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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 - 08:09am Dec 17, 2002 EST (# 6776 of 6782)
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.

Republicans Say Lott Lacks Bush's Support By CARL HULSE with ELISABETH BUMILLER http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/17/politics/17LOTT.html

There are obviously many, many "low" calculations going on, in many minds and many groups involved with the Lott matter, but even so, I believe that the responses described above are good examples of human beings, under stress, making adjustments well - and that applies to Mr. Lott's responses, as well as the responses of others.

Senator Lott is exactly correct that he was not responsible for the society that he was born in - though he, like all of us, become increasingly resonsible for what happens, as we acquire power and make decisions.

If problems involving international law, military balances, and dissemination and discussion of information, worldwide, were conducted as well as the negotiations as described in http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/17/politics/17LOTT.html - - a great deal could be made a great deal better - without the people involved becoming either geniuses or angels.

I disagree, sometimes, with almarst - but if patterns of international discourse could rise to the standard of some actions described in http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/17/politics/17LOTT.html - very many of his concerns, and commondata's concerns could be much better addressed than they are today.

almarst2002 - 08:11am Dec 17, 2002 EST (# 6777 of 6782)

If You're Happy And You Know It Bomb Iraq - http://www.commondreams.org/views02/1216-06.htm

rshow55 - 08:15am Dec 17, 2002 EST (# 6778 of 6782)
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.

almarst2002 12/17/02 8:09am - - - almarst, many things are having to be renegotiated - and though I share a lot of your concerns - I do not share some of your apparent indignation.

Before you can get what you so often ask for - there will have to be considerably clearer, more workable, more stable social contracts in existence than now exist.

Prohibitions that can't work mechanically - that have unacceptable consequences - have to be adjusted, and subject to changes.

It seems to me that, for all the sound and fury, and justified fear - and all the losses, compared to what could occur with better arrangements - there are things that could be accomplished that would deal with most of your concerns - if we keep working, and stay concerned about stability.

Though "collateral damage" will never be entirely avoidable in war, and we're some way from reducing risks and costs as much as we could, and should.

'Wilson's Ghost: Reducing the Risk of Conflict, Killing, and Catastrophe in the 21st Century' by ROBERT S. McNAMARA and JAMES G. BLIGHT http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/29/books/chapters/29-1stmcnam.html bears careful reading, with emotions and analyticial capacities both working at adult levels.

Indignation can have its uses, but sometimes, almarst , I think it may get in your way, as you work (often both hard and effectively) to make things better.

almarst2002 - 08:16am Dec 17, 2002 EST (# 6779 of 6782)

http://www.worldwidewamm.org/

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