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?
* * *
I'm concerned that the US is approaching an certain kind of
"loneliness of power" that is neither to our credit nor in our
interest.
. Tyrannososaurus was a beast
that
had no friends, to say the least.
It ruled the ancient
out-of-doors,
and slaughtered other dinosaurs
from TYRANNOSAURUS WAS A BEAST: Dinosaur
Poems by Jack Prelustsky illustrated by Arnold Lobel .... a
fine book to buy for any kid, of any age, interested in either
poetry of dinosaurs
We have to worry that, whatever our intentions, and whatever our
rhetoric, people view initiatives like missile defense from that
sort of perspective.
We need to explain ourselves better and, perhaps, come up with
better cases to make.
We also have to find ways to be less resented.
gisterme
- 05:16pm May 3, 2001 EST (#3176
of 3207)
rshowalter wrote: "...With the penalties clear and in place, it
seems likely to me that inspections would occur with little fuss."
Right, Robert. Just like in Iraq.
All we'd need to do to implement that plan of yours is get all
the nations of the world to agree to give up most of their
soverignty and guarantee that they would only allow benevelent
honest leadership that is immune to the lust for power. I have to
agree that THAT would definately take some serious staffing.
wrcooper
- 05:21pm May 3, 2001 EST (#3177
of 3207)
The whole is a riddle, an enigma, an inexplicable
mystery. Doubt [and] uncertainty...appear the only result of our
most accurate scrutiny....But such is the frailty of human reason.
--David Hume
April 5, 2001: The total development, deployment, and maintenance
costs for all U.S. ballistic missile defense programs will exceed
$115 billion, according to a report in Defense Week citing newly
released Pentagon figures. The tally includes not just NMD but also
lower-tier programs such as Navy's Theater Wide system and the
Army's THAAD, as well as the SBIRS-Low satellite constellation. The
total life-time cost of the Pentagon's missile defense programs is
still unclear -- the Pentagon could only provide estimated
maintenance costs for four of its eight missile defense programs.
Just double and these figures, if they're DOD generated.
Such a deal! All for a system that won't work and won't deter
terroristic attacks.
lunarchick
- 05:33pm May 3, 2001 EST (#3178
of 3207)
lunarchick@www.com
My comments way above re to think of weaknesses, the unaware
stomach of Houdini, the 'touched by hand' aspect of achillies heel
......
Let's throw in what we'd expect of a good Manager, i'll add this
because Bwsh opted for management studies - way back when.
As a Manager how did he manage the China Situation:
Southern graces and manners were forgotton
He castigated
China as a rogue
China called his bluff
He lost a plane
$20M+ it'sR&D to China
China psychological warfare was his
instigation
Bwsh had to learn to eat his words, chew paper - a
Chinese innovation
Carelessness and lack of
thought can lead to Chaos.
Americans are jousting with Chinese
right now at the psychological level via the 'invasion' +
'destruction' + 'rape' and 'trashing' of web sites! ... How
grown-up can this be ?
The new empire isn't land rather
digital and of the mind!
A part of Management is Leadership.
People follow a good leader.
The world is TURNING AWAY
from Bwsh!
If America sees itself as the kingpin of the world
If it wants respect
Wants to mediate over and help settle
disputes
Wants innovation for process taken to America -
thereby creating wealth - for exploitation
If America wants to
maintain capital 'L' world Leadership
Then it's 'back to the
drawingboard' at the Pentatgon
Grow up fast, have imroved
ethical and moral ideals
Have respect for 'others'
Stop
the bully tactics on home poor other Nations
Learn how to Lead
Be wise, happy, and philanthropically generous!
matthewmaly
- 05:49pm May 3, 2001 EST (#3179
of 3207)
Regarding President Bush's National Missile Defense Program, you
may be interested to know how was the nuclear threat Mr. Bush was
talking about countered on the ground. Defense Enterprise Fund
("DEF") was given $67M by the U.S. Congress and tasked with the
mission to convert or peacefully employ former Soviet producers of
weapons of mass destruction. In other words, DEF's mission was to
make sure that rogue states would not get the technology Mr. Bush is
prepared to spent tens of billions of dollars to "defend" the United
States from.
And what was the result? DEF's money was lost in a veritable orgy
of waste and mismanagement. The Moscow Times, Russia's leading
western-owned English language daily newspaper, has published a
Special Report entitled "Investing, Pentagon-Style". It describes
DEF management practices that brought this program to the brink of
collapse. And it is important to note that nobody cares: could it be
that DEF stood in the way of Mr. Bush's favorite multibillion dollar
spending program?
The Report consists of five separate items, 10,000 words in
total. It can be found on my website http://maly.newmail.ru/ (all the
way down on the first page, in the brown box).
If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Respectfully,
Matthew Maly
(28
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