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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?

rshow55 - 06:37am Jan 15, 2002 EST (#10775 of 10779)

gisterme quotes me:

"... For a lot of reasons. One, I feel a lot safer, as far as nuclear risks go, than I did January of last year..."

and says:

" Your subsequent words belie that statement.

No, they don't. On January of last year, my guess was that the odds of nuclear destruction of the world were running about 10%/year -- the "insurance" equivalent of 35 WTC disasters per hour. Now, in part, I believe, because of this thread, and hard work of gisterme , almarst and associated staffed organizations, I think the risks less.

My guess is that the risk is cut by half, anyway -- maybe cut as low as the equivalent of 3-4 WTC death equivalent per hour. I find that "comfort," but also a good reason to continue work. The risk can be cut much more. I think we're on the way to doing it.

There is still plenty of reason for concern. And good reasons, I think, for staffed organizations, all over the world, to pay attention to this thread - which is not too big for them, with the use of search tools. Rather, it is roughly the right size.

It seems to me that this thread is doing some good, and sometimes, it occurs to me, from responses, that staffed organizations may be giving it some attention now.

Still, some things go slowly, because gisterme , mazza , and others try to bury things -- act as if they need not be answered, and therefore force me to repeat myself.

For example, the key issue of reflective coatings has been raised, again and again, since MD6765 rshowalter 7/8/01 3:16pm

Only now are we getting to half straight answers from mazza and gisterme .

Along with a lot of evasion.

rshow55 - 06:44am Jan 15, 2002 EST (#10776 of 10779)

We need some islands of technical fact to be determined, beyond politics, in a clear context. rshow55 1/14/02 7:36pm

Last year, Russia hosted a meeting on the militarization of space - something like 104 countries attended. The United States did not. Lasar weapons were centrally involved in the issues of concern. Take away the lasar weapons, and the other offensive ideas for space weapons dont amount to much.

The Next Battlefield May Be in Outer Space By JACK HITT

There are very many objections to "the program we are testing" as well. Crucial objections described in The Coyle Report .

NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE DEPLOYMENT READINESS REVIEW 10 August 2000 . . . . http://www.house.gov/reform/min/pdf/nmdcoylerep.pdf

rshow55 - 07:34am Jan 15, 2002 EST (#10777 of 10779)

MD7044-7047 rshowalter 7/15/01 9:27am

idenbade - 10:41am Jan 15, 2002 EST (#10778 of 10779)

I wonder why the NY Times did not print this story! And yes it is true, 100% true. This is an AP story and it was even talked about on the Fox News Channel. The below story goes to show just how messed up America has become because of extreme Liberalism (The minority are running America) and these are the same type of people that have issues with MD. I would like for someone to explain to me in detail why Mike Moran of the FDNY should take this insult on the chin? Explain how the below helps America! Liberalism is slowly putting coffin nails in America each day it goes on. The below is NOT a way to unite people but a way to divide people!

Tuesday Jan. 15, 2002; 2:31 a.m. EST

FDNY's Mike Moran 'Infuriated' Over Statue Cover-up

Famed New York City firefighter Mike Moran, who thrilled a Madison Square Garden concert audience in October with a public dare to terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, says he was "infuriated" that a statue depicting three of his FDNY comrades who raised the Stars and Stripes at Ground Zero would be changed for the sake of political correctness.

"I was infuriated when I found out," Moran said late Monday in exclusive comments to NewsMax.com. "I couldn't believe it was true."

Moran revealed that he serves side-by-side with one of the three firefighters captured in a world famous photo now known as "The Flag Raising at Ground Zero," which shows Old Glory being hoisted Iwo Jima-like on a makeshift flagpole atop the smoldering rubble of the Twin Towers.

"It makes me feel like maybe some of us aren't good enough," said Moran, whose firefighter brother was killed in the attacks. "Maybe next time they show the faces of firemen who died at Ground Zero they ought to leave out those who don't fit the profile they want."

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