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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 - 09:18pm Feb 6, 2002 EST (#11326 of 11337)

The reason for umpires , in games that are in any way serious -- is that you can't get closure without them -- imagine a professional baseball game, played without umpires. What would happen? You'd get endless disputes, the would not close - - whenever anything really mattered enough. The situation would be degenerate, corrupt.

The need for referees, for umpires, is a basic one. Speeches are now being made about that need in the Congress and the Senate, as well they should be.

The thread is not a game - - not though it can be part of a decision-making process, because there are no umpires. Yesterday, after much experience dealing with gisterme , I made some clear comparisions, that still seem entirely on point, in MD11272 rshow55 2/5/02 8:27pm

I asked:

. gisterme , . . . I'm supposed to trust you ?

"You and Ken Lay perhaps?

The question seemed entirely fair, and I expected, after I left, that postings from gisterme would reinforce how fair the question was. I believe that happened.

MD11274 rshow55 2/5/02 8:30pm ... MD11276 rshow55 2/5/02 8:33pm
MD11277 rshow55 2/5/02 8:42pm

Now, if gisterme actually cared about the welfare of the United States, she'd be for right answers, and for umpires, for referees, to make them clear.

I spent some very hard time today, reading gisterme's stuff, especially that of yesterday, but much else, as well, trying to imagine an explanation where gisterme could be considered as a decent human being, and a person who cared about the welfare of the United States.

I'm going to leave again, fully expecting some more degraded, evasive, dishonest discourse from gisterme , which will reinforce the plain case that the connections between Enron and missile defense are too close for comfort, and that these issues should be looked at carefully.

. . . .

MD11206 rshow55 2/3/02 1:22pm ... quotes Enron Panel Finds Inflated Profits and Few Controls by KURT EICHENWALD http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/03/business/03ENRO.html and the language on that fine article (part of a fine series!) is worth looking at again.

Connections between the "culture of deception" at Enron , and deceptions in the missile defense establishment are too close for comfort.

gisterme , I'll be trying to answer your questions, and address your points, within reason, but I've not had much time to talk to my wife, I'm tired - - and I'll give you a little space, to help make my case for me - - as you did, so effectively, after I left yesterday.

lchic - 11:10pm Feb 6, 2002 EST (#11327 of 11337)

.

gisterme - 01:05am Feb 7, 2002 EST (#11328 of 11337)

gisterme 2/6/02 8:48pm

"The-feedback-loop-is-closed-by-detection-of-laser-light-reflected-back-from-the-target.

"How many times must it be said?

rshow55 2/6/02 8:51pm

"...gisterme , you believe this is a sufficient answer?"

The truth is always sufficient, my friend, even though it may not always be convenient to our ambitions or goals.

I haven't always understood that; but thanks to enough recycles through the school of hard knocks, I now do. What a difference that understanding has made in my peronsal life! I can honestly say that "Learning to cope with the truth, accept and cherish it, no matter what...", is the best answer I've yet found to the often asked question:

"What is the meaning of life?"

It brings to mind a simple prayer I learned as a young sailor...

"God, please grant me the serenity to accept the things that I can't change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

The truth is just about the only thing I've found that can't be changed...whether people accept it or not. It doesn't care what people believe or say. Truth transcends human belief.

It is what it is.

Believing something that is not true will never make it the truth, no matter how fervent or sincere the belief. If a tree falls in the woods and makes no sound, the truth is, that even if a multitude of witnesses surrounding the tree when it fell say it made a sound, it made no sound. Likewise if a tree falls in the woods and makes a sound, the truth is, that even though there was nobody there to hear it, it made a sound.

Attempts at denial of the objectivity of truth, no matter how clever they may seem, are nothing more than demonstrations of human arrogance and/or ignorance.

If you wholeheartedly believe something that's not true...like, "the tree that made no sound must have made a sound...it had to have made a sound" , and you convince me of same until I believe it, then we're both deceived on that point. The truth still is, the tree made no sound.

gisterme - 03:14am Feb 7, 2002 EST (#11329 of 11337)

lchic 2/6/02 11:10pm

Development beyond "Science" to "Wisdom"

Awesome link, lchic! You've vindicated yourself in my humble opinion. I take back all that stuff I said about you saying much but not offering anything. You've undone all my objections with a single post! That's an excellent anaysis of exactly what's been going on on this forum. I thank you with utmost sincerity for offering the connection to that paper.

OOOh ah...OOOh ah...OOOh ah...bowing and scraping...I'm not worthy! :-)

:-) :-) :-)

lchic - 04:23am Feb 7, 2002 EST (#11330 of 11337)

'I'm not worthy!'

"If you say so Mate!"

(standard Ocker response)

lchic - 07:15am Feb 7, 2002 EST (#11331 of 11337)

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(6 following messages)

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