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Missile Defense

Russian military leaders have expressed concern about US plans for a national missile defense system. Will defense technology be limited by possibilities for a strategic imbalance? Is this just SDI all over again?

(2232 previous messages)

rshowalter - 06:25am Apr 14, 2001 EST (#2233 of 2236)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

almarst_2001 "Let's look at "Democratic" regimes:

"Japan did not admit its crimes in WWII,

and it SHOULD. There is an enormous anger, and enormous feelings of injustice, all over Asia, about what Japan did, and how it has denied the truth. All concerned would be better if the truth was told, and acknowledged. One essential question that should be answered is this: Why were the Japanese so homicidally angry at the Chinese and Koreans, and so self-righteous that they believed that they could and should do what they did. The rape of Nanking, only one of many horrors, was an organized and official act of the Japanese. Countries who object to Japan's evasiveness have a right to object, and to make their case effectively, in peaceful ways. It should be expensive, both culturally and economically, for Japan to continue to lie. In important ways, it already is.

"Britain, France, Holland and Belgium did not admit their crimes of colonialism"

and they SHOULD -- along with extenuating circumstances, which were often there as well -- if both the colinizers and the colonized understood better both the very dark side of colonialism, and some of its benefits (and yes, there were some) we'd all be better off. Countries who object to the evasiveness of the colonial powers here have a right to object, and to make their case effectively, in peaceful ways. It should be expensive, both culturally and economically, for these powers to continue to lie. In important ways, it already is.

Turkey did not admit genicid against Armenians.

and Turkey SHOULD -- along with any extenuating circumstances, if there are any. Along with some explanation of why they did it. Along with some recounting of how they have lied about it, and what that has cost them. Countries who object to the evasiveness of Turkey on this matter have a right to object, and to make their case effectively, in peaceful ways. It should be expensive, both culturally and economically, for Turkey to continue to lie. In important ways, it already is.

US did not admit its own criminal behavier - the use of Atomic bombs and bombing of Dresden aganst civilian population, napalm and agent Orange in viuetnam, massaceres of civilians in Korea, support for blody Dictatorships and terrorists around the glob, bombing of Serbia and many many more.

There might be some considerable discussion about your phrase "criminal behavior" -- and that discussion, if connected to checkable facts and clear argument, might be useful for all concerned.

But I believe that the US must acknowledge what it did in these and other areas -- we are not always, and not simply "the good guys" our propagandists tell us we are. I believe there are many, many cases where limited, focused, proportionate apologies from the United States ought to be made. The points almarst_2001 sets out all, I believe, ought to be subject of American regret, and understanding clearly stated. Countries who object to the evasiveness of the United States on these matters have a right to object, and to make their case effectively, in peaceful ways. It should be expensive, both culturally and economically, for the United States to continue to lie. In important ways, it already is.

Please note a certain parallel structure in the comments above. If people could lie less, to themselves and each other, the world would certainly survive (and as of now, it may well not) and life would be enormously better for almost everybody alive today. Morally, better for everyone. To get rid of lies that have been hidden in the past, and to make a world where "everybody's reading off the same page" possible, some appropriate apologies, that match what actually happened, are going to be necessary.

Quite often, apologies in both directions,

rshowalter - 06:28am Apr 14, 2001 EST (#2234 of 2236)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Quite often, because both circumstances and people are so complex, apologies in both directions, each for limited, specific reasons, are going to be necessary.

In the spy plane case between China and US, China was right that apologies were important. In a better world, apologies could have applied to what actually happened. And should have.

Once people apologize, if the apology is real and credible, behavior changes.

We need to see some behavior change.

almarst_2001 , I want to thank you personally for almarst-2001 4/13/01 11:47pm which I very much respect.

rshowalter - 06:45am Apr 14, 2001 EST (#2235 of 2236)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

rshowalter 4/13/01 12:55pm

rshowalter 4/13/01 1:16pm

rshowalter 4/13/01 1:27pm

rshowalter - 06:45am Apr 14, 2001 EST (#2236 of 2236)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

lunarchick 4/13/01 9:24am

lunarchick 4/13/01 9:28am

lunarchick 4/13/01 9:30am

lunarchick 4/13/01 9:35am