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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?

rshowalter - 09:32pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3390 of 3407)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I'm about to open beer #3, and have a steak. I think things are going fine !

Back in the morning. My eyes have just about given out.

possumdag - 09:32pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3391 of 3407)
Possumdag@excite.com

rogues : Iraq, Lybia, North Korea ... and friends with China and India + Europe. Partners for trade, partners for understanding, partners and friends who don't need to think in terms of pointing missiles at each other.

Raises the question is Russia the SuperSmart power? ... if you want to catch Bwsh .. he's playing baseball on the lawn.

possumdag - 09:40pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3392 of 3407)
Possumdag@excite.com

CONGO has riches: Diamonds, copper, gold and bribes http://www.megastories.com/congo/economy/economy.htm

The dominant economic activities in the Republic of Congo in terms of contribution to GDP is Crude oil production. The industrial sector is largely dominated by crude oil production, as the sector account for more than 50 percent of Gross National Product. An urbanized service economy has developed while the agricultural sector has remained marginal. This structure evolved over a generation when the formal economy was largely run by the state and private enterprises were discouraged. This system was propped by external assistance, and by proceeds from oil sales which remained high until the mid-1980's. Relatively high spending and high salaries in the public sector, combined with poorly performing state plantations, produced a high degree of rural exodus to Brazzaville, the political capital, and to Pointe Noire, the economic center.

Following the decline in petroleum prices in 1985, the system started showing signs of stress. The government maintained a large civil service through heavy borrowing, which has led to an unsustainable accumulation of debt. The country's extremely unfavorable economic situation was exacerbated by the five month civil war in 1997 which claimed thousands of lives, severely damaged the city of Brazzaville, and sent 700,000 people fleeing into the countryside or to neighboring countries. The industrial sector in 1997 was largely affected, leading to a negative growth of 12 percent, private consumption declining by 11 percent and gross domestic investment declining by more than 50 percent. It is estimated by the government that the cost of war-related reconstruction will be over US$800 million.

Exports commodities from the Republic of Congo consist of crude oil (about 90%), lumber, plywood, cocoa, coffee, sugar, and diamonds, while imports includes petroleum products, intermediate manufactures, construction materials, capital equipment and foodstuffs. (see tables http://www.newafrica.com/economy/congo.asp )

~ http://africa.iafrica.com/countryinfo/congo/economy/

Congo's problem is that the neighbours want her wealth.

possumdag - 09:57pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3393 of 3407)
Possumdag@excite.com

Showater the local beer here's XXXX ... 37 more than 3 :)
Actually X is a qualitative measure in relation to alcoholic content of Ale for taxation purposes.

gisterme - 10:30pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3394 of 3407)

possumdag wrote: "...all the supposedly rogue countries..."

You know possumdag, that concept of "rogue" countries is one that I just don't like. I'm not sure just where that term originated, probably in the US governement, but it has been general usage for some time to describe nations such as Iraq.

Here's why I don't like it. Let's take Iraq as the example, but first the definition (Mirriam Webster):

Rogue: 2 a : a dishonest unprincipled person; specifically : SWINDLER b : a worthless fellow : SCOUNDREL

Considering all the suffering that the people of Iraq have had to deal with, I'm amazed that some brave soul there hasn't decided to put and end to this and kill the tyrant. There's little doubt that the result would be martyrdom for that soul, but wouldn't an end to the suffering of the Iraqi people be worth it? Wouldn't the worldly reward (and heavenly reward, if you're so inclined) for that martyrdom be far greater than blowing onself up to kill a few innocent people in a suicide bomb attack somewhere? Why would a fundamental Islamist seeking martyrdom want to do one but not the other?

Saddam's rogue behavior is causing as much or more suffering for the people of Iraq (as individuals) as the PLO/Israel conflict is for the Palestenians. But there are a lot more Iraquis than Palestenians. So wouldn't solving the Iraq problem by removing its source lead to a greater reduction in personal suffering for Arabs than solving the PLO/Israel conflict? The solution for Iraq seems much more straight forward than the solution for Palestine. Iraq has enough courage to heal itself when it wants to.

possumdag - 10:49pm May 6, 2001 EST (#3395 of 3407)
Possumdag@excite.com

The term 'rogue' as in rogue-states, rogue countries, eminates from the current President in The Whitehouse .. from here, a former President wherein once uttered 'read my lips' .. I thought you were a USA poster GI.

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