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Missile Defense

Technology has always found its greatest consumer in a nation's war and defense efforts. Since the last attempts at a "Star Wars" defense system, has technology changed considerably enough to make the latest Missile Defense initiatives more successful? Can such an application of science be successful? Is a militarized space inevitable, necessary or impossible?

gisterme - 02:53pm Dec 31, 2001 EST (#10589 of 10657)

lchic 12/28/01 1:19pm

"...A concern re the political aspect has been - how many highly qualified people spend their day staring at blank walls .. playing at this and that - going nowhere, when they could be using their brilliant tookkit of HighSkills to do things that are of benefit to mankind..." (Robert Showalter)

That's a statemebt that Robert should appliy to himself for consideration.

"...On Lasers ... the UK can hit a coke tin at 300 yards - as used in clearing runways ..."

That can be done with an ordinary hunting rifle.

"...but .. we are lead to believe that the accuracy in terms of US missile testing is far greater..."

One would hope so. By the way, as far as I know, no lasers are used in the guidance systems of the MD vechiles currently being tested.

"...The missile and target used in US tests actually 'talk' to each other to assist guidance..."

That's a leap, lchic. I haven't seen any information that says the target missile and interceptor talk to each other. The GPS transmissions from the target and interceptor are used for ground tracking and test validation so far as I know. Do you have any evidence to the contrary?

"...This isn't a real situation - ..."

Right, lchic. You seem to have made it up; but, I'll take that statement back if you can show some real evidence that the interceptor and target are talking to each other for the purpose of aiding the interception.

"...people think they are being lied to by the Government Publicity machine and are very skeptical!..."

Another leap based on an apparently false assuption. It's true that people who think they are being lied to are skeptical, but as I said, my skepticism toward your statements can be assuaged by your presentation of some evidence to back them up.

gisterme - 02:57pm Dec 31, 2001 EST (#10590 of 10657)

good_guy 12/28/01 2:46pm

"...You have not one iota of honesty or integrity to your name..."

Nonetheless, the boos were edited out and replaced with crowd noise.

gisterme - 03:00pm Dec 31, 2001 EST (#10591 of 10657)

good_guy 12/28/01 2:46pm

"...You have not one iota of honesty or integrity to your name..."

Nonetheless, the boos were edited out and replaced with crowd noise. Are you sorry the boos weren't replaced by cheers, Bill? No doubt you'd feel differently about "honesty and integrety" if that had been the case, eh?

gisterme - 03:12pm Dec 31, 2001 EST (#10592 of 10657)

lchic 12/28/01 7:50pm

"...I think my 'Yawn' comments above are therefore an adequate strategy!..."

Can't have you just yawning, lchic. That's only supposed to happen around bedtime. :-)

This forum seems to have improved considerably of late just because more folks, regardless of their views, can get a word in and have it seen before it's swept away by the river of Showalterism. Having more visible contributors makes this forum much less "yawnish".

gisterme - 03:17pm Dec 31, 2001 EST (#10593 of 10657)

Russia has been called in to adjudicate betwixt India and Pakistan. Does a judo President make them judicious?

Nice pun, lchic. Here's another one...

A swami goes to a dentist for a root canal. He revuses anastesia for the work. When asked why, the swami says that he wants to "transcend dental medication". :-)

gisterme - 03:35pm Dec 31, 2001 EST (#10594 of 10657)

lchic 12/31/01 1:13am

"...The hand maiden of Bin Laden (the spoilt rich brat) was seeking revenge in relation to '67..."

Not trying to refute your point here, lchic, but it's interesting that Al Quaida had very little to say about Israel and the Palestinean situation until after 9/11. Previously OBL's primary justification for his blood-lust was more Iraq-related. Specifically, his gripe was the presence of "infidels" on Saudi "holy ground" since the slapping-down of Saddam during the Gulf War. Hmmm. Personally I think OBL and Al Quaida are proxies created via exploitation of the islamist movement to allow Saddam to pursue vengance for his defeat in that war.

gisterme - 03:37pm Dec 31, 2001 EST (#10595 of 10657)

Happy new year everybody!

My wish is that we'll all fare better the upcoming year than in the last.

lchic - 04:53pm Dec 31, 2001 EST (#10596 of 10657)

Gisterme - from 2002 to 2001 - a Happy New Year! Here we were treated to a pyrotechnic dove of peace .. followed (tv) by one of last century's greatest peace activists - John Lennon with his long standing request to

" G I V E _ P E A C E _ A _ C H A N C E ! "

Reviewing the MD board it has lacked Showalterisms of late. Pity some of the current posters can't manipulate thread reverse.

John Lennon wanted to bring down the NUKES .. Lennon did note how he was 'hounded' in New York by agencyAgents - who even then wasted time and taxation funds travelling in wrong directions -- it's not the people who want peace that are a problem .. more the rich-self-centered misfits looking for supposed martydom with evrelasting glory.

A big question for the world is how to 'restore' the bipolar plastic minds of the brainwashed back to normality - can it be done - or will these guys be 'forever' walking timebombs happy to let lose on civilians in the nastiest of ways !?!

lchic - 05:16pm Dec 31, 2001 EST (#10597 of 10657)

Afghanistan New Year is just in! Playing football over a headless-goat!

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