New York Times on the Web Forums Science

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?

almarst-2001 - 10:47pm Apr 15, 2001 EST (#2279 of 2289)

"Don't just try to make it inside the US "

Robert,

I am inside the US.

Have a Happy Easter.

And a Good Night sleep.

Alex

almarst-2001 - 11:28pm Apr 15, 2001 EST (#2280 of 2289)

I found this link on a "Balkans" forum:

WAR CRIMES IN VIETNAM - http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/littleton/br67wcv1.htm

rshowalter - 06:15am Apr 16, 2001 EST (#2281 of 2289)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

almarst-2001 4/15/01 10:47pm

The case you wish to see made will have to be made, is it is to be made, where it can be made according to circumstances.

That means to me that the case needs to be made, in large part, outside the United States.

rshowalter - 06:27am Apr 16, 2001 EST (#2282 of 2289)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

almarst-2001 4/15/01 11:28pm

Your reference to dialog between Bertrand Russell and the New York Times is interesting. Russell was right on some key points.

He was wrong, and did finite harm - in this way -- he denounced the integrity of the NEW YORK TIMES.

Everything condidered, that was both unwise, and unfair -- even though the "logical" case for it seemed compelling to Russell, most logical of men, though not always the most persuasive of men.

By getting into that fight, with a massive and proud journalistic power, he made it much harder to get a hearing, anywhere, on the issues he raised.

He was writing to a man of integrity, who was, within the human limits, doing what he thought was right -- and should have remembered that, even if the editor in question was entirely wrong, and disingenuous, in this particular case.

rshowalter - 06:30am Apr 16, 2001 EST (#2283 of 2289)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

There should have been more civil ways to make his case.

Now, with the internet, Russell might have been much more successful -- especially so if he had done a better job of maintaining civility.

There's an organization, FAIR, staffed by journalists, that frequently criticizes what it regards, in plainly presented cases, as bias in reporting. FAIR urges its subscribers to write to newspaper editors, protesting particular things, but asks that they be polite.

The point is important, if accomodations permitting complex cooperation are to be maintained, as they must be.

If I were speaking to a Russian leader, I'd argue that it is strongly in Russia's interest to find, in Russian ways, ways to do better, not worse, than the American example, in the matter of fair, honest, comprehensive reporting of the news.

I'd argue in the same way to Chinese leaders, or the leaders of other countries, who want to respect themselves, who want the respect of their people, and who want the feedback systems on which the safety and prosperity of their people depend to employ correct information that the people involved can actually use.

lunarchick - 07:55am Apr 16, 2001 EST (#2284 of 2289)
lunarchick@www.com

News, opinnion ... and an ESSAYIST The latest 'letter from America' (not yet on www ) deals with the SpyPlane situation. It says the Chinese Leaders learnt the 'method' regarding expectation of a sincere apology ... from the show trials in Moscow ... and that those who went on to become the leaders of their respective then communist countries were in attendance at the Gary Powell 1960's trial. Cooke managed to dovetail into his essay many of the China_points made on this board.

lunarchick - 08:26am Apr 16, 2001 EST (#2285 of 2289)
lunarchick@www.com

Bush is angry

""George Bush is not pleased with the outcome of the China standoff. He is angry. Bush's comments about China in the White House rose garden yesterday afternoon, shortly after the 24 members of the US spy plane's crew arrived safely back in Hawaii, revealed his mood. He wants respect.

( ... yet Bush displays no respect for other Nations seeking them out as Rogue! )

lunarchick - 08:28am Apr 16, 2001 EST (#2286 of 2289)
lunarchick@www.com

""get even with Beijing soon

Phrase is 'Straight from a B movie Western'

(3 following messages)

New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense