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?

gisterme - 08:07pm Jun 26, 2001 EST (#6100 of 6121)

almarst,

I'm sticking to my expectation that the US will not unilaterally build a BMD eventhough it could. I also don't believe that the US will unilaterally abrogate or even legally withdraw from the 1972 ABM treaty. Remember that those were the big IFs that president Putin used to qualify his threat to increase the Russian MIRV arsenal.

Almarst, I'll bet you a buck that BMD will become a joint program including at least Russia, Japan and some European allies and that the 1972 treaty will be revised or replaced by negotiation long before it is ever violated by anyone. I'll also say that US and Russian ICBM fleets will be DRASTICALLY reduced (by at least 90%) as a result of the cooperation. Let's give the process 10 years. Care to take that bet? :-) Probably not. Why would you take a bet that you should HOPE I win.

rshowalter - 08:12pm Jun 26, 2001 EST (#6101 of 6121)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

gisterme , those are two good posts.

gisterme 6/26/01 7:33pm includes this and much more.

" WRT maintaining "calibration" on sensitive equipment, welcome to the digital age, Robert. Updating calibration is not the same kind of problem it was back in the "analog servo" days.

that's VERY true in very many ways. But there are some qualifications, as well.

I'll respond to the very good questions you raise here early in the morning -- and try to do justice to the questions. And treat both the problems and opportunities, if I can.

I'll also respond to gisterme 6/26/01 7:50pm also, which makes a reasonable point, that has to be thought about, I believe, in almarst's interdependent context.

I'm out for today.

Thanks.

possumdag - 08:16pm Jun 26, 2001 EST (#6102 of 6121)
Possumdag@excite.com

GI said: 'it's up to the government to decide what "acutally matters'

government: persons authorized to administer the laws

authorize: verb means to give someone the authority to act / representative who was accredited by his government

accredit: To believe; to credit; to put trust in.

Trust: Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing

in·teg·ri·ty (n-tgr-t) n. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. The state of being unimpaired; soundness. The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.

mor·al (môrl, mr-) adj. Of or concerned with the judgment of the goodness or badness of human action and character: moral scrutiny; a moral quandary. Teaching or exhibiting goodness or correctness of character and behavior: a moral lesson. Conforming to standards of what is right or just in behavior; virtuous: a moral life. Arising from conscience or the sense of right and wrong: a moral obligation. Having psychological rather than physical or tangible effects: a moral victory; moral support. Based on strong likelihood or firm conviction, rather than on the actual evidence: a moral certainty.

eth·ic (thk) n. A set of principles of right conduct. A theory or a system of moral values: “An ethic of service is at war with a craving for gain” (Gregg Easterbrook).

conflict of interest n : a situation in which a public official's decisions are influenced by the official's personal interests

patriotic adj : inspired by love for your country

loy·al (loil) adj. Steadfast in allegiance to one's homeland, government, or sovereign. Faithful to a person, ideal, custom, cause, or duty.

stead·fast also sted·fast (stdfst, -fst) adj. Fixed or unchanging; steady. Firmly loyal or constant; unswerving

brain·wash·ing (brnwshng, -wôshng) n. Intensive, forcible indoctrination, usually political or religious, aimed at destroying a person's basic convictions and attitudes and replacing them with an alternative set of fixed beliefs. The application of a concentrated means of persuasion, such as an advertising campaign or repeated suggestion, in order to develop a specific belief or motivation.

night soil n. Human excrement collected .. by
Night cart, a cart used to remove the contents of privies by night.

Visonary : a person with unusual powers of foresight

change : To undergo transformation or transition

possumdag - 08:36pm Jun 26, 2001 EST (#6103 of 6121)
Possumdag@excite.com

GI: Putin link actually started here from London:
MD5751 lunarchick 6/22/01 9:20am
Showalter's a patriot glued to the NYTs

Saw a documentary on Putin .. pronounced with ff's he was influenced in life by a film called 'The sword and the sheild' (how appropriate), he listened (80:20) gained from experiences as relayed to him ..
'Nobody was more surprised than HE when he was picked to succeed Yeltsin'
Putin had tried to sort out the rabble to the south to restore semblances of peace to that geographic region .. with the approval of the Russian People.
Putin got berated by a widow (remember sunken submarine) who critisied his emphasis on the State making provision for her - rather than empathising with her emotional loss.

Geeze thinks I. Why doesn't Russia revise the monachy .. first families, with caring womenfolk in fancy hats, are a great focus for the people in times of empathetic need ... expensive on upkeep - yet indispensible in times of National Emergency!

possumdag - 08:43pm Jun 26, 2001 EST (#6104 of 6121)
Possumdag@excite.com

GI: it's up the government to decide what actually matters ... raises the question of who's elected (and how), and who has power and is not elected, nor brought to book. As in who has access to squillion$ without auditing and accountability, uses it to set their own agendas, and sits outside periferal vision.

Noted in an article above that Putin thought it was time they & the USA took a good look at the functionality of the Fifth Estate and brought it into line - presumably to work in the interests of the nation, rather than the NAZI types who set the rules, hold power, and 'use the young patriots' in ways and through means that sit way outside 'The Golden Rule'.

(17 following messages)

New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense