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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 - 09:24am Dec 15, 2002 EST (# 6647 of 6726)
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.

Since
6574 rshow55 12/13/02 10:57am ... 6575 rshow55 12/13/02 11:05am there have been many interesting posts, including a some by gisterme that have been deleted, including this text:

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"gisterme - 03:35pm Dec 13, 2002 EST (# 6576 of 6588)

"rshow55 12/8/02 7:08pm

""...If the Saudi's do not control Al Queda , perhaps they, and we, should consider the Golden Rule .

"What, with powers reversed, and injuries reversed, would they do to us under such circumstances?..."

"What does that have to do with the golden rule, Robert?

"If you want to consider the golden rule with respect to the Saudis, then the question we need to ask is "how are we treating the Saudis in spite of the fact that they may be more involved in terrorism than their government is willing to admit?".

"The golden rule is not about doing to others what they would do to you is it? No! It's about doing to others what you would have them do to you. It's about treating others the way you'd like to be treated even when they don't treat you that way.

"Wouldn't you agree, Robert?

"gisterme - 03:55pm Dec 13, 2002 EST (# 6577 of 6588)

"rshow55 12/8/02 9:20pm

"...Using the techniques lchic and I discussed above - and other skills abundantly shown on this thread - a lot could be done..."

" Sure, Robert. A lot could be done. A lot of what? . . .

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I've posted very little since. I've thought hard about some of the things posted, by both gisterme and almarst , especially almarst2002 12/14/02 3:51pm .

There some serious questions and problems - some of which will have to be better resolved and balanced than they are.

A Movement in Saudi Arabia Pushes Toward an Islamic Ideal By CRAIG S. SMITH http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/09/international/middleeast/09SAUD.html

Pre-emption By BILL KELLER http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/15/magazine/15PREE.html

The word interdiction similar in meaning to pre-emption - has been used a lot on this thread.

rshow55 - 09:32am Dec 15, 2002 EST (# 6648 of 6726)
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.

Since Feb 24, 2001 EST I've posted this sermon from time to time. I feel right doing it again.

When the Foundations are Shaking by Dr. James Slatton of the River Road Church (Baptist) in Richmond, Va. http://www.wisc.edu/rshowalt/sermon.html

River Road is the church I grew up in, a church where my parents have both been deacons, and active in other ways. This church is much like the one Jimmy Carter goes to, theologically, though it is much richer, and more republican, and perhaps basically more conservative. River Road Church is estranged from the Southern Baptist Convention, for various reasons, but is well within the conservative Protestant tradition.

I believe that most people of good will, including exalted ones, could benefit from the 21 minutes this sermon takes. I think any military leader, or political leader, who ever attends any kind of religious service, anywhere in the world, could relate to this work. I think any member of the clergy, of any faith or creed, anywhere in the world, could relate to this sermo.

People of a more secular view might want to skip ahead to 9:27 in the sermon . Thereafter, it is a tribute to a Russian colonel, who kept nuclear war from destroying us all, during the Reagan administration. And a teaching of lessons that most people know, and live well by, that are important to the preservation of our world. I believe that people of enough good will to be human would be interested, and moved, by this part of the sermon, no matter how secular their views.

http://www.wisc.edu/rshowalt/sermon.html is a sermon about balance, and judgement.

And taking time to be sure. The hero of the sermon saw to it that nothing was done - at a particular time, place and case where nothing was the right thing to do. Disastrous action seemed "required" - - and it took courage and strength to avoid that action.

Just a "millineal notion":

If every responsible english speaking Arab read the most important New York Times articles on problems of the Middle East - and dealt with them - whether or not they were disputed - we'd soon be in a condition for much improved relations, in many ways.

When an earthquake happens, and foundations shake - foundations quite often hold - but ill build superstructure breaks apart. I think a lot of people ought to ask, pretty carefully, about what has happened to Islam in the last century.

I'm taking my time and moving slowly. It seems right to do so.

We need social contracts that actually work - where just now there are none at all.

There's a quote that I've heard used to be on Charles Colson's office, during the Nixon administration:

"Get them by the balls, and their hearts and minds will follow."

That humble quote seems important to me, just now. A great deal - including a great deal about religion - can be corrupted - and has been. We need to recognize this - while we act to preserve the foundations - the things we care about - the things that matter to us, and ought to.

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