given to moral absolutes that necessarily make the real world of compromise, half-measures, and self-seeking appear corrupt.

.... Robert H. Bork, SLOUCHING TOWARDS GOMORRAH: Modern Liberalism and American Decline

We all live in a real world of compromise, half-measures, and an avoidance of too-harsh realities. People couldn't live any other way - and it ought to be no surprise when muddles and messes happen. Most times, moral indignation may not be very useful.

As for me, I'm taking time out for lunch, and I'll be back to you.

We've had some back-and-forth - - - "a few postings" - - on how to get some key things checked .

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