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?

lunarchick - 05:16pm Apr 16, 2001 EST (#2299 of 2308)
lunarchick@www.com

I believe Putin may have made the 'Economic Statement'.

There are 'property' problems in Russia .. they need real LAW ( to stop 'bullies' from stealing the property of others ) and courts to uphold people's rights.

On NTV ... it is now regular boring non political tv. (On radio there isn't yet a station giving 'free' political comment).

On the Yeltsin Man extracated from Switzerland (arrested in NY) .. the case against him is said to be weak .. and Russia rescued him to home ... must have had value .. he's on a $million$ bail ... (unless his case would have opened a can of worms)!

lunarchick - 05:25pm Apr 16, 2001 EST (#2300 of 2308)
lunarchick@www.com

Chechnya

lunarchick - 05:37pm Apr 16, 2001 EST (#2301 of 2308)
lunarchick@www.com

Putin had concerns that the troups weren't being paid, and on time. No report re concerns for locals. The tvStation assination of Russian official followed next day. The Putin visit/assination timings weren't linked on my news.

lunarchick - 10:28pm Apr 16, 2001 EST (#2302 of 2308)
lunarchick@www.com

NTV people have migrated to another station (the owner lives abroad -- may have gathered wealth by unusual means (?)) Supply and Demand re Information. Putin has to get onto these stations in a personable manner ... as he did the bbc ... and talk to the people, so they understand the direction the country has to take.

rshowalter - 10:45pm Apr 16, 2001 EST (#2303 of 2308)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

And if Putin offers reasonable, well founded hope and clear explanations that fit in his peoples' minds that can be checked he'll do his country good service and he'll be a media star.

Russia knows very well that it needs leadership, and if Putin offers it, according to standards that the Russians themselves can understand and be proud of, he'll be listened to. And his political power can unify the disarray that now exists, in the interest of Russia and the whole world.

Then, maybe all concerned can "win the peace" after the Cold War.

rshowalter - 10:46pm Apr 16, 2001 EST (#2304 of 2308)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

And the world can survive.

lunarchick - 01:15am Apr 17, 2001 EST (#2305 of 2308)
lunarchick@www.com

If Russia has no 'law' and is currently chaos and shambles .. and people don't get wages in a timely fashion .. and orderly leadership might rescue them into having ONE standard and ONE direction, then i'd be for Orderly Leadership, that might also decrease the danger of random accident Missile Explosion.

lunarchick - 01:40am Apr 17, 2001 EST (#2306 of 2308)
lunarchick@www.com

Diplomatic culture: "Sending a family member on diplomatic missions is not acceptable in a properly conducted state," Mr Rubinstein said.

Mr Sharon argues that sending his son would be seen as a demonstration of his sincerity by Mr Arafat, who shares his prediliction for mixing the personal with the political.

"Sharon said something very interesting: that he sent his son to Mr Arafat because in the Middle East that kind of gesture is appreciated by leaders," said a rightwing author, Yossi Klein Halevy.

But this nod to Middle Eastern custom was not appreciated by members of Mr Sharon's coalition who accused him yesterday of breaking an election pledge not to negotiate with the Palestinians until they end their uprising. http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,473968,00.html

rshowalter - 06:00am Apr 17, 2001 EST (#2307 of 2308)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Some campaign promises, and other promises, can't be kept, in light of all the circumstances, properly weighted. People who live in the world know that. When there are good enough reasons, explanations and accomodations suffice. They have to.

rshowalter - 06:05am Apr 17, 2001 EST (#2308 of 2308)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

For example, no reasonable person would hold Bush to the promise of funding Missile Defense systems that clearly cannot work , if an honest explanation, clearly checkable, was given -- especially if other accomodations could be made to more effectively increase the security of the United States.

New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense