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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 - 04:02pm Feb 27, 2003 EST (# 9329 of 9340)
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.

re wrcooper , 9324 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@28.breoazby4Gc.341925@.f28e622/10858

People draw conclusions - "connect the dots" on the basis of what they know and believe, the way they happen to know it and believe it - and if anybody thinks that process is infallible - I surely don't. Not when I do it. Not when anybody else does it.

On the basis of information and inferences that seemed reasonable at the time, and still seem reasonable in retrospect - I guessed that Cooper might be George Johnson - and turned out to be wrong on that particular point - something that I believe I made clear on this thread.

When my wife and I met with Cooper - we had some points of contact - but I left feeling - and my wife left feeling very strongly - that Cooper had been dishonest and irresponsible on some key points - a feeling that was reinforced on seeing his posted description of the meeting.

My last contact with Cooper was an email that read as follows, and expressed my feelings, and hers:

- - - -

Will,

Attribution of insanity is a serious business.

You worked at it. It wasn't an afterthought or a mistake.

Do you know what that does to people, as a practical matter?

I bet you do.

I'm glad to have you "best wishes" to the extent they are sincere.

I'll be responding some more. I didn't mean a physical attack - but I will say more about what I did mean.

I don't think that you can do the things you've done, and not take responsibility for them. Just as other people are expected to take responsibility for what they do.

I do.

I'll be back to you.

Bob

- - -

I didn't get back to Cooper. I thought about doing so - and didn't think, on balance, that it was worthwhile, nor did I feel particularly obligated. Perhaps that was a mistake.

If Cooper wants to call me and discuss the matter in more detail - and pursue the matter further - he can call me.

rshow55 - 04:05pm Feb 27, 2003 EST (# 9330 of 9340)
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.

Fred Rogers, Host of 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood,' Dies at 74 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/27/obituaries/27WEB-ROGE.html

"His message remained a simple one throughout the years, telling his viewers to love themselves and others. On each show, he would take his audience on a magical trolley ride into the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, where his puppet creations would interact with each other and adults.

During the Persian Gulf War, Rogers told youngsters that "all children shall be well taken care of in this neighborhood and beyond -- in times of war and in times of peace," and he asked parents to promise their children they would always be safe.

Rogers was a master at explaining things to children in ways that actually worked - and knew how afraid kids actually were. I wonder how much of the argument about missile defense, or the invasion of Iraq - Rogers could have put across to his charges effectively? Maybe a lot. The most basic things - the most important things - are simple.

Rogers was great at finding ways to say "here, look for yourself" that worked for kids.

Here is a "connecting of the dots" that I liked when I wrote it yesterday - and I feel - though people would have to check and see how it seems to them:

. We ought to think about the behavior set out in http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/~epritch1/social98a.html and realize that if we're "wired to be nice" - that is - to be cooperative - we're also "wired to be self deceptive and stupid" whenever the immediate thought seems to go against our cooperative needs.

9314 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@28.breoazby4Gc.341925@.f28e622/10848

That seems to me to explain some things succinctly. Maybe others disagree - and maybe I'd disagree, too - if I considered it more - and checked how the idea, which seems simple and right now, actually works. It seems good now.

lchic - 04:06pm Feb 27, 2003 EST (# 9331 of 9340)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

Australian Defense Minister -- background Lawyer.

Australian Prime Minister -- background Lawyer.

Say 'Let's join Son-of-Starwars'

Australian Opposition --- Listening to American Military Figures who say it's most often useless ... say 'Let's NOT'!

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