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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 - 12:09pm May 14, 2001 EST (#3831 of 3839)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I believe that, when Russia, and some other countries in the world, come to understand something more of what has happened, there will be great grief, and anger, and anguish, and some hatred. All of them emotionally strong, and all, to some degree time consuming -- things that take as long as they take.

And yet, a chance of healing, too.

And a great desire for justice, and punishment, and harshness that often won't be accomodatable, or shouldn't be, or that can only be dealt with in complex and partial ways.

I feel that if Psychwarfare, Casablanca -- and terror .... Gaurdian TALK http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/0 could be discussed, along with the movie, by Russians and Americans together, communication that might make us all safer, and happier, and richer, might come. After some emotional working out, and some search for workable justice and redemptive solutions. Especially entries #13- #23 http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/12

It would help us all get in touch with our pasts, and shed lies, so that we could move, more comfortably and safely into our future. And survive.

Perfect justice isn't possible, or even thinkable here. To some extent, there will have to be redemptive solutions -- reframings -- complex accomodations, that let us go on.
817: rshowalter 3/1/01 4:27pm ... 818: rshowalter 3/1/01 4:32pm

A narrow wish for "justice" rules resolution and right answers out, where a search for secular redemption permits resolution. 796: rshowalter 2/27/01 6:21pm

There are practical things to discuss and do (and emotions are essential and practical themselves). But war is in no one's interest. And nuclear war (that American invention) is a horror that ought to be eliminated. We need to find ways to get nuclear risks down.

None of these things require that Russians or people in other countries like Americans, or trust them, or "let them off the hook" for things they have done, without reasonable accomodations, and workable, checkable balances. I think that a great deal that America has done, and denied, is ugly and needs to be fixed.

American diplomats, politicians, and business people should not be permitted to evade a clear sense of what has been done, and how many people feel about that.

Almarst , I've found your posts over the last couple of days profound, disturbing, and, I believe, necessary for a workable peace -- which will have to be an emotional peace as well as a peace of objective accomodation -- if it is to be practical and sustainable in human terms.

rshowalter - 12:11pm May 14, 2001 EST (#3832 of 3839)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I believe that everybody concerned about matters of defense, and especially nuclear deployments, should consider carefully, and remember, the concerns about the “military-industrial complex” set out in the FAREWELL ADDRESS of President Dwight D. Eisenhower January 17, 1961. http://www.geocities.com/~newgeneration/ikefw.htm

In many ways, things have gone worse the Eisenhower's worst fears, and there are things to be faced, and fixed.

For reasons of self preservation and self interest, and for important moral reasons, as well.

almarst-2001 - 12:11pm May 14, 2001 EST (#3833 of 3839)

Canada ready to support US missile defense - http://asia.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/world/article.html?s=asia/headlines/010514/world/afp/Canada_ready_to_support_US_missile_defense__report.html

"In the end Canada will support the United States," Prime Minister Jean Chretien said last week. "There is a huge unilateral reduction of nuclear weapons. It is a positive sign."

Chretien was also supportive of bombing of the Yugoslavia. The Canada is too much dependent on the US trade. But eventually, they may pay a much higher price for such a "conformity". As for now, I am sure the Canadian Treasury did their calculation.

gisterme - 12:24pm May 14, 2001 EST (#3834 of 3839)

rshowalter wrote: "...The Irish potatoe famine ..."

Gosh, Robert, I hope you never criticized anybody for putting that "e" on the end of "potato".

rshowalter - 12:27pm May 14, 2001 EST (#3835 of 3839)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

gisterme glad you're around.

Can't remember having done that.

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