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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 - 11:19am May 11, 2001 EST (#3687 of 3698)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

It is a lot safer, easier and more practical, in the new world, to send in clear.

rshowalter - 11:40am May 11, 2001 EST (#3688 of 3698)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

We're not there yet, but I think dialog has gotten to a point where we can imagine what it would take for some "unthinkable" ideas to become thinkable, and then to propagate. The issue involves "Chain Breakers. http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?13@@.ee7ec3f/119

We have some jobs to do, to present evidence, to bring some things to focus, and to persuade each other about some common ground. And some others jobs. We'll also need, at least sometimes, to substitute grace for fear. In enough spots so that ideas can move along, from person to person, and enter the cultures that have to learn to live together, and compete in balanced ways, with threats that, when needed, are proportionate.

A key idea, for Americans especially, is this. Peace might be possible. Peace might be practical. Peace might be achievable, with care and discourse, a step at a time.

applez101 - 01:12pm May 11, 2001 EST (#3689 of 3698)

Lunarchick - you didn't seriously expect the British to stand by and let the Americans and French get away with doing their own nuked enlistedmen tests? I mean really! It's a matter of national pride that one can irradiate your own as much as the next country! ;-)

possumdag - 02:57pm May 11, 2001 EST (#3690 of 3698)
Possumdag@excite.com

The Brits didn't test in London, The Dales, Exmore or on Ben Nevis ... The Brits tested at Woomera!

possumdag - 03:56pm May 11, 2001 EST (#3691 of 3698)
Possumdag@excite.com

"Despite Mr Bush's conciliatory language, his administration demonstrates weekly that Russia is sinking as a US foreign policy priority"

~ http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,484370,00.html from http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/elsewhere

Hasn't Bush made EVERY foreign country a LOW priority!

rshowalter - 04:06pm May 11, 2001 EST (#3692 of 3698)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I disagree with Traylor's story, except at the level of possum's point. But that may be changing. Bush can't be ignoring the world.

Putin has to be right that talking is better than not talking --- and especially with the MD program physically far-fetched -- so that it may be, most significantly, a way of decentering undesireable old patterns.

A key question is whether the rest of the world can afford, and will, simply let the Bush administration be unilateralist. It seems to me that they can't afford to, that they know that, and that if Bush had set out to unite the rest of the world, he could hardly have done more in 100 days.

And getting a lot of countries talking together, and worrying about peace, is no bad thing.

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