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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?


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wrcooper - 05:52pm May 29, 2001 EST (#4299 of 4466)

Showalter:

I sent my letters on Friday. To Senators Durbin and Fitzgerald and to Congressman Davis. I'll post whatever responses I get.

I am encouraged that Bush is trying to appease the Russians. That shows that the administration is not entirely insensitive to international opinion on the issue. He may need Russia's blessing before he can get sufficient support in Congress.

I think it's particularly vital that opponents of the NMD contact their representatives and make their opposition known.

rshowalt - 06:15pm May 29, 2001 EST (#4300 of 4466)

I agree. And sign petitions, too !

I'm hoping to mail mine, with a home district postmark, when I get back to Madison. I'd even hoped to improve on your letter, but I'm not sure I can. Thanks for the reminder.

I might even like to go talk to some staffers, if they'd see me.

rshowalt - 06:18pm May 29, 2001 EST (#4301 of 4466)

MD4293: almarst-2001 5/29/01 5:26pm

Tough question:

" Robert,

" What makes you to believe its just a "right wing" problem?

" I see it as an American problem, left-to-right and front-to-back. Please show me the difference, if you can.

  • ***

    The difference is that it was a conspiracy that subverted one area of American function. And that one area coexists only very uneasily with many other aspects of American culture and ideals, which are admirable and causes of hope. -- Something I can say without in any way diminishing the horror of some of what America has done and become, when it acts as if bombing is a blameless, casual act.

    I'm going to have to go back, and get some records. And I'm stuck in a motel room, without a printer, with a 24k modem connection, which slows some things down.

    Here are some links: MD3514: rshowalter 5/8/01 12:38pm . . .

    " What are the lies, the missteps and who is the very small extraconstitutional group?"

    MD3424: rshowalter 5/7/01 4:11pm ... MD3425: rshowalter 5/7/01 4:17pm
    MD3426: rshowalter 5/7/01 4:18pm ... MD3427: rshowalter 5/7/01 4:21pm

    I'll say this. There's a big difference between the "conspiracy" now, and what it was in 1972, when I was insubordinate, stumbled into it, and got thrown into purgatory. People like Bill Casey knew that they were doing something terrible -- wanted to find a redemptive way out of it, and actively encouraged me to look for one (as well as to do do my mathematical work.) Casey's sense was that, if I came up with either a mathematical solution, or a negotiating solution -- I'd be embraced -- and even if it was awkward, if I came in through the New York Times, a way would be found.

    Later (and admittedly, much later) - the sense of crime, and the desire for redemption, seem to have gone away -- leaving little more than Nazi values left. At least in some decisively placed circles. Or so it often seems.

    rshowalt - 06:37pm May 29, 2001 EST (#4302 of 4466)

    MD741: rshowalter 2/21/01 3:44pm ... MD742: rshowalter 2/21/01 4:02pm
    reads in part:

    "I believe that everybody concerned about matters of defense, and especially nuclear deployments, should consider carefully the concerns about the “military-industrial complex” set out in the FAREWELL ADDRESS of President Dwight D. Eisenhower January 17, 1961. http://www.geocities.com/~newgeneration/ikefw.htm

    " With circumstances that appear to show a disproportion and operational mismatch between means and ends, the speech seems to me to raise issues of crucial importance today.

    Eisenhower was CONCERNED with the patterns that he himself did much to set up -- and warned the nation as best he could.

    MD743: rshowalter 2/21/01 4:28pm

    rshowalt - 06:57pm May 29, 2001 EST (#4303 of 4466)

    Folks may be riled, but this thread is useful, and these are hopeful times:

    MD4277 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?7@174.FldLagHvpdV^494261@.f0ce57b/4583 ..... MD4278 rshowalt 5/29/01 2:33pm
    MD4279 rshowalt 5/29/01 2:38pm .... MD4280 gisterme 5/29/01 3:10pm
    MD4281gisterme 5/29/01 3:34pm

    Note what gisterme says.

    There's plenty of ugliness, but we're getting somewhere.

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