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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.

gisterme - 01:08am Oct 28, 2002 EST (# 5314 of 5324)

rshow55 10/27/02 10:36am

"...5280 gisterme 10/27/02 12:54am says what other nations think doesn't matter - what is important is what's the truth - - ..."

That's more or less what I said, but not quite quote.

"...and then gisterme goes on to dispute any operational meaning to the notion of truth - except, perhaps - gisterme's "truth."..."

Hah! That's more fabrication, Robert. I just challenged you to do the checking that you said should be doable.

Why are you so reluctant to yourself do the things you want everybody else to do?

"...5281 gisterme 10/27/02 12:58am links to my rshow55 10/24/02 7:40pm and asks what I mean by the "foundation community" - - an interesting question. A question that I believe most ranking people in the media, foundation, or govenment world would know how to answer in workable fashion..."

I notice you fail to give the answer yourself, Robert. I'd still like to know what the "foundation community" is. Are you referring to the emeritus/elite? I'd really like to know. If you're impressed by the incisiveness of the question, why not answer it?

gisterme - 01:18am Oct 28, 2002 EST (# 5315 of 5324)

rshow55 10/27/02 1:11pm

"...As many, many Russians have felt for us in our losses, I feel, and I'm sure many other Americans feel for theirs.

And (I) hope we have the wisdom, and do the work, that may keep other losses from happening..."

You've actually made two consecutive statements that I can fully agree with, Robert. That may be a first! :-) Maybe this is progress!

Part of the work we're doing to keep "other losses" from happening is the development of a ballistic missile defense.

lchic - 01:22am Oct 28, 2002 EST (# 5316 of 5324)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

Poor Gisterme ... out to spar ... and no one to spar with -- life's like that sometimes!

Showalter said he's working on answers and back tomorrow.

lchic wonders if Gisterme is a one-headed or multi-headed turn taking moniker? The one-mind would follow the context of the board, whereas an over to you ... then over to you mind ... wouldn't follow the ... let's call it the shared history and culture of the board.

Most of what you are 'pulling to the board' above (in italics) sits within the context of a post. _{(use search function)}

The frog-scorpion 'traditional' story sits in the context of folks shooting themselves in the foot, so to speak, as in squabbling national entities not looking for win-win best solutions that allow future progress.

gisterme - 01:26am Oct 28, 2002 EST (# 5317 of 5324)

lchic 10/28/02 1:17am

"...Showalter said he's working on answers and back tomorrow..."

Right. We'll see. I tend to doubt however, since he's promised that so many times before wrt other posts but never quite got around to it.

Why can't Robert just answer right away...is he that slow? I don't think so. Things he doesn't want to answer he just defers until later, knowing the posts in question and his promises will be quickly swept away, buried by many more non-related Showalter/lchic posts...soon lost to memory of any who might have read them.

lchic - 01:27am Oct 28, 2002 EST (# 5318 of 5324)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

It's 2am in Showalter-Land - (althought he does invite you to talk with him via the Madison Phone Listing at your convenience).

Here it's 4.30pm in lchic-Land.

And the time your way, on the third beep is exactly ....... ?! Exactly.

lchic - 01:31am Oct 28, 2002 EST (# 5319 of 5324)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

Gisterme take heart, Showalter told me that you had asked excellent questions - and he was working on them.

As I've said before he's one of the hardest working guys in the USA, but, needs a little R&R especially late Sunday.

I recommended he put a round-up of your questions on the board (which he has) then he answer them his Monday - which he will do as promised.

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New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense