![[F]](../_images/site.gif) New York Times on the Web Forums  Science
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?
    (1449 previous messages)
rshowalter
- 03:26pm Mar 24, 2001 EST (#1450
of 1454) 
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu
I think if someone on Putin's staff came to really understand the
role of the Royal Family in Great Britian -- the "font of honour" --
they'd learn a LOT worth knowing. The Queen has a distinguished, and
very informative web site.
The Queen is perhaps the world's best example of a person whose
role is specialized for "pure status exchange ceremony." And that's
substantial power.
Russia doesn't have to sign on to the values of the Queen - and
nobody would want that. But an understanding of the traditions, and
usages, which are powerful, would be important.
In the specific case of the Queen, and more generally elsewhere,
all over the world.
The Queen has a statuatory, and much respected, "duty to
warn" that fits the issue of nuclear disarmament and the
establishment of military balances well.
rshowalter
- 03:31pm Mar 24, 2001 EST (#1451
of 1454)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu
If Putin and top Russian officials knew enough to talk
effectively to the Queen, and others in the Privy Council, about
matters of mutual interest, that would mean they had skills and
insights that would serve them and their country well in many, many
cases.
And the advice and influence of the Queen, on the matter of
getting history straight, in the cause of peace, would be important.
This is an example of approaches to persuasion that may well be
effective, that I suspect are not being considered.
rshowalter
- 03:36pm Mar 24, 2001 EST (#1452
of 1454)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu
How persuasive do you think George Bush and his cabinet would be,
if he stood alone in the world, and the world was speaking sense,
with no sense to be had from Bush?
Perhaps you think he'd still be untouchable, because he'd have
the advertisers who seem to dominate American media.
Not necessarily. Those advertisers have foreign interests, that
they care about. They like to think of themselves as decent and
rational human beings. And, as a matter of fact, peace and decent
military balances are in their interests.
Remember Watergate? Russians didn't understand it at all. Ideas
matter in the US, and elsewhere, and principles often DO triumph.
Usually after a lot of work.
rshowalter
- 03:41pm Mar 24, 2001 EST (#1453
of 1454)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu
Many leaders outside of the United States are doing reasonable
things now, including Putin.
And there is much more that could be done, safely, and in a
logically incremental fashion.
The keys to putting it together involve status exchanges, and
some matters of mechanics.
***
In the US, there's an issue of the tax law. An organization
working for peace in the US may have to do so without a tax
exemption, in order to be free to do some necessary things. Like
side with the position of one political party, rather than another,
in the face of a ruthless administration.
That might seem an insurmountable obstacle -- but it might not be
-- the things needed here aren't especially expensive.
rshowalter
- 03:45pm Mar 24, 2001 EST (#1454
of 1454)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu
If Putin, Gorbachev, and one other European leader was willing to
make a phone call or two, or write a letter, or put up a few tens of
thousand of dollars of matching funds, -- a lot could be done --
probably work more extensive than I've suggested (work defined, of
course, on a logically incremental basis.)
A lot may be doable in other ways, also.
Most of these ways involve status exchanges at signficant steps
in putting the deals together.
  
 
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