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Missile Defense

Nazi engineer and Disney space advisor Wernher Von Braun helped give us rocket science. Today, the legacy of military aeronautics has many manifestations from SDI to advanced ballistic missiles. Now there is a controversial push for a new missile defense system. What will be the role of missile defense in the new geopolitical climate and in the new scientific era?

armel7 - 01:09pm Jan 9, 2001 EST (#551 of 573)
Science/Health Forums Host

Great discussion, folks. I just wanted to let you know about the new Times Science section. Plenty of good stuff. As you were.

Your host,
Michael Scott Armel

rshowalter - 03:02pm Jan 9, 2001 EST (#552 of 573)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Wonderful stuff, in fact!

If, by chance, I sometimes seem a bit "anti-establishment" - well, I looked at that new and improved section, and felt distinctly PRO establishment.

I'll salute the people who put it together, anytime.

rshowalter - 04:16am Jan 10, 2001 EST (#553 of 573)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Republicans plan huge missile shield Special report: George W Bush's America The Guardian

Martin Kettle in Washington , Tuesday January 9, 2001 http://www.guardian.co.uk/bush/story/0,7369,419676,00.html

rshowalter - 10:13am Jan 10, 2001 EST (#554 of 573)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Editorial , The New York Times January 10, 2001

Missile Shield Illusions

"Given all the technological and budgetary uncertainties about building a missile defense system, it is hard to believe that the incoming Bush administration would be ready by March to approve groundbreaking at the first radar site. But that is what the Pentagon's Ballistic Missile Defense Organization seems to hope the new administration will do. Rushing ahead with this project would be a serious mistake. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/10/opinion/10WED3.html

dirac_10 - 08:42pm Jan 10, 2001 EST (#555 of 573)

MSNBC, sometime in 2007...

IRAQ WATCH * DAY 47 * THE BUILDING TENSION

Nora O'Donnell - ...therefore, President Rodham is in quite a tough position, either release the terrorists that killed the inhabitants of the greater Cleveland area, and all that enriched plutonium on the boats, or Saddam obviously dying in great agony from the cancer, might actually do...Just a second, we have a breaking story...

Top sources in the pentagon and white house confirm the video from Baghdad, Iraq may have just launched all 6 of his new North Korean Deathsong ICBM's. More shortly...Oh my goodness, we can just hope there's nothing to the story. Let me ask you senator Biden, what do you think is happening?

Senator Biden - Oh Jesus, oh Jesus, Oh Jesus..

Nora O'Donnell - Senator Sauls? Where is Senator Sauls? Well, that's hard to believe. Senator Biden, do you think such strident accusations are a symptom of our bitterly polarized political process? One would assume the junior senator from Florida would never do such a grotesque and cruel thing.... ??

Senator Biden - Oh Jesus, oh Jesus, Oh Jesus..

Nora O'Donnell - So senator Biden, do you still think we should have compromised on the missle defense budget? Now I know it's monday morning quaterbacking, but under the present circumstances, it sure looks like a good investment. I mean after all, if they hit, what good is money?

Senator Biden - Oh Jesus, oh Jesus, Oh Jesus..

Nora O'Donnell - I'll take that as a yes. *#* What was that sound?

Senator Biden - Oh Jesus, oh Jesus, Oh Jesus..

rshowalter - 08:56pm Jan 10, 2001 EST (#556 of 573)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

There are some very good arguments for outlawing nuclear weapons EFFECTIVELY. That could be made to work.

Anti-missile missiles, so far, have not worked, and show no prospect of working. And they have been tried at a high effort level.

Oh, what might be achieved if even remotely the same effort level went into GETTING RID of nuclear weapons. Though it might have an inhibiting effect on the economy around Los Alamos, in other respects it would be good for the United States.

dirac_10 - 09:39pm Jan 10, 2001 EST (#557 of 573)

CNN/NTV sometime in 2007...

SADDAM GONE BESERK * DAY 47 * THE GATHERING STORM

Larry King - Well, president Bush, do you think that caving in on the financing of the antimissle systems in order to get the "Rich Folks Make Out Like a Bandit, Soros Be Damned" bill passed intact was such a good idea under the circumstances? And of course all the allegations of graft and corruption of your administration, the phony contracts, the outright theft, in overseeing the program?

Ex-President Bush II - Well, I don't know about that, heh, heh. It's your money, I'm a uniter not a divider...

Larry King - Well, what do you think of having a joint session of congress on the Galapagos Islands at a time of such tension, don't you think that was somewhat irresponsible just for some "key goodwill with soon to be emerging south east Pacific islands"?

Ex-President Bush II - Well uh, I don't think some reproachmeter overall with the friends that are, I mean at or whatever the Jalipenos.

Larry King - Don't mind the commotion, I'm going to check out my suspenders, look into the camera and keep talking, Mr. President, I'll be right back later, ok? Don't mind us, we're going to go check out the new Kaliningrad offices.

Ex-President Bush II - Well, yes, the early preschool educationability is what unites, not divides us. This great opportunity is not, ordinarily speaking. It's your money...

bigred152 - 09:40pm Jan 10, 2001 EST (#558 of 573)

MiddleEast ChildDeath spentUranium http://www.independent.co.uk/news/World/Middle_East/2001-01/fisk100101.shtml

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