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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 - 03:46pm May 4, 2001 EST (#3258 of 3290)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I've made some challenges, for people to actually come forward, and face up to what they've done, in public. Or let me know I was wrong. Under circumstances where it has been certain , for a long time, that I'm being read.

(The correllation between things said on this thread, and changes in administration stances, is becoming a good one -- unlikely to be due to chance.)

NMD has been very wrong, in the technical and strategic sense.

Could the mistakes be "in good faith"?

I'm prepared to consider the possibility.

But, for a long time now, the only possibilities I've been able to come up with (though I'm open to other suggestions) are

1. massive fraud

and/or

2. mass delusion.

Of course, it could be some of both.

Perhaps I've missed something, and there's another possibility. Sure would like to hear it.

We're talking huge amounts of misappropriated funds here, and huge risks and inconveniences imposed on the whole world.

For what?

It seems a reasonable question to ask.

A reasonable question to expect an answer for.

Seems that way to me, anyway.

rshowalter - 04:02pm May 4, 2001 EST (#3259 of 3290)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I bet even Mary Poppins might be stern indeed facing these circumstances. rshowalter 5/4/01 7:27am

For myself, to find the proper words, I'd be tempted to go back and read some of the work of Johnathan Edwards.

(Some of the language of "Sinners in the hands of an angry God" updated to make all the horrors modern, might be appropriate here, if what I suspect is true is true in fact.)

lunarchick - 04:05pm May 4, 2001 EST (#3260 of 3290)
lunarchick@www.com

From my perch it seems that there is a failure - in guys heads - to think in HUMAN terms regarding war.

There's too much emphasis on the technology

Too little on PEOPLE

a growing economy
peace
homes
jobs
incomes
a vision of a future
education/jobs for future generations

Intelligent/appropriate legislative frameworks
Good Leadership and Government
Environmental considerations

rshowalter - 04:05pm May 4, 2001 EST (#3261 of 3290)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

But the Mary Poppins virtues would be needed here:

" Something I've always liked about the movie Mary Poppins is that the heroine moves into a ugly mess. The ugliness is realistically portrayed. With some steadfastness, and some grace, she uses very specific knowledge of specific people and situations. There's the occasional coercive act or credible threat, but always she is proportionate, and graceful outcomes are arranged as well. Things are worked out to a higher level of grace and practicality than existed in the household before, though nobody loses their basic weaknesses and flaws.

We'll need all the intelligence, discipline and grace we can muster to get out of this mess decently, and alive.

lunarchick - 04:20pm May 4, 2001 EST (#3262 of 3290)
lunarchick@www.com

Mary Poppins created by:

Travers, P(amela) L(yndon)

(HELEN LYNDON GOFF), Australian-born British writer (b. Aug. 9, 1899, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia--d. April 23, 1996, London, Eng.), created the popular character Mary Poppins and wrote a series of children's books that were translated into more than 20 languages. In her late teens Travers moved to England, where she worked as an actress, dancer, and journalist. During that period she became acquainted with the poets William Butler Yeats and George William Russell (known as AE), with whom she shared a deep interest in myth. Through Russell, who became her mentor, she was introduced to London literary society. Her first book, Mary Poppins (1934), featuring a magical, no-nonsense, but endearing nanny, was an immense success. Her first sequel in 1935 helped her to decide on a career as a writer. Traveling throughout the U.S. and Europe, she lectured, wrote, and served as writer-in-residence at several colleges. Her later works include several travel books and a collection of essays on myth published in 1989. (www.britannica.com)

applez0 - 04:22pm May 4, 2001 EST (#3263 of 3290)

Lunarchick - read Sun Tzu's Art of War, I think you'd like it a great deal.

applez0 - 04:22pm May 4, 2001 EST (#3264 of 3290)

Mandala Press translation is one of the best, but there are others with less pretty printings.

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