New York Times on the Web Forums Science

Missile Defense

Russian military leaders have expressed concern about US plans for a national missile defense system. Will defense technology be limited by possibilities for a strategic imbalance? Is this just SDI all over again?

almarst-2001 - 02:44pm Apr 5, 2001 EST (#2012 of 2013)

rshowalter 4/5/01 2:32pm - "Speaking for the longer term -- the only source of energy on the horizon, that can let the world go on indefinitely, and permit peoples now impoverished to share in prosperity -- has to be nuclear power. "

Agree.

"But nuclear weapons would have to be effectively outlawed. Many kinds of stability and reliability would have to be higher than today. "

Mutually dependent.

rshowalter - 03:17pm Apr 5, 2001 EST (#2013 of 2013)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

So why not do a "dry run" --- as well done as possible, and move toward closure ?

The Bush administration wouldn't have to be involved, for a while.

Some other nations, and organizations, would have to be involved.

I've never suggested that any nation state trade more security for less. Not the US, nor anybody else. Things can be arranged so that, except for a small band of predators acting in secret, the whole world can be safer and richer.