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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?

gisterme - 10:50pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3396 of 3407)

possumdag wrote: "...Congo's problem is that the neighbours want her wealth...."

Are we getting back to human nature here, possumdag? My feeling is that government can't ever change it, that human nature can shape governmets but not so the other way round. Covetousness is definately an abominable socket! :-) The lie that empowers it is "if ONLY we had what they have, everything would be fine for us...better us than them...therefore we're justified in taking theirs". Not unlike Iraq and its teeny weeny neighbour Kuwait.

As a serious question, what do you suppose that the US (or anybody else for that matter) could have done, or could now do to mitigate the Congo situation?

artemis130 - 10:51pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3397 of 3407)
caveat venditor

that the US can't do everything for everybody everywhere. As shown in Somalia the feeding hand can get bit.

As opposed to the KLA, where the feeding hand can be severed altogether?

possumdag - 10:51pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3398 of 3407)
Possumdag@excite.com

The point re Iraq may be the Hussain problem, yet, the people of Iraq see their problems as being directly related to USA policies .. their kids are dying, they are short of jobs, money and basic food .. and America is responsible .. one more reason why the USA may have been booted out of their Human Rights Chair.

possumdag - 10:53pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3399 of 3407)
Possumdag@excite.com

I talked to a guy from Somalia .. he said the USA people hadn't got a clue as to how to handle the local population.. who wanted the US out. They were happy to deal with the UK or France who had had traditional interest their and had people skills.

gisterme - 10:56pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3400 of 3407)

possumdag wrote: "...The term 'rogue' as in rogue-states, rogue countries, eminates from the current President in The Whitehouse .. "

Yes, but I would have bet that I'd heard that term prior. Probably wrong. It wouldn't alter my feeling about the term either way. Does what I said about the usage of "rogue" make sense to you?

gisterme - 11:03pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3401 of 3407)

Gotta go...I'm probably not going to be able to devote quite so much time to this for the next few weeks but if Robert can keep the volume of words down to a size manageable by a mere mortal (like myself) I may be able to follow along with an occasional comment. I'm with Robert in saying that the discussion is constructive.

possumdag - 11:03pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3402 of 3407)
Possumdag@excite.com

Well yes, in that the USA President was using it wildly and in a derogatory manner and my belief was that in so doing he upset China .. the artful dragon .. who determined to bring down the spy plane and have a showdown. In world opinion China got some approval for this action .. the world thought Bwsh required to be put in his place .. manners wise.

possumdag - 11:05pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3403 of 3407)
Possumdag@excite.com

Showalter would be pleased to know you find the discussion constructive ... MD is about the intelligent use of heads rather than thoughtless button pushing.

possumdag - 11:10pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3404 of 3407)
Possumdag@excite.com

Congo - no solution in sight (1997?)

possumdag - 11:17pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3405 of 3407)
Possumdag@excite.com

Rogue State & MD http://www.cato.org/pubs/fpbriefs/fpb-065es.html

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