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?

rshowalter - 10:31am Apr 25, 2001 EST (#2585 of 2586)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Perhaps there's another explanation .....

I've been hoping, as things have gone on, to see evidence of good faith. -- Every once a while -- a glimmer, but then, as time passes, it always seems it was just for window dressing.

It would be so easy, if there is another explanation, to spread the word.

There are so many ways that Americans know to do that. Especially well connected Americans, with power.

I'm perfectly capable of making mistakes -- and admitting them.

Has the Bush administration, for whatever reason, taken a totally fraudulent program, the missile defense program, and disturbed almost ALL our international relations in the world for its sake knowing that it is a fraud?

Has the Bush administration, for whatever reason, taken a totally fraudulent program, the missile defense program, and disturbed almost ALL our international relations in the world for its sake because they are so crazy or incompetent that they DON'T KNOW it is a fraud?

Or is there another explanation?

rshowalter - 10:34am Apr 25, 2001 EST (#2586 of 2586)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

When things get to a point where leaders age so conspicuously in a few months, and where leaders (especially athletically active leaders) develop tics and shakes they cannot control on television --- it is time for all concerned to think about alternatives.

Honesty might be a particularly good alternative.

If Dawn and I have made key mistakes, that can be pointed out -- well, I hope that we have.

If we have not, it would seem to me that some essential notions of duty ought to be occurring, among loyal Republicans, and other loyal citizens.

And it also occurs to me that members of NATO, the EU, and many members of the United Nations ought to be thinking carefully about how much they ought to defer to the "good faith" and "good judgement" of the Bush administration.

New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense