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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?

almarst-2001 - 05:09pm Jun 27, 2001 EST (#6172 of 6196)

Some usefull info: - http://www.nyu.edu/globalbeat/balkan.html

Including - "A key to the downfall of Milosevic was extensive Western aid to bolster Serbian opposition forces. The aid was well conceived and executed. It did not, however, create the process of political change; rather, it facilitated the work of those leading it. That success may not be transferable to other countries where the West hopes to drive strongmen leaders out of power through similar "electoral revolutions."

To paraphrase the K.Marks, the formula of Capitalism today is "money-bombs-money";)

almarst-2001 - 05:12pm Jun 27, 2001 EST (#6173 of 6196)

A case of a "good intention"?;) - http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-397es.html

"NATO cited as its principal reasons for intervening in Kosovo in 1999 the need to stop ethnic cleansing and to prevent a wider war. Yet, since NATO assumed control of Kosovo, there has been a massive reverse ethnic cleansing as Albanian nationalists have driven nearly 90 percent of the province's non-Albanian people from their homes. And now the KLA and its offshoots have expanded armed conflict into southern Serbia and Macedonia."

possumdag - 05:12pm Jun 27, 2001 EST (#6174 of 6196)
Possumdag@excite.com

Re decency ... time to scrap all the 'fairy tales'

almarst-2001 - 05:14pm Jun 27, 2001 EST (#6175 of 6196)

By the way, the KLA was removed from the CIAs list of terrorist organisations. I wonder where can I find a list of CIA-sponsored "freedom fighters"?;)

almarst-2001 - 05:15pm Jun 27, 2001 EST (#6176 of 6196)

possumdag 6/27/01 5:12pm

?

possumdag - 05:19pm Jun 27, 2001 EST (#6177 of 6196)
Possumdag@excite.com

Is this what's meant by 'keeping your options open'
Option 1 is passive accommodation—looking the other way
Option 2 is assertive mediation.
Option 3 is aggressive confrontation.

gisterme - 05:22pm Jun 27, 2001 EST (#6178 of 6196)

almarst wrote: "...What about guided "intelligent" and stealth missile quietly dropped from the satelite?..."

If you mean as an OFFENSIVE weapon, almarst, I don't believe anybody has proposed placing nuclear weapons on space platforms. That WOULD violate a treaty that nobody has even discussed changing so far as I know. I've not seen anything about any BMD components using nuclear explosives. The old Golash and Sentinal ABM systems that Russia and the US built in the '60s were nuclear tipped I think. I know that the US system was dismantled in the early '70s but I don't know what the status of the Russian system is. Whatever that status might be, I don't feel threatened by it.

By the way, have you noticed that in today's news it is reported that president Bush has proposed standing down ALL of the fifty US "peacekeeper" (MX) missiles? Those are the most modern ICBMs and only true first strike weapons that the US air force has as far as I know. Can't say for sure but I'll guess that each of those MX represents at least 10 MIRV warheads for a total of at least 500 individually targetable bombs.

Also in the news is the president's proposed stand down of about 1/3 of the B1-B bomber force, reportedly 90+ aircraft of about 300.

Reasoning given for the stand-downs? Free up funding for BMD. Reportedly the two programs amount to about $300 billion (I assume that means over a period of years). It seems the president's view is that a shield is more necessary than a sword in today's world. Does that frighten you, almarst?

To me, it looks as if the US trying to start a "disarms" race. This good news sure looks like a measurable step in that direction. How do you suppose Russia might respond to the unilateral move by the US?

possumdag - 05:23pm Jun 27, 2001 EST (#6179 of 6196)
Possumdag@excite.com

Many fairy tales are 'indecent' in that they are horrific, scary, frightening .... eg. the wolf in Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs, the Witch in Hansel and Gretal, the predicament of the Maiden in the tower who had to lower her hair for the prince to climb up and rescue her. Then there are the Greek Gods -- with their dark underworld. Fairy Tales should have an 'over 18' sticker on them!

No modern fairy tales on Missile Defence .. for the under 5's ?!

rshowalter - 05:23pm Jun 27, 2001 EST (#6180 of 6196)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

6139 gisterme 6/27/01 1:11pm makes a fine and important point as long as the Cold War patterns are over -- and for that, we have to look at the past, especially look at the recent past -- and see if we can get to a reasonable, enforceable, trustable grace.

If we can, MANY things can be solved.

rshowalter - 05:25pm Jun 27, 2001 EST (#6181 of 6196)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

We can make a listing of bad things, on all sides, that exceeds our ability to read.

But almarst's insecurity is real.--

The idea of a "disarmament race" is a very good one. But people have to feel safe, step by step.

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