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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 - 08:41pm Apr 1, 2001 EST (#1889 of 1896)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

rshowalter 3/19/01 11:15am

rshowalter - 08:46pm Apr 1, 2001 EST (#1890 of 1896)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

rshowalter 3/19/01 11:27am

rshowalter - 08:56pm Apr 1, 2001 EST (#1891 of 1896)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

On "practice dialogs" -- one with more substance, that would require more skill, but that would still be of lower risk than military dialogs, is your question in almarst-2001 3/14/01 10:56pm ... What are the reasons today for hostility between nations?

You give a very good listing of areas of conflict in almarst-2001 3/14/01 10:56pm

I've tried, in a more elementary way, to try to build up to your very essential question, and your excellent examples.

rshowalter - 09:04pm Apr 1, 2001 EST (#1892 of 1896)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I believe that both Russians and Americans assume, unconsciously, far more common ground at the level of cultural detail than actually exists. Because both sides try hard to avoid disagreement, and avoid fights, we miss how different we are -- and when negotiations must occur for real stakes, and both sides are likely to be doing some bluffing, and concealing some information, it can easily lead to disaster, and often has.

We can't and shouldn't become like each other. But peaceful coexistence , a Russian phrase, represents a very high ideal. It requires, in addition to warm enough, disciplined enough hearts --- considerable learning, at a number of levels, for people on both sides.

rshowalter - 09:05pm Apr 1, 2001 EST (#1893 of 1896)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I just opened a beer -- I've had about a gallon of coffee today -- and I'll knock off soon.

I hope some of this makes sense.

rshowalter - 09:12pm Apr 1, 2001 EST (#1894 of 1896)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I know that the proposal for nuclear disarmament based on mutual distrust , #266-269 rshowalt 9/25/00 7:32am doesn't adress all problems. But it is simple, and agreements between us, to work, are going to have to be pretty simple.

But the human understandings , inescapably, are going to be complex, and are going to have to involve considerable staff work, high word counts, and much information exchange.

rshowalter - 09:15pm Apr 1, 2001 EST (#1895 of 1896)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I'm quitting for tonight. Back tomorrow. Thanks.

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