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 - 06:47pm May 12, 2001 EST (#3773 of 3800)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

I feel that a great deal of progress has been made since gisterme's debut #2997: gisterme 5/2/01 1:09pm ....and my response to gisterme's direct question ... #2999: rshowalter 5/2/01 1:41pm .

Especially since gisterme's 3319 - gisterme 5/4/01 11:25pm ..to which I responded in .. 3327-3328 : rshowalter 5/5/01 10:06am with the citation http://scienceforpeace.sa.utoronto.ca/WorkingGroupsPage/NucWeaponsPage/Documents/ThreatsNucWea.html THREATS TO USE NUCLEAR WEAPONS: The Sixteen Known Nuclear Crises of the Cold War, 1946-1985 by David R. Morgan

We've come long way since - common ground is being established, differences are being clarified, thoughts and ideas are coming into focus.

Dawn Riley and I believe that, especially with the augmented memory of the internet, controversies that could not be resolved before may be resolvable now. 2565: rshowalter 4/24/01 7:56pm ... 2566: rshowalter 4/24/01 8:09pm ... 2567: rshowalter 4/24/01 8:10pm

It seems to me that this thread is a step toward showing that. . I've been heartened by how much progress is being made in these thread -- even in the four days, and 235 postings, since #3532 - .

I feel that a lot has changed about the prospects for world peace and world nuclear safety in the last 100 days, and not all of it is bad, by any means.

If we're more scared than before, and more frustrated, and even more confused, that could be all to the good -- some people are paying attention.

possumdag - 06:53pm May 12, 2001 EST (#3774 of 3800)
Possumdag@excite.com

The environment is continually changing requiring new frameworks for thinking .. this thread hopefully helps people to put their heads around the old problems in an innovative, peaceful way, that will let world mothers enjoy their special day.

rshowalter - 07:22pm May 12, 2001 EST (#3775 of 3800)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

For many years to come.

possumdag - 08:38pm May 12, 2001 EST (#3776 of 3800)
Possumdag@excite.com

Bob Kerry's order was 'Kill them' says a member of his patrol ... whose story matches that of the Viet villagers. ~ http://news.ninemsn.com.au/sunday/

rshowalter - 08:56pm May 12, 2001 EST (#3777 of 3800)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Nuclear weapons produce mass death on a scale that makes the Kerrey-Vietnam killing story seem tiny (which it is not) -- here are some links on the relation between these stories: rshowalter 5/2/01 5:31pm

And giving the order is so much easier to do with nuclear mass murder bombs -- you don't have to count, or spend much time imagining the rotting unburied corpses that you're making.

rshowalter - 08:59pm May 12, 2001 EST (#3778 of 3800)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

A good administrative move:

Bush Orders Review of U.S. Spy Programs by REUTERS http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/13/world/13SPY.html

WASHINGTON, May 12 (Reuters) — President Bush has ordered a full review of American spy programs to assess their intelligence abilities and needs, and where they might be streamlined, a White House official said Friday.

For best streamlining, whenever reasonably possible, send in clear.

rshowalter - 09:05pm May 12, 2001 EST (#3779 of 3800)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

rshowalter 5/12/01 1:11pm said " almarst-2001 5/12/01 9:03am raises very important points, and I'll try to be back to it". -- And I will be. But not tonight.

(21 following messages)

New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense