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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 - 09:25am Jun 22, 2001 EST (#5754 of 5770)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

This is happening in the context where President Putin has expressed deep reservations, and has said that he would escalate his armaments, via MIRV technology that is both cheap and powerful, if the US proceed with a missile shield in violation of previous agreements, without amending them.

A Delicate Nuclear Balance By ANATOL LIEVEN http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/21/opinion/21LIEV.html

> "COPENHAGEN -- "At his press conference in Moscow after he met with President Bush in Slovenia, President Vladimir Putin of Russia indicated his interest in a compromise on amending the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty to allow an American missile defense. But he also indicated, forcefully, that this must be a genuine compromise, taking Russian concerns into account, or Russia would retaliate with a major expansion of its nuclear arsenal. This tough stance was inevitable. From the Russian point of view, it is an effort at balance.

. . .

" A public debate on this question is necessary; and for that to occur the Bush administration must decide what it really wants from missile defense and tell the public of its decision. Whether because of coyness, uncertainty, caution or some other factor, the administration's intentions on this major policy issue remain rather mysterious. If the aim is a limited shield against rogue states, then a compromise with Russia (and perhaps even China) should be possible. If the hope is to create an expandable system leading to the militarization of space, then neither Russian, nor indeed European, acceptance is likely to be forthcoming.

rshowalter - 09:26am Jun 22, 2001 EST (#5755 of 5770)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

MD5548 rshowalter 6/20/01 1:17pm . . . We need to remember the context in which proposals and promises are happening

And remember technical difficulties, as well MD5420 rshowalter 6/19/01 9:22am

rshowalter - 09:26am Jun 22, 2001 EST (#5756 of 5770)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

This debate is occurring at a time when the credibility and even-handedness of the Bush administration is subject to increasing public scrutiny.

Bush Loses Favor, Poll Says, Despite Tax Cut and Trip by RICHARD L. BERKE and JANET ELDER http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/21/politics/21POLL.html

rshowalter - 09:27am Jun 22, 2001 EST (#5757 of 5770)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

The debate is happening at a time with Europe is uniting and re-organizing in new ways, and reclaiming political, military, and diplomatic initiative long ceded to the United States. Thomas Friedman approves -

I Love the E.U. by THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/22/opinion/22FRIE.html

" . . . because in this messy world we're living in, two United States are better than one.

But are they the same in all respects? There are some concerns about the US, and its conduct, that have been central to discussions on this board -- and reservations about missile defense, on the part of Russia, China, the European countries, and some other nations.

lunarchick - 09:29am Jun 22, 2001 EST (#5758 of 5770)
lunarchick@www.com

Putin said:

... There are still to be found people who crave new Fuhrers, who feed like parasites upon misfortune and promise people simply solutions to complex, tangled problems, people who are prepared to jettison everything: morals, ethics, blood and human life. The crimes of Nazism and its collapse are the darkest warning to all who advocate the expulsion of foreigners and people of alternative confessions, who lay the blame for their own mistakes on the latter and seek in this way to explain away disasters and difficulties. Xenophobia and intolerance towards outsiders unavoidably transforms into dictatorship and terror towards one's own people ....

rshowalter - 09:30am Jun 22, 2001 EST (#5759 of 5770)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

MD5751 lunarchick 6/22/01 9:20am

" Putin drew a parallel between Nazism and the contemporary threats . . . .. http://globalarchive.ft.com/globalarchive/article.html?id=010622004752&query=Putin

rshowalter - 09:32am Jun 22, 2001 EST (#5760 of 5770)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

almarst has been saying similar things on this thread -- and according to almarst , if Russia and other countries could be more assured of the behavior of the United States issues of defense and disarmament would be very much more hopeful -- and there might be hope of full nuclear disarmament, or something close to it, on a basis that would increase the safety, comfort, and prosperity of us all.

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