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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?

Read Debates, a new Web-only feature culled from Readers' Opinions, published every Thursday.

rshow55 - 07:46am Jan 24, 2002 EST (#11012 of 11035)

"Enronnation" - - the combination of "the culture of lying" with manipulations of technical information and money perfected by the Nazis, and applicable to all countries with similar financial arrangements -- became a standard pattern for "cold warriors." Often "in good causes" -- often effectively, often in ways that I would have supported at the time, and would defend now.

But the same patterns carry a potential for corruption, every time they are used. These patterns have been very standard, especially on issues involving nuclear weapons and nuclear war, since before Eisenhower's Farewell address . http://www.geocities.com/~newgeneration/ikefw.htm

Many of the worst things Eisenhower warned against have happened, and become entrenched. For the good of the United States, and the world, we need to fix this.

rshow55 - 07:52am Jan 24, 2002 EST (#11013 of 11035)

MD10845 rshow55 1/17/02 3:28pm

lchic - 08:18am Jan 24, 2002 EST (#11014 of 11035)

Many of the worst things Eisenhower warned against have happened, and become entrenched. For the good of the United States, and the world, we need to fix this. rshow55 1/24/02 7:46am

If there was a groundswell 'will' to fix such problems - would they get fixed?
Or is corruption regarded by voters as endemic?
Do voters consider themselves powerless?
Would such an issue get voters out - on Polling Day?
Over what issues has there been good voter turn out? - Perhaps 'hip pocket' .. but .. would voter's relate Enron matters as 'YES! Enron Matters!'

rshow55 - 08:57am Jan 24, 2002 EST (#11015 of 11035)

I think the answer's yes. Things can be fixed, to an important degree, at least. But I think some careful questions need to be asked -- about what is meant by "fixed."

Here are some of the questions I'd ask.

What would honorable Republicans (Lugar, for instance) want done?

What would the average U.S. Marine Corps Officer want done?

What would the average American clergyman want done?

What would the average "reader of the New York Times" want done?

There may be many considerations, many points of view -- but it seems to me that these are reasonable questions to ask, among others.

I'm reasonably conservative on matters of infrastructure, and much concerned about the welfare of the United States. I think it makes sense to ask what Rober Bork would want done. What would our allies want done?

What would Eisenhower want done? What would either Theodore or Franklin Roosevelt want done?

I think there are good answers.

lchic - 09:15am Jan 24, 2002 EST (#11016 of 11035)

questions need to be asked -- about what is meant by "fixed"

rshow55 - 09:18am Jan 24, 2002 EST (#11017 of 11035)

Some things need to be "unfixed!"

And after a point, those who turn away from looking at corruption, corrupt themselves.

mazza9 - 11:02am Jan 24, 2002 EST (#11018 of 11035)
Louis Mazza

lchic:

"Many of the worst things Eisenhower warned against have happened, and become entrenched. For the good of the United States, and the world, we need to fix this"

Loral just paid a $14 Million fine for the "inappropriate" transfer of guidance technology to the Communist Chinese regime. The CEO of Loral was the BIGGEST campaign contributor to the DNC. The campaign abuses that were allowed to go unchecked, from selling the Lincoln Bedroom" to addressing the needs of the Riady family of Indonesia ahead of the US's needs, were in my opinion TREASON!

I suppose you can blame everything on Bush, as seems you bent, but the real hanging offense lies with Clinton.

To BMD or not BMD will in no way ameliorate the increased risk associated with the ILLEGAL technology transfer that improved Chinese targeting capabilities significantly. And at the cost of a measly $14 Million fine.

LouMazza

lchic - 11:03am Jan 24, 2002 EST (#11019 of 11035)

Meaning it's necessary to have an ethical and moral rational .. inner rules.

lchic - 11:10am Jan 24, 2002 EST (#11020 of 11035)

mAzzA - which Bush are you hiding behind, Elder, Younger - that's 'two in the Bush' - are we talking people or thinking of the systematic?

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