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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 - 08:11am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9606 of 9644)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

And if the idea that people have been evasive and deceptive very often is ruled out, there is simply no way to deal with the problems that stop people.

Because, maybe 99 times out of 100, these problems are stumpers for reasons that involve evasion, and deception.

Evasions and deceptions in human communication are much more common than our social conventions permit us to say.

That can classify hope out of existence, and convert some simple, soluble problems into bad jokes, and horrors.

rshowalter - 08:16am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9607 of 9644)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

People are very smart about a lot of things, but people seem to be amazingly stupid, in the face of patterns of deception.

The "he's lying, or making a mistake" hypothesis needs to be considered, and considered a fair hypothesis, much more often.

If it were, the terrorists could be taken apart pretty neatly.

So could the boondoggle that is "missile defense."

But a lot of other people and groups would have some vulnerabilities, too.

Mercy would have to be considered, for statistical reasons.

rshowalter - 09:46am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9608 of 9644)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Democrats in Senate Back Down on Missile Shield Issue By ADAM CLYMER http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/22/international/22MISS.html

Senate Democrats backed down today on missile defense, agreeing to restore the $1.3 billion in spending authority for developing and testing antimissile systems that they had planned to cut from the Pentagon authorization bill."

Beneficiaries of the Military Buildup Await Their Orders By JAMES DAO http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/22/business/22DEFE.html

"Scores of military contractors could be among the corporate beneficiaries of the devastating attacks of Sept. 11."

Russia's Putin Weighs Choices By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Attacks-Russia.html

"MOSCOW (AP) -- President Vladimir Putin, facing one of the biggest policy decisions of his administration, is making no commitments in formulating Russia's strategy on America's crusade against terrorism."

. . . .

America isn't in a critical mood, or a mood for careful accounting, just now. In a while, it may be. The rest of the world may be, too.

lunarchick - 10:04am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9609 of 9644)
lunarchick@www.com

Three days after the attack, Congress overwhelmingly approved $40 billion in emergency funds, with $10 billion to $15 billion for the armed services. In the next few weeks, Congress is also expected to approve, with little dissent, a $33 billion increase in the Pentagon budget, raising it to $329 billion for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. And before final votes on the 2002 spending plan are even cast, the Pentagon is expected to ask for an additional $15 billion to $25 billion. There is bipartisan support for that, too. (DAO)

The Carlyle Group will think all their Christmasses have come at once! Will Congress audit and check on the distribution of such huge funds into the techno_military_complex - or will it be life as per US US_ual? A free hand without checks?

lunarchick - 10:17am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9610 of 9644)
lunarchick@www.com

On bailouts and private companies. A point to note re air_flying_companies is that they have had overcapcity worldwide. Too many seats for too few travellers. Too few air routes with too much competition. There has been a need for the industry to rationalise for years.

The thought here is - if the Government gives the industry an open cheque - rather than a pack of jet_sized_bodybags, is it really doing the American Economy a favour?

If it wants to give the industry dollars - why not via part_subsidised travel competitions where the additional_new_traveller finds most of the price. Thus expanding the industry.

lunarchick - 10:25am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9611 of 9644)
lunarchick@www.com

"I'm shocked shocked shocked to find that gambling is going on in here. Everybody out at once"

:) Perhaps these words ring a once b&w, now digitally enchanced with colour, tv_movie-time, for $64,000, bell? So the laughable StarWars is back on the menu. That there were no descenting voices of reason - even in a time of crisis - suggests there is something wrong with the US political system ... two party systems don't make for rational reasoned democracy .. they 'went out' decades ago in all the countries that matter.

lunarchick - 10:34am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9612 of 9644)
lunarchick@www.com

"Here's looking at you kid."

Can only be one film. Illustrates collaboration for momentary survival. Demonstrates sacrifice - for the National Cause. Excellent wardrobe too.

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