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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 - 07:45pm Sep 11, 2001 EST (#8798 of 8804)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

We need to widen our sympathies, and our understanding of both the good we show (with respect to people in our own group) and the nastiness we can and sometimes do show to "others."

rshowalter - 07:47pm Sep 11, 2001 EST (#8799 of 8804)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Since September, I've been working hard on this thread, and with a sense of urgency. In my view, the risks of nuclear destruction of the world have been large and the risks have seemed vividly real to me. I've been willing to work hard, because of my concern.

For most others, the notion of nuclear weapons has seemed menacing, and perhaps associated with a sense of menace below the surface, yet abstract. Not real enough for action, somehow. Even the action required, which would seem easy in context, involved in checking basic facts.

MD8753 rshowalter 9/11/01 8:26am

Something horrible has happened today. Still, in terms of casualties, not such a big day of bombing, compared to many in this last century. A tiny day of bombing death compared to days our military has been practicing for for decades. And threatening many times.

But unexpected by Americans.

lunarchick - 07:49pm Sep 11, 2001 EST (#8800 of 8804)
lunarchick@www.com

The USA is a very religious country. One recalls that Bwsh is said to have old_timer Billy Graham to tea on a Southern monthly basis. Bwsh is said to have turned to God - whatever that means, whatever the concept of 'god' is.

The first response here has been to zap the fuel depot in Kabul. The power of the Talibhan is reduced. (A question from the world, as Afghan refugees have flooded out of the wreck of Afghanistan, has been - when is something going to be done here to restore normality?)

The concept of the muslem mind has been subject of discussion. How can these power hungry guys treat others without humanity - when will it stop.

The reality re the 11Sept happening is that no one really knows who did it, or why. As god fearing Bwsh talks about the enemy and retribution - he seemingly doesn't know who or what that enemy really is.

Looking at the world, the gap between the haves and have_nots. The first and third world. The gap isn't closing. Issues re globalisation have been of concern. Globalisation and trade and world trade have associations. The forcing of planes into twin tower buildings - Jordon 76, Holland recently, and now again - leaving Malaysia with the notable standing twin.

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The mind of the muslem is perplexing. If death is the route to heaven - then their value system is certainly 'different'.

A question is 'how does the talking begin' ?

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The god fearing Bwsh - caught between upholding the material values of his earthly father, and the spiritual values of his heavenly father ... which route will he take ?

Has he seen that his sophisticated country has no security? None of us have that, on a day-by-day basis, fate and chance can strike.

Looking at RISK, CHANCE, FATE .. the question is .. how to come throught the 11Sept in a humaine manner that ultimately leads to a better world!?

rshowalter - 07:50pm Sep 11, 2001 EST (#8801 of 8804)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I had a physical today (did fine) and the nurse taking my blood pressure was upset -- the events of the day made her afraid. I was a little surprised: I thought she should have been afraid all along. I have been.

Something horrible has happened today. Something that is also vivid, and clear, and has the world's attention.

My own view, for some time, has been that there was about a 10% chance of the world ending/ per year, by nuclear explosion. That, in insurance terms

" A "statistical expected value" of a hundred Jewish holocausts, per year or one point six million "expected deaths" per day.

An "expected value" of senseless murders hundreds of times the number of people murdered senselessly today.

Maybe I've dropped a decimal pont. But even with the dropping of one decimal place, or even two, the concern is still wrenching if only it is taken seriously. My concerns have made me drop other things, and try to effect action. Dawn Riley's brilliant and hard work has been motivated for the same reasons. rshowalter "Science News Poetry" 3/1/01 2:07pm

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