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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 - 12:55pm Apr 13, 2001 EST (#2215 of 2225)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

We should find ways to threaten, and to defend, that are proportionate, rather than disproportionate, so that America can better serve her own interests, and can avoid damages she is now doing, and risks she is now imposing on the world.

That goes for other nations, in their particular circumstances, as well as for the United States.

rshowalter - 01:16pm Apr 13, 2001 EST (#2216 of 2225)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Psychwar, Casablanca, and Terror http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/0 (from the beginning)

The most intersting part, I believe, is the few pages from posts #13-23, which set out key scenes from Casablanca http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/12

rshowalter - 01:27pm Apr 13, 2001 EST (#2217 of 2225)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Lunarchick's comments on the "golden rule" are profoundly right. lunarchick 4/13/01 9:24am

To get the golden rule to work well, in a world as diverse as this one, we need to understand how human beings interact better than we do.

A key thing is that human beings have to find ways to deal with each other as human beings, not as "enemies" -- which is to say "monsters with respect to me."

Some very nice steps in that direction seem to have been taken recently U.S.-Russia Relationship Warms Up a Bit by Jane Perlez http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/13/world/13DIPL.html

lunarchick - 04:23pm Apr 13, 2001 EST (#2218 of 2225)
lunarchick@www.com

from link:
*leaders (Russia/USA) would have their first meeting by the end of July.
[ Bets on Bush won't make it to Moscow! ]
*their economic and trade ministers had already begun meetings and that the two countries would also revive a joint commission to examine ways to isolate the Taliban of Afghanistan.
* major disagreement remained: Russia's sale of weapons to Iran and other unfriendly countries.

lunarchick - 04:29pm Apr 13, 2001 EST (#2219 of 2225)
lunarchick@www.com

The NYT is said to be less critical of the administration re the China-spyPlane issue than other press in the USA. It occurs to me that Newcorp(Australia)'s top cocky Murdock has recently married Wendy Deng (Hong Kong) ... in light of this (along with their and other American Business interests in China lobby) I wonder if Newscorp 'voices' have an editorial line on the China issue. http://www.newscorp.com/ & http://www.nypost.com/

lunarchick - 04:32pm Apr 13, 2001 EST (#2220 of 2225)
lunarchick@www.com

http://www.nypost.com/commentary/38357.htm

lunarchick - 04:35pm Apr 13, 2001 EST (#2221 of 2225)
lunarchick@www.com

(from above) "When Clinton came [to office in] 1993, he had with him a group of advisers who adhered to the liberal conception of international policy," says Tufts University analyst Jeff Taliaferro, a specialist in international security issues.

That view, he explained, stresses human rights and the idea that international economic interdependence and trade reduce the chance of conflict.

By contrast, Bush and his team have brought "the re-ascendancy of realism," said Taliaferro, a registered Democrat who voted for Gore.

"It's the notion that power politics matter, that states have different interests in the international system, that war is a recurring phenomenon, and that the United States' first duty is to protect itself."

That stress on realism comes with a determination to be, as Bush puts it, "plain-spoken" in contrast to Clinton, who liked to fuzz over differences.

Thus, he uses the visits of foreign leaders not only to make nice, but also to spell out his policy.

Bush stressed America's "special relationship" with Great Britain and Israel and its friendly ties with Jordan.

lunarchick - 05:46pm Apr 13, 2001 EST (#2222 of 2225)
lunarchick@www.com

I like the use of the term 'other unfriendly' countries above (4.23pm post) ... seems that countries can be un/friendly or both within the same week. World compatability has a lot to do with shared visions and common goals ... and building a better future for all citizens within Nations.

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