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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?

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rshow55 - 01:42pm Feb 16, 2002 EST (#11577 of 11581)

Senator Zell Miller's The Democratic Party's Southern Problem http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/04/opinion/04MILL.html is a wonderful piece, very relevant to the issues that confront our democracy, regarding missile defense, and the many connected matters of national interest.

If you search "miller" on this thread, the citations connect to other links that I'm proud of, in the sense that I think the links are constructive. But there are facts cited that I don't think any American can reasonably be proud of.

MD7378 rshowalter 7/24/01 9:57am " Ministers and officials from countries all over the world are now prepared to laugh at the United States, and boo US representatives, in public conferences. "

We ought to be ashamed of that. We can't afford lies and self deceptions about defense that deserve that.

National honor is a national asset, and needs to be cherished, and earned. Repeating "trust me" again and again, when reasons to doubt are well founded and in many minds, is not a way to do that.

MD11561-11565 rshow55 2/15/02 5:19pm

rshow55 - 01:45pm Feb 16, 2002 EST (#11578 of 11581)

It would be a distinct improvement in our military decision making if discourse rose to the usual standard of Congressional discussion about "pork".

In ordinary political discussions about "pork" -- "my district needs this -- my constituents care about this" is a major point. Understood by all concerned, and not much hidden.

But "this is a worthwhile project" is a point that is discussed, and compared to other priorities, as well.

If only we could do this for defense! We'd be safer, more honest, and we'd be closer to good management than we are now, under the old rules of a "culture of lying" committed to continuing cold war patterns, no matter what.

Pentagon Urged to Raise Major Weapons Budget by JAMES DAO http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/15/politics/15PENT.html involved some "pork motivated" discussion. From where we are now, the country would be well served if there were more such "pork based discussions."

It is safer to say "this is being done to support people" -- when that is the truth, than to invent enemies, manufacture enemies, alienate friends, and distort military policy.

mazza9 - 01:49pm Feb 16, 2002 EST (#11579 of 11581)
Louis Mazza

I suppose that the Bush Administration's treatment of the North Korean regime may seem at odds with the manner in which the Clinton Administration handled national security matters but at least the Bush mannerisms are honorable.

Clinton was asked when his treaty with the North Koreans would be submitted to the Senate, (You know.. the constitution! advise and consent).

His answer, "Well, duh! this isn't a treaty it's an agreement. Then he asked Congress to fund the oil and food for nuclear adherence and Congress said, "Well duh, we can fund constitutionally based treatys, laws, etc but we don't gotta fund your agreements! Isn't it amazing how the meaning of the word is can be distorted?

Reminder, we're not all of the same century, civilization, and society.

LouMazza

rshow55 - 01:51pm Feb 16, 2002 EST (#11580 of 11581)

Yes, mazza , reading some of yours stuff can offer examples of how amazing it is.

Distract at all costs.

rshow55 - 01:51pm Feb 16, 2002 EST (#11581 of 11581)

MD7381-7382 rshowalter 7/24/01 12:34pm

" When the Soviet Union fell, and everyone, on all sides, had so much hope, we didn't have an end game -- and the United States was so tied up with lies, that it could not sort out problems before it -- or help the Russians sort out their problems."

We should work to fix things now -- not go on making them worse. Our concerns about terrorism make these points more important, rather than less.

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