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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?

lunarchick - 04:34am Apr 21, 2001 EST (#2459 of 2464)
lunarchick@www.com

In 1996, when several Arleigh Burke ships were ordered, the Navy put the price tag at $1.15 billion each.

President Bush is supposed to tell the Taiwan government on Tuesday whether he will grant its request for four Arleigh Burke destroyers with Aegis systems installed. Another option would be to offer Taipei four older Kidd-class destroyers, an idea put before the Senate Armed Services Committee in late March by Adm. Dennis Blair, commander in chief of U.S. forces in the Pacific.

The Kidd-class ships have 12 to 15 years of service and have ``plenty of useful life left,'' Blair told the senators. The decommissioned ships could be ready in a few years, whereas the sophisticated Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyers would ``basically come on line about 2008, 2009,'' Blair said.

Kidd-class ships could improve Taiwan's air defenses. Since there is no U.S. anti-ballistic missile defense available at present, however, neither the present-day Aegis nor the Kidd-class ships could knock out China's land-based CSS-6 and CSS-7 ballistic missiles should they be launched against Taiwan.

``Right now, neither of those can engage the CSS-6s and CSS-7s, which is what China is deploying right now,'' Blair said. ``They have about 300 of them that can range Taiwan.''

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On the Net: Aegis Combat System Web site: http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/weapons/wep-aeg.html

USS Ticonderoga: http://www.spear.navy.mil/ships/cg47/

USS Arleigh Burke: http://www.spear.navy.mil/ships/ddg51/

lunarchick - 04:38am Apr 21, 2001 EST (#2460 of 2464)
lunarchick@www.com

Interesting site, has a link re the history of English

lunarchick - 05:21am Apr 21, 2001 EST (#2461 of 2464)
lunarchick@www.com

above: see: world

lunarchick - 05:24am Apr 21, 2001 EST (#2462 of 2464)
lunarchick@www.com

There was a story today saying that

ARAFAT had asked to

TALK regarding Palestine_Isreal situation with SHARON.

SHARON refused to talk.

lunarchick - 05:48am Apr 21, 2001 EST (#2463 of 2464)
lunarchick@www.com

On the Net: Moscow subway: http://www.metropla.net/ eu/mos/moskva.htm

lunarchick - 05:54am Apr 21, 2001 EST (#2464 of 2464)
lunarchick@www.com

AP has article on Moscow Subway and art:

ride for free as members of groups entitled to state subsidies: retirees, students, policemen, military personnel and others. For others, the fare is 4 rubles (14 cents) a ride, or monthly unlimited-ride cards can be bought for 120 rubles ($4.20).

Authorities cut down on fare deadbeats last year by introducing a magnetic card system and have since earned about $900,000 extra a month.

The subway also has become a reflection of post-Soviet Russia's economic struggles. Beggars and derelicts are often seen in the stations, as well as the occasional dog from among the countless strays that roam Moscow's streets.

On the Net: Moscow subway(and world subways): http://www.metropla.net/ eu/mos/moskva.htm

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