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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?

lunarchick - 08:39am Apr 3, 2001 EST (#1933 of 1936)
lunarchick@www.com

A talk back re Serbian former-leaders arrest on our radio noted general concern regarding the set-up of the court - as per Alex above - the 'principal' of the matter was of importance.

rshowalter - 10:39am Apr 3, 2001 EST (#1934 of 1936)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

My respect for the Yugoslav position -- as of now is very great -- if they can live up to the promises they are making implicitly to their own people, and to outsiders, it could be a great step forward for the whole world.

A makes some deep points, and I'm spending some hard time thinking about them. It does make sense that "crazy agressiveness" has to be blunted, and contained, before countries can feel safe giving up their nuclear weapons.

But ways to blunt that agressiveness seem to be taking shape. I notice in the NYT today that Bush's speech writer, like so many other people around him, is a committed fundamentalist Christian. By the standards of a religion with which I have some ties, and for which I have much respect, certain things ought to follow. Here is a key one IT IS NOT ALL RIGHT TO USE NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN A FIRST STRIKE nor to THREATEN TO DO SO.

If that "little matter" could be settled, much could resolve, and the world could be a more peaceful place.

There are also some other issues, among them thou shalt not steal and thou shalt not bear false witness .

If some lies could be shown, beyond doubt, to be lies, and some bluffs could be shown, beyond doubt, to be bluffs -- regardless of bright and shining "direct" words --- the world could be, pretty shortly, a much safer place.

rshowalter - 10:42am Apr 3, 2001 EST (#1935 of 1936)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

A Wordsmith Who Shapes Bushs Prose ... by FRANK BRUNI

"WASHINGTON, April 2 — President Bush's detractors will say it is only fitting: the man (Michael Gerson) nominally responsible for making sure that Mr. Bush talks well and sounds good often consumes himself with worry.

If I were putting my honor on the line behind George W. Bush, I'd worry, too.

rshowalter - 10:49am Apr 3, 2001 EST (#1936 of 1936)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I sermon I've posted before, preached in a Church attended, predominantly, by Republicans, including some prominant ones in the politics of Virginia. Some issues ought to be morally compelling -- ought to be beyond question -- ought to be beyond politics. http://www.wisc.edu/rshowalt/sermon.html

It is not good to force the world into "little" wars, and, and to threaten wars big and small, for reasons entirey out of proportion, for money, for money for friends, and to maintain jobs under false pretenses.

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