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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?

rshowalter - 08:05pm Apr 12, 2001 EST (#2193 of 2199)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/world/russia.html April 12, 2001 Russian Parties to Merge in Boost to Putin by REUTERS

President Valdimir Putin is consolidating his power, and complex cooperations that were not operational before are becoming operational. I hope he uses his power well, for the benefit of Russia, and for a more peaceful, more stable world.

I hope he remembers that openness is essential for efficiency and a more peaceful world. rshowalter 4/2/01 2:29pm

I hope he can lead Russia in ways that work well for all concerned, in harmony with Adolph Berle's "laws of power" -- rshowalter 3/12/01 10:02am

And I hope he can lead Russia to a proud future, where she serves the interests of the world, and her own pride, and can stand, debt free, proud, peaceful, well protected and prosperous, in the community of nations.

Now that his power is being consolidated, praise or blame will be more clearly his, for good or ill.

lunarchick - 08:17pm Apr 12, 2001 EST (#2194 of 2199)
lunarchick@www.com

I commented re American ways of thinking. On the Chinese way of thinking, there was a comment to the effect that if Americans sue over a hot dogs (didn't the dog wag?), then the Chinese person in the street thought they should sue regarding the Spy Plane .. and get money from America. The Chinese in the street ommited to comment on their ships that spy on Japan.

Nevertheless civil law is in the minds of the person in the world street ... wishing to replace 'war' type activities with 'law' governance.

CNN were video filming and downloading direct to the USA the 24 in transit. The camera was confiscated by Chinese officials .... not liking the immediacy of news ... all done by one reporter using her car battery to power the transmission, and uploading of data.

China have executed approximately 80 people over past days ... some may belong to the CULT so objected to by authority ... as a Chinese Mainland woman pointed out to me "These people loose their minds .. in that ... they loose respect for and igore their family. The Chinese family has a traditional order and rank ... cult members forgetting this are socially outcast.

I don't know if the Chinese put these shootings on close circuit television as does America .. where people are currrently drawing lots to gain a ring-side video seat to watch the death of the Oklahoma Bomber ..... while killing the beast they the goverment are also happy to release the beast within the minds of those who watch the death --- how long will it be before some of these onlookers bill the USA government for 'damage' and failure to protect them from revenge instincts. Why is it necessary to 'watch' a prisoner die ?

rshowalter - 08:18pm Apr 12, 2001 EST (#2195 of 2199)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

An interesting review, and excerpt, of a book about American morality:

April 8, 2001 Have a Nice Life http://www.nytimes.com/books/01/04/08/reviews/010408.08kaminet.html

" Alan Wolfe finds that in matters of morality, Americans are surprisingly nonjudgmental.

A NYT essay adapted from Wolfe's book, Moral Freedom , is The Final Freedom http://www.nytimes.com/books/01/04/08/specials/wolfe-final.html

The human traits, and moral stances described are tolerant, decent, and tend to be accomodating and gentle. The American stances described are not "strictly logical" -- but are based on feelings, and a desire to fit in a world needing complex cooperations.

These attitudes are very far from the attitutes one might expect from American military policy, and especially American nuclear weapon policy.

Americans are not especially easy to persuade, nor incapable of mistakes. But Americans are a long way from Nazis, in their personal dealings.

To the degree that our military policy looks otherwise, it is subject to change, by processes of persuasion, and by political means adjusting to new attitudes and understandings.

rshowalter - 08:19pm Apr 12, 2001 EST (#2196 of 2199)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

It is also worth mentioning that the threats of the Cold War were as terrible as they were, with Stalin, Mao, and Hitler all ranking high among the monsters of all time, and with the social systems they led capable of much horror as well. If America needs to lose the vestiges of Cold War practices that are now very dangerous, it will help if other nations can make analogous accomodations, as well.

lunarchick - 08:24pm Apr 12, 2001 EST (#2197 of 2199)
lunarchick@www.com

KYOTO and the failure of Bush to support it is a subject of concern in Europe - Times London - urges Tony Blair to take a tough line with Bush, and use Filingdale(?) secret-listening post, as a barganing chip.

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