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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 - 11:59am May 9, 2001 EST (#3602 of 3639)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Almost whatever the US does, if the rest of the major powers respond rationally, and with human sophistication, things will work out well.

There are many things to be said against the US so far as our military history and current policies may go -- but the US is NOT about to make a strike with nuclear weapons -- and even at this administration's crazy and crazed worst, would not do so without stupid actions on the part of others that ought to be avoided, and ought to be easily avoidable.

A key point, with respect to US action, is US politics -- it makes sense for other nations to act peacefully -- to be worthy of respect, and not belligerent --- so that voters and their representatives see that. Russia is far more respected and less feared in America than she was even three months ago. China could make a similar change, and perhaps as quickly.

Steps are being taken that might finally get China, the Koreas, Japan, and other nations past the hatreds and injustices of World War II.

All over the world, in specific, detailed ways, peace may break out.

If that goes on a while, US voters will see. And "rogues" will be less of a concern.

Terrorism would be much easier to contain, and less motivated, in such a world.

rshowalter - 12:06pm May 9, 2001 EST (#3603 of 3639)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

In negotiations, you need plusses and minuses together. One way to describe it is the old story, about motivating mules, using "a carrot and a stick."

H.L. Menken, writing about Jusice Holmes, said that he saw that "if one way to enforce the law was to use a stick -- another was to use a feather."

Tickling is nicer than bludgeoning.

Both have their uses.

- - -

After other countries get clear that they've communicated their displeasure about some things the US has done --- how 'bout making clear some of the good things about America?

There are plenty of good things about America. Even a N. Korean heir apparent tried to take his kid to Disneyland.

After a whallop, in a while, how 'bout a kiss?

Might work wonders, both with the administration and with the electorate.

possumdag - 03:33pm May 9, 2001 EST (#3604 of 3639)
Possumdag@excite.com

Can we go back to the 'Vision 20-20' document ...
sounds like a Strategic Management report ...
authoured by, was it Rumsfeld?

The 20-20 aspect has two aspects,
vision - as in seeing equally - by both eyes; and
20-20 as in 2020 (year-time).

If the latter then i'd be looking for 2 decades of expenditure
.... reaping profit to the Repub-right-winger
sitting on the boards of companies
re military investment.

possumdag - 04:00pm May 9, 2001 EST (#3605 of 3639)
Possumdag@excite.com

A poster here was once referred to as 'an intellectual'

ohducks - 04:21pm May 9, 2001 EST (#3606 of 3639)

When Bush has spent billions making a missle defense system terrorists will laugh. they have only to use biological diseases brought into this country in small amounts and released in texas, on plants and animals. The United States would be much better off spending the billions to ward off global warming, unclean water,and for new technology for transportation and energy that doesn't use fossil fuels. Unfortunately Americans are spoiled with their greed for huge vechicles, bigger and bigger homes, and more toys. Budda said, " man's grasping and grabbing is the cause of all his discontent". Our children are bored, left to raise themselves and see material things as the goals in life. Somehow a lot of grasping and grabbing people have forgotten that life is finite. And the only thing that truly matters is how we treat others,and only what we actually feel in our hearts. If our mouths speak oh I really like you and our hearts are saying I can't stand you because you are inferior, fat, ugly, not as rich as me, etc. then it is what your heart said that is heard and recorded for our eternal records. The world would be better off without all the added stress of the United States flexing its muscles in space. In fact the rest of the world will resent us for doing so. But then all great nations have crumbled and disappeared into history when decadance, and greed became their focus instead of peace and understanding.

gisterme - 04:29pm May 9, 2001 EST (#3607 of 3639)

alarmst wrote: "...gisterme, do you justify the "liberation" by death?..."

Of course not, almarst. These days, there aren't many places that need "liberation" in the classical sense because there aren't any empires that are unilaterally imposing their will by military force. That's good.

I agree with you that the UN intervention in Kosovo has been a BIG mistake. One can't adjust delicate watch mechanisms with chainsaws. On the other hand it was apparently too hard for the rest of the world to stand by and watch the Serbs slaughter the Kosovar Alabanians or drive them out of their homes. A tough problem. Far more Albanians had already been killed in the Serb invasion of Kosovo than the number of Serbs killed in subsequent UN bombing. What should one do? Just let it happen? Try something to stop it?

The bottom line is, that whether the peace keepers remain in Kosovo for a day or 50 years, bombing or no bombing, outside intervention will not eliminate the tribal enmity that exists between the Serbs and Albanians. Those kinds of situations can only be solved when the folks involved can find their own "moments of grace".

Let's hope some lessons are learned from the debacle.

possumdag - 04:56pm May 9, 2001 EST (#3608 of 3639)
Possumdag@excite.com

Wasn't there a post (above) that suggested the monitoring of hot spots, & to intervene - before they blew!

Most often economic discontent and breakdown is evident and rife!

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