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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?

almarst-2001 - 01:19pm Mar 30, 2001 EST (#1782 of 1795)

Multi-polarity of strategic interest to India, Russia: envoy - http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ac4c4b1392c.htm

While I don't agree with some details of this article, the main idea seems correct: The unrestrained power breeds arrogance which results in foolishness which results in loss.

rshowalter - 01:54pm Mar 30, 2001 EST (#1783 of 1795)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Nor should Russia, or any other nation -- follow such a bad example --- the objective must be peace, prosperity, and REAL security in the real world, with its reasonable fears, but with things in proportion.

A central objective is to make agressive war less and less of a paying proposition.

rshowalter - 02:02pm Mar 30, 2001 EST (#1784 of 1795)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Code Red by Thomas L. Friedman asks "What is it that we and the Russians are actually spying on each other about? This whole espionage affair seems straight out of Mad magazine's "Spy vs. Spy" cartoon."

At a symbolic level, Friedman thumbs his nose at Russia (and our CIA, too) but he also argues strongly along lines in your interest.

A core point, which is absolutely right, is that Russia must get its own house in order at home. Putin and other leaders know that, I believe. But it is a crucial point, in the interest of the Russian state, the Russian people, and the whole world.

lunarchick - 02:08pm Mar 30, 2001 EST (#1785 of 1795)
lunarchick@www.com

http://www.oss.net/

almarst-2001 - 02:13pm Mar 30, 2001 EST (#1786 of 1795)

"A central objective is to make agressive war less and less of a paying proposition. "

True. The MAD used to serve to this end. Today it seems some in US are not satisfied with this situation. If undermined, the future is uncertain.

lunarchick - 02:17pm Mar 30, 2001 EST (#1787 of 1795)
lunarchick@www.com

Vaughn Savage BBC : comments on Guardian Cheif writer on MD's article re MD.

Says the C IA is 33% overfunded at least.

Robert STEELE had a competition His checking via open sources on (eg Barrundi) versus CIA From 5 phonecalls and 5 faxes he found heaps more than the C IA, he had 22pages of relevant info.

A russian former K GB guy said russia spends $$$$lots collecting commercial secrets. The stolen info isn't used much ... why bother stealing - just pay as per usage!

It said that the key world problems are not (spyin g on groups of thugs) rather:

WATER scarcity

SLAVE trading-in-people

Disease control (especially Africa)

Saying there is a need for a joint front to tackle the real problems ... and share information in a sensible manner.

On the stolen info re russia --- nothing is published .... no discussion on --- MISTAKES (in collected commercial info)

SecretGuys want larger budgets to collect ALL internet and communication messages and process more ... BBC segment said this was a WASTE of money. Currently 1% is processed. Messages put through text translaters give (literal and or silly) translations --- unusable.

THE MESSAGE IS: TALK in CLEAR, TALK together, work together, have an agenda to HELP the world !!!

THE MESSAGE IS: TALK in CLEAR, TALK together, work together, have an agenda to HELP the world !!!

rshowalter - 02:17pm Mar 30, 2001 EST (#1788 of 1795)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

It is already undermined by the new technical realities -- even without an anti-missile system -- the systems, on both sides, are vulnerable. They are obsolete. They need to be taken down, for basic, elementary reasons of safety.

Antimissile systems can only make the situation, which is terrible, worse.

We need to set aside these horrific weapons, not naively, but doing so in ways that maintain and strengthen world stability, and that do not ask nation states to trust in a way they cannot trust.

lunarchick - 02:18pm Mar 30, 2001 EST (#1789 of 1795)
lunarchick@www.com

There was a hint ^ ^ ^ ^ that the world is getting 'tired' of the Rogues re Bush.

rshowalter - 02:18pm Mar 30, 2001 EST (#1790 of 1795)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

didn't see your post Lunarchick -- an important one -- and you're right.

lunarchick - 02:19pm Mar 30, 2001 EST (#1791 of 1795)
lunarchick@www.com

Showalter: Trust you linked the OSS site hotlinked a few posts above

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