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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 - 10:39am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9613 of 9644)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

The current time is a time of extreme national emotion, and tremendous fear, and a desire to deny fear by "banding together." The anxieties are real enough to move the stock market as it is moving.

The euphoria of unity, at a level where there is little accountability, may or may not be short lived in the United States.

If it isn't, a lot of things may sort out well.

If it is, the world will notice, and the long term prestige of the United States will be much reduced.

It is impressive that Bush's poll numbers have risen as fast as they have. But they could fall, just as quickly.

I'm not personally worried about destabilization of military balances by "missile defense" -- it can't work well enough for that. I AM interested in the missile defense boondoggle, for what it shows about the United States, in a dangerous world where we have to make right decisions, not decisions based on fictions, some of them very corrupt.

rshowalter - 10:47am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9614 of 9644)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

lunarchick 9/22/01 10:34am

PSYCHWAR, CASABLANCA, AND TERROR , which tells a key story about the Cold War, keyed to the move Casablanca , has interested many people. http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/0

Especially the core story part, from postin 13 http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/12 to posting 26 http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/25 .

A fairly compact summary of this thread from March 1 to date, with many links, is in Psychwar, Casablanca, and Terror -- from #159 almost up to the present. http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7a163/165

rshowalter - 10:52am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9615 of 9644)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

A key point is how damaging lies are psychologically, and how effective they are for psychological warfare. The "Bottle scene" in Casablanca is an excellent illustration of that.

We need to lie less for an number of reasons. One reason is that lies can injure people. Sometimes in unpredictable ways that can go against many interests.

In my view, many of the most significant problems involving the Middle East, terrorism, and social malfunction all over the world involve societies that have become paralyzed, or significantly weakened, by lies.

The United States is more effective than most countries, but it is not immune to these problems.

rshowalter - 10:55am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9616 of 9644)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Patterns that cut off communication can cause some similar problems, can lead to lies, and can involve paralyzing costs. For an example of how expensive cutting off information flows can be, and instances of how hard and carefully Americans sometimes work to do it, see

. NUNN-WOLFOWITZ TASK FORCE REPORT: INDUSTRY "BEST PRACTICES" REGARDING EXPORT COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS http://164.109.59.52/library/pdf/nunnwolfowitz.pdf July 25, 2000

MD9556 rshowalter 9/21/01 3:02pm

If we're to form more effective communities, with more possibility of "win-win" situations, and less horror, we need to be more open than we've been. That will mean re-evaluating some patterns. It may also require people in other countries to become more sophisticated in their requests for information.

lunarchick - 11:02am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9617 of 9644)
lunarchick@www.com

The Aussie PM's popularity figures rose - (I posted a Philip ADAMS piece above on Howard). They rose on one poll. Yet on a more careful one-on-one poll both leader and opposition leader (whom you guys don't have) were fairly even. Suggesting that the result from quick_polls relate to too few questions.

The worry for the world is that pre 11Sept Bwsh was not seen to be a competent world leader - if not then, why now? It's a worry!

lunarchick - 11:05am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9618 of 9644)
lunarchick@www.com

sighted now cited a picture says a 1000 words - it needs to in this instance.

lunarchick - 11:10am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9619 of 9644)
lunarchick@www.com

Talking of pictures. A Rice bio made it's way into the Oz national ... word for word as per press release .. almost -- suggested Bwsh treats her like a daughter .. our journo was slack - the age difference is insufficient.

rshowalter - 11:16am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9620 of 9644)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Some daughters are closer to their fathers than others.

lunarchick - 11:18am Sep 22, 2001 EST (#9621 of 9644)
lunarchick@www.com

In age! The gap's only about 10 years. This being so, then, he must treat her as a 'family friend' - end of story!

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