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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 - 05:27pm Mar 7, 2003 EST (# 9600 of 9617)
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 World War II - the United States did something very difficult - it defeated a messianic movement - world Communism - with nuclear weapons present - with miraculously few deaths or injuries compared to what could have been.

I set out some of of that, from my personal perspective, in reference to the movie b Casablanca , in PSYCHWARE, CASABLANCA, AND TERROR http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/0 . Especially the core story part, from posting 13 http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/12 to posting 23 http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/22 There is a comment in #26 that I feel some may find interesting, as well.

I've been working hard, and at considerable personal risk and inconvenience - hoping the get some key facts about the past understood.

A lot of it was very ugly. Uglier than it should have been - especially after 1991 - when we should have had an end game, and didn't.

I'm concerned about a lot of American actions.

All the same, in context, and compared to what we were up against, and other nations states - we have made some reasonable efforts to be responsible - and though there have been some tragedies - I think the United States has done reasonably well - in the ugly, Machiavellian world we've lived in.

Now we have to find ways to do better and there has been a great deal of progress - if we keep at it.

almarst2003 - 05:27pm Mar 7, 2003 EST (# 9601 of 9617)

Rober.

Did I get it right you as T. Friedman assume the coming another mass killing and occupation will create more friends to US according to your understanding of golden rule? Do you know how many Iraqi teenagers grew up without fathers or brathers after the Golf War I? How many will become orphant after the coming war? What do you think they would do giving a chance to Americans when they grow up?

rshow55 - 05:32pm Mar 7, 2003 EST (# 9602 of 9617)
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.

If we're in a situation where "kill or be killed" is the effective rule - and we're dealing with people who support the likes of bin Laden - then kindness isn't the answer, and Bush is right.

We ought to do better than that.

If bin Laden is captured - there will be a great deal more political possibility for compromise and reassessment.

U.S. and Pakistan Step Up Efforts to Capture bin Laden By RAYMOND BONNER and ERIK ECKHOLM http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/07/international/asia/07CND-OSAMA.html

almarst2003 - 05:33pm Mar 7, 2003 EST (# 9603 of 9617)

"How many Americans feel concerned about the life and welfare of supporters of bin Laden? Why should they?"

I feel sorry for ANY human being. And the only one I could hate is the one who harms the weak out of fear or sence of invulnerability or just enjoyment of power to do so. And who uses lies and dehumanization to justify its acts.

almarst2003 - 05:36pm Mar 7, 2003 EST (# 9604 of 9617)

"If we're in a situation where "kill or be killed" is the effective rule"

Well, thats the rule the so called great powers like to follow believing they have much better chance to kill. The even frequently and quite openly provoke the confrontation.

Enjoy.

almarst2003 - 06:15pm Mar 7, 2003 EST (# 9605 of 9617)

Its strange to propose to "test" the good will toward US of a nations based on their denonsuation of Bin Laden.

Sorry if its new for you, but secular Arab state where on Bin Ladan enemies list long before Sept. 11. Particularely Iraq and Syria. On the other hand, the Arabic medieval oil kindoms, particularely Saudi Arabia always supported their jointly with US designed creation.

One should now better.

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