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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 - 10:04pm Jun 14, 2001 EST (#5162 of 5173)

rshowalter wrote WRT president Bush: "...But if the effort is to " dominate the world" rather than work for prosperity and a practical peace - - - he'll fail - - and at every level..."

There's no doubt about that, Robert, still that's an awfully big IF. No indication whatsoever that that's his intent so far as I can tell.

[Bush has] had to stay away from the beaten path capitals, and even so, been as close to shunned as a President of the United States can reasonably be by NATO allies of decades standing.

Perhaps that's because some of those European leaders have grown accustomed to the US president coming to them in ass kissing mode and don't want their constituents to notice that the case has changed. Or not.

Seriously, I'm not sure just what the truth is, Robert; but I'd bet the reason for the odd venue is security related. If someone really wanted to find out the reason for that I'm sure they could.

lunarchick - 10:11pm Jun 14, 2001 EST (#5163 of 5173)
lunarchick@www.com

Showalter noted as 'swimming pretty' well ... and techniques have to be refined and practiced, lots of hard grind, sweat, persistence .. and it doesn't come easy .. staying afloat ... but one presumes that the prize of an improved appreciation of a stable world peace is very worthwhile.

GI, Showalter puts links into his academic papers - i'd be interested to see yours.

gisterme - 10:19pm Jun 14, 2001 EST (#5164 of 5173)

Heard a Christian missionary from south Sudan interviewed on the radio yesterday. Can't remember his name, but could probably find out. He said that the Marxist muslem government that controls the northern part of the country is using Russian built Antonov high altitude bombers to carpet bomb the southern tribes who are fighting for thier liberty. The southerners have no defense against the planes that fly at 30,000 feet altitude. The man said he's seen that with his own eyes. He says slavery is rampant among the Marxists. He's just getting ready to return to southern Sudan to continue his ministry. That's a brave man.

This is the website he mentioned that the southern group is working on: www.sudan.org

This excerpt shows a really interesting insight:

"...Western countries, who are thinking of intervening in the Sudanese conflict, especially those who are driven by human rights violations and slavery practices, should understand the problem in all of it's dimensions. they especially must recognize that this is a social and tribal problem between peoples that know it deeper than them.. otherwise, they are going to fall in the same well that they found in Somalia.. I am not opposing any help from the international community to solve African problems.. but I insist and emphasize that a exclusive and complete understanding of the problem should always be ahead of any actions or the result will be negative for both sides.. Africa has no modern social system, where individuals know their boundaries, their rights and duties in a systematic and calculated way, as in the West.. African leaders, and for that matter, governments, have little to do in the face of social problems. This is because they think within their tribal structure, in contrast to European politicians and leaders who are always just individuals.. . for example, the US thought they were fighting Mohamed Farih Idid in Somalia, only to discover that this was not the case, and the Somalian conflict was far beyond the person of Idid.. Sudan today is not a democracy.. but this is not to be mixed with the Sudanese social problems.. we are talking here about different domains! If the current government of Sudan is to be confronted for lack of democracy or a terrible human rights record, then this should be dealt with alone, and we must keep away from linking a very complicated and old social problems with a new military government that may not even know anything about their dimensions..."

gisterme - 10:20pm Jun 14, 2001 EST (#5165 of 5173)

Out for today.

lunarchick - 10:24pm Jun 14, 2001 EST (#5166 of 5173)
lunarchick@www.com

"I see that it is invariably where I lacked a political purpose that I wrote lifeless books and was betrayed into purple passages, sentences without meaning, decorative adjectives and humbug generally."Orwell

lunarchick - 10:30pm Jun 14, 2001 EST (#5167 of 5173)
lunarchick@www.com

A Somalian told me that the Americans didn't understad Somalia ... whereas the Europeans (who'd had close association) did.

The individualness of Europeans and the West had to be fought for, and in part as free movement and education fitted the needs of the industrial economy - they won out.

Africa is a mess ... wonder if, as AIDS culls the population, .. they'll be wanting to attract current economic migrants on the churn ... new mindsets might move it towards an improved appreciation of the individual.

hellebuyck - 10:58pm Jun 14, 2001 EST (#5168 of 5173)

Wow! Every time I read about it, it seems to be getting worse. Can Bush actually believe that this is the way to go? Building the missile defense would mean starting the cold war all over again. Not to state the obviouse, but all this is going to do is make countries that thought they were okay with the United States, think again.

If the U.S. is building bigger defense, shouldn't everyone? And if everyone does, than there will have to be a perceived threat. If a country or countries are singled out, then they will have to defend themselves, if for no other reason than to protect their own, and their own way of life (from the U.S.)

This makes for hostilities on all sides, and an arms race that can 1. make enemies 2. take energy away from other interests 3. be very expensive 4. Kill People

If I were to give Bush one peice of advice, it would be to get rid of all of daddy's advisors. they are all stuck in the Cold War. Ms. Rice especially. What is an old tired prof. who specializes in the USSR (hello wrong era!) doing giving advice to the president on foreign affairs?

those are my thoughts.

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