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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 - 12:05pm Jul 6, 2001 EST (#6673 of 6676)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

The level of feel for propriety exemplified in http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/05/politics/05CARL.html -- would indicate a "culture" where thoughts of accountability, for either facts or money, would be almost futile, wouldn't you think?

I wonder how many enlisted men (and there are plenty of literate ones) could read "Elder Bush in Big GOP Cast Toiling for Top Equity Firm" by LESLIE WAYNE without being ashamed?

MD6583 rshowalter 7/4/01 9:20pm suggests searches.

lunarchick - 12:13pm Jul 6, 2001 EST (#6674 of 6676)
lunarchick@www.com

`He (Putin) recognizes there are new threats in the 21st century and the U.S. is not a threat,'' Bush said, adding he would make that call later Friday amid a busy vacation schedule that included fishing, golfing and a game of horse shoes on his 55th birthday. He said he planned to discuss Iraq, the conflict in the Balkans and Macedonia with Putin.

``I know it's on his mind,'' Bush said of Macedonia. ``It's on my mind as well.'' http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Bush-Vacation.html 'born on the 4th 5th 6th of July!

rshowalter - 12:14pm Jul 6, 2001 EST (#6675 of 6676)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

../_images/2001/07/06/politics/06wire-bush.1.jpg is a picture associated with

Bush Celebrates Birthday in Maine by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Could it be that this is a human being -- who is "a little lower than the angels" --- who should be less confident, less trusting of associates, and less trusted by the rest of us?

He doesn't look so exalted to me.

Nor so far from connections to animal limitations. In some ways, he may not even be superior to animals. (Search "Koko", this thread.)

gisterme - 12:16pm Jul 6, 2001 EST (#6676 of 6676)

A while back dirac posted a link to some articles by Richard L. Garwin, a member of the 1998 Rumsfeld commission.

http://www.fas.org/rlg/20.htm

Mr. Garwin is a strong proponent of a "boost phase intercept" strategy as (he feels) the most workable option for the kind of limited missile defense we're trying to acheive. His rationale against interception of warheads in space (the main thrust of the current BMD effort) is as strong as his support for a boost phase intercept strategy.

http://www.armscontrol.org/ACT/sept00/bpisept00.html

http://www.fas.org/rlg/rlg0710NMD_TEXT.htm

The basic idea of the boost phase interception approach is to base interceptors ashore or aboard large merchant-type ships such that they are not too far from potential hostile launch points such as N. Korea, Iraq or Iran. Using an existing satellite constellation built during the Cold War, ballistic missile launches could be detected and boost phase inteceptors launched within 100 seconds. The interceptors would destroy the rising ICBM before it could release its payload and decoys. Regardless of what may be done with satellite based lasers, or terminal defense interceptors, the boost phase intercept approach is one that seems entirely workable without needing any significant technological leaps.

Mr. Garwin's articles are well worth reading.

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