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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 - 11:32am Feb 21, 2003 EST (# 9177 of 9181)
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.

Checking is important - and the reasons Bush thinks the US should be immune to it are not very convincing.

The United States has an obligation to explain itself - and pay due attention to the opinions of others - in a world as interdependent as this one.

If Bush goes slam-banging into war - in violation of international law - or in a way that makes a mockery of international law, things could go very badly. Even with good intentions. Other nations think that the same good things may be gotten - in an orderly way, a way that builds international law and order - without war - or without war until other approaches have run their course.

If that happens, it seems likely, as Annan suggests - that they could go very well.

That is especially likely if nation states ask for reasonable checking of essential facts and relations.

http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/407

http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/408

http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/408 ends:

If we could get some key facts checked - and the implications of them set out beyond a reasonable doubt - by the standards of jury trials - but publicly on the internet - so anyone interested could actually look - we could sort out enough to take the incidence of agony and death from war way down from where it has been. And we could learn enough to make the world a much more prosperous, more pleasant, more decent place.

If some journalistic organizations and nation states wanted to get some key facts straight - it wouldn't be hard to do from where we are.

Gisterme may scoff at the idea that checking is possible - or necessary - but the world would run very much better if it were much more often done.

If some leaders of nation states asked that key things be checked - it could and would be done.

9054-56 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@28.LZS8atub3G6.0@.f28e622/10580

lchic - 12:53pm Feb 21, 2003 EST (# 9178 of 9181)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

- The cost of the war - says editor / JANE - isn't appreciated by the USA who were assisted in 1991 Gulf War by the rest of the world.

- The VOICES of the people of IRAQ are an understated element in the current Iraqi situation. Iraqi's abroad have mixed feelings, but overall, seem to want an end to the dictatorship.

- NY fuel fire, wonder if cold spell plays a part? What it shows yet again is the 'small is beautiful' aspect of delivery should be revisited.

- Africa. It seems the youth of Africa are tired of hearing all that continents problems blamed on colonialism ... which actually gave 'order'. If Africa has it's congress of nations, then, why don't they self ensure democracy to give the continent a true voice and move to progress.

lchic - 12:55pm Feb 21, 2003 EST (# 9179 of 9181)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

Putin has commented on bullying in RU-Military. 1200 p.a. dead from bullying, beating, rape, suicide.

Statistically down the military line it should be clear as to which lines of command are most in need of process improvement.

Didn't hear of the instatement of 'rewards' for good and improved practice in that service.

lchic - 12:58pm Feb 21, 2003 EST (# 9180 of 9181)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

Chirac rolls out the red carpet for Mugabe

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=380137

""Chirac's call to the African leaders attending the summit to embrace democracy and end violence on the continent was bound to ring a little hollow. "The days of impunity are over," M. Chirac solemnly informed his guests in his opening speech.

But if the French President was intending to show some sensitivity to British dismay at Mr Mugabe being welcomed in Paris, despite the renewal of EU travel sanctions, it was lost on Britain.

In London the Government made no distinction between a kiss and a handshake. Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, sanctioned a strongly worded rebuke for the French leader.

Officials said the Government had received information that desperate Zimbabweans were now having to sell their daughters to buy food.

With Zimbabwe close to economic collapse, ministers were said to be "furious" at the prospect of Grace Mugabe, the President's wife, returning to the stricken country with "crates of luxury goods".

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