New York Times on the Web Forums Science

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 - 10:21am Sep 23, 2001 EST (#9740 of 9749)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I wish the people involved could grasp the notion of "no solution" -- for the plans they now have - which are headed toward ugly, unpredictable disaster, and take the time to find solutions.

They are there, and from my distance, it doesn't even look like they are even particularly difficult, given the human resources available.

But Bush and his people, with the exception of Powell, don't have anything like enough reasonable fear of consequences. Including many consequences that are predictable, and many consequences that could be devastating, that are not predictable.

I have a friend who is a tech at the U.W. -- and he does a lot of electron microscopy, and maintains some electron microscopes. He has put a sign up, near one of the microscopes.

"If you don't know what you're doing, then don't do it."

It seems very good advice here.

lunarchick - 10:21am Sep 23, 2001 EST (#9741 of 9749)
lunarchick@www.com

From 'Talking Point': 50,000 e-mail messges received since wtc.

"Culture clashes"

1) ancient world dominated by religiton parochial.

2) An open world - modern civilization.

-------

Anger v rational reaction

Colin POWELL - sees a LONG campaign.

----------

Afghani says: work in a way that the Talibahn give up - but not in a bloodshed conflict.

---------

Moscow AfghanVet says: America now experiencing what Ru has faced re Chetchnya Terrorists. Terrorism happens in front of 'you'.

Am should avoid booby trap of making war.

Priorities : Information. Psychological effort to enable Afghans to move back to islamic mainstream. Assist northern opposition.

rshowalter - 10:24am Sep 23, 2001 EST (#9742 of 9749)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Do we have to beat the terrorists? I'd say yes. Dawn has listed some good approaches, which are occurring to many people.

We need to do deal with terrorism in a way that can work, and that can be controlled as a practical matter.

The Bush team, in decisive spots, seems to be neither honest, nor responsible, nor competent, and there ought to be a good deal that diplomacy can do to slow them down and isolate the Bush administration. So that the damage they do, if they proceed stupidly, as they are doing, is to some degree controlled. From a foreign perspective, this is not a good time to trust either the judgement or the honor of the President of the United States. He needs to be checked.

I wish the people involved had a feel for how complex this situation is, and how you handle complexity in ways that are hopeful, rather than disastrous.

Powell may have this sense. The others seem not to.

I know people don't like me to set out too many references, but a briefing I gave Almarst over a weeks time, in March, contains information that people should know. The information isn't high flown or difficult.

With that information, it isn't hard to see how one goes about finding solutions that can work in complex circumstances.

lunarchick - 10:24am Sep 23, 2001 EST (#9743 of 9749)
lunarchick@www.com

tonyGardner (Talkingpoint) says necessary to remove Talibhan and FEED the people ... bringing them round to frienship with US will still take years.

rshowalter - 10:25am Sep 23, 2001 EST (#9744 of 9749)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Missile defense, American style, is a beautiful exemplar of reasons not to defer to the judgement of people like Wolfowitz here.

lunarchick - 10:37am Sep 23, 2001 EST (#9745 of 9749)
lunarchick@www.com

There's a feeling that the US is taking a sledge hammer to crack a nut & that America should adhere to the rules of war. Talibhan represents only 3% of the cast vote.

lunarchick - 10:41am Sep 23, 2001 EST (#9746 of 9749)
lunarchick@www.com

Former US President Bill Clinton has admitted his administration tried to assassinate Osama Bin Laden in 1998 - but failed because it could not find him.

lunarchick - 10:42am Sep 23, 2001 EST (#9747 of 9749)
lunarchick@www.com

American Foreign Policy is seen to be in need of reform.

(2 following messages)

New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense