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Missile Defense

Nazi engineer and Disney space advisor Wernher Von Braun helped give us rocket science. Today, the legacy of military aeronautics has many manifestations from SDI to advanced ballistic missiles. Now there is a controversial push for a new missile defense system. What will be the role of missile defense in the new geopolitical climate and in the new scientific era?

soyousay - 09:35pm Feb 11, 2001 EST (#673 of 677)

Why are certain nations so expressing fear of an application of technology they themselves say publicly is overly complex, uncertain of function, as so easily spoofed?

Why not remain silent on the issue and allow the US to spend Billions of useless Dollars that might otherwise be spent on more effective instruments of deterence and projection of national force of will?

dirac_10 - 11:05pm Feb 11, 2001 EST (#674 of 677)

A very good point.

If it worries the folks that had the technical ability to build H-bombs and Sputniks 50 years ago, stopping the Saddams of the world is a piece of cake.

mhunter20 - 10:08am Feb 12, 2001 EST (#675 of 677)

dirac_10 2/11/01 11:05pm

If it worries the folks that had the technical ability to build H-bombs and Sputniks 50 years ago, stopping the Saddams of the world is a piece of cake.

I disagree. Stopping a bomb laden suitcase, which has a higher chance of being delivered without attribution, is not a piece of cake. Verify is better than missile defense. The value of missile defense is its use in trading for verification rules that allow inspections that can occur anytime and anywhere.

bigred152 - 10:33am Feb 12, 2001 EST (#676 of 677)

Sounds straightforward, yet, when observations were done re people approaching a gate head on, and those slipping through from the side, it was seen that those who entered from the side were able to establish priority and slip in most easily.

Isn't it the same re legitimate holders of Killer weapons - the head-on guys, and then there are others who are sneaking in from the side ... and are 'unknown' holders of destructive weapons ... aren't these 'odd balls' frequent and dangerous .. especially if they represent themselves rather than a formal body of people as per 'nation'.

m-of-u - 11:17am Feb 12, 2001 EST (#677 of 677)

Presumably, Embassies would be effective places to hide small nuclear bombs smuggled component by component under diplomatic seal.

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