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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 - 08:15am May 11, 2001 EST (#3680 of 3686)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Even now, with the videotapes available from television sources, and the low and lowering cost of streaming video, politicians who lie or dissemble or mislead on television, on in other public ways, are going to be much more vulnerable than before.

A combination of the internet, and email, with links available, can make "big lie" tactics, often based on the idea that "no one will remember," less and less viable.

Some very interesting election campaigns may be possible soon -- and some may be to the disadvantage of tightly knit groups who have used the current rules for propaganda in support of interests that, in political terms, could not really stand the light of day in America.

This may be especially true if religious groups are called into the dialog. Most clergyman, whatever their religious leanings, know how important honest conduct is in human affairs. Lying may be much less tolerable among politicians than it has been.

That may be true of bullying, too.

rshowalter - 08:17am May 11, 2001 EST (#3681 of 3686)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

The same sorts of things could be said, with the words "Russia" or "China" or "Japan" of "North (or South) Korea" substituted for "America."

Injustices based on deception are going to become technically harder, in the near and forseeable future, if people of good will use tools coming to hand.

I think that there is great potential for human good here -- but some dangers, too.

rshowalter - 08:20am May 11, 2001 EST (#3682 of 3686)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

rshowalter 5/10/01 2:45pm
rshowalter 5/10/01 3:22pm

almarst-2001 - 09:59am May 11, 2001 EST (#3683 of 3686)

Some of the official US positions, statements and behavier toward other countries could be easily classified as paranoidal if applied to the inter-human relations.

Here is a Gulliver in a land of Liliputes living surrounded by a huge water barier and still protected by more power, the rest of the Lili-World combined does not posses, constantly spying and monitoring all Liliputes, still full of the fear for its safety.

Occasionally, it would lush out, hit and kill one of its neighbor declared an enemy and an Evil seeking to destroy the Gulliver and the World. Only for the half of a Century later to admit that was a "mistake".

.....

If you a Lilliput, What would you think and feel?

rshowalter - 10:31am May 11, 2001 EST (#3684 of 3686)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

You would have feelings and thoughts, and things you wished done, about the past.

And concerns for the future.

But there is another side, and it is quite natural. You shouldn't discount a fact. Americans are, in fact, quite afraid. There are ways of looking at the situation where it makes sense for them to be.

People who are agressive generally fear the consequences of what they have done. They may feel that, once they start fighting, they may have no alternative but agression without end. It isn't in anybody's interest for that fear to continue, and it isn't in anybody's interest for that fear to be justified, considering the stakes here.

Here's just an example --- one of a number of possible ones, just as a thought experiment:

If the Russian Embassy could invite Congressman Weldon, who was a Russian major in college, to lunch on a regular basis, Russians and Americans might both learn more about how afraid, and concerned, Americans are. --- There could and should be accomodations going both ways related to this matter. -- And I can say that without discounting what you say at all.

I respect what you say, and regret that it is as reasonable as it is.

rshowalter - 10:44am May 11, 2001 EST (#3685 of 3686)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Or, a Russian attache', or ambassador, could go right down to the Rayburn Building, the Longworth Building, or one of the Senate Office buildings, with a CIA or State Dept escort if that seemed right, and meet with congressmen, Senators OR THEIR STAFFERS , for informal lunches, in the (excellent, if crowded) cafeterias that the legislative people have. The more awkward Russians might feel doing it, the more they probably should.

rshowalter - 10:48am May 11, 2001 EST (#3686 of 3686)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

If legislators or staffers would like to be guests at the Embassy, (and many would) but could only do so with CIA or State Department escorts, invite the escorts !

And videotape everything, if people would like, giving everyone a copy of what was recorded.

If the State Department of CIA find this awkward, arrange to have all calls from the Embassy to US offices taped, and make sure that US security people get a tape.

Send in clear. Certainly for this, that would be the way to go.

You'd have plenty to talk about.

The current situation involve all sorts of absurd misunderstandings. Many or most of them, maybe all of them, could be combed out, over time, one by one.

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