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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 - 02:02pm May 1, 2001 EST (#2890 of 2900)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

There was a message of mine, that I previously deleted, that has been reinstated -- and I think properly so. I said what I said, it was public, and I'll take my lumps.

That's not too much to ask of me.

Is is too much to ask for Bush and Co to limit themselves to toys that won't kill us all?

It isn't, but it appears that it is too much to expect without some asking.

We, as Americans need to ask for sane military balances, and do the disciplined, careful, detailed checking - based on a distrust that has now been thoroughly earned by the administration -- that getting those balances ironed out is going to take.

People in other countries need to do the same, from their perspectives, and insist that their reasonable human interests not be forgotten.

Nations in the EU, Russia, China, and Japan all have vital interests here -- and great leverage. If these nations can cooperate in a disciplined, open way, they can have a great influence on what is done.

What we need is more of the United States at its best -- and less of the logic of the Nazis, imported and perpetuated by a small clique, set up to fight a war.

That war ought to be over.

My guess is that if the United States can enunciate clear reasons that it needs nuclear weapons for defense, with a little simple negotiation, the basis for those reasons can be eliminated. Nuclear weapons are obsolete menaces, and we should take them down.

We can threaten each other quite adequately by other means.

listenr - 03:13pm May 1, 2001 EST (#2891 of 2900)

Its amazing how little was said about what this system will actually entail, suffice it to say, it's going to be expensive.

It sounds alot like defence contractor make work project masquerading as a defence strategy. Just look at CNBC and who's stock is suddenly going up.

Finaly, will this $100 BILLION (at the low end) protect your kids from a bomb FedEx'd from who-knows-where. On time, from anywhere to anywhere next day, guarenteed...

It's a red-herring. A VERY expensive one at that. Meanwhile, kids can't read, the air's getting worse, but Star Wars is a go...

rshowalter - 03:34pm May 1, 2001 EST (#2892 of 2900)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Perhaps this thread has been influential. There are reasons to suspect that.

rshowalter - 03:58pm May 1, 2001 EST (#2893 of 2900)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I'll look, but first, i'll post this.

. . . . .

listenr 5/1/01 3:13pm

"It sounds alot like defence contractor make work project masquerading as a defence strategy. Just look at CNBC and who's stock is suddenly going up."

Sometimes, things happen that are far, far worse than one might wish. Much of history, since 1914, has seemed a nightmare - and so it remains. And there good reasons to fear the worst now. And to work to keep it from happening. Here's a place, where I believe that newspapers, especially with the new possibilities of the internet, can do great good.

Where in the past the truth has been defeated, where the truth has been "somehow too weak" there are now solid reasons for hoping that truth can be solider, stronger, and more effective, so that better decisions can be made, and better outcomes hoped for.

rshowalter - 03:59pm May 1, 2001 EST (#2894 of 2900)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Here is a series of postings that I believe ought to bear thinking about -- not only for The New York Times , and not only for the intellectual-social class the Times represents, but for all Americans -- and for people all over the world. We're looking at some VERY disturbing conduct -- and patterns that have gone on for a long time. Here are the links.

2509: rshowalter 4/22/01 3:35pm
2510: rshowalter 4/22/01 3:59pm
2511: rshowalter 4/22/01 4:00pm
2512: rshowalter 4/22/01 4:54pm
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2514: rshowalter 4/22/01 5:03pm
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2516 rshowalter 4/22/01 5:05pm

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New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense