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Science
Technology has always found its greatest consumer in a nation's
war and defense efforts. Since the last attempts at a "Star Wars"
defense system, has technology changed considerably enough to make
the latest Missile Defense initiatives more successful? Can such an
application of science be successful? Is a militarized space
inevitable, necessary or impossible?
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  (437 previous messages)
rshow55
- 12:42pm Mar 13, 2002 EST (#438
of 484) 
An Advertorial on the NYT OpEd page today is on MD - and is in http://www.tompaine.com/ Since
some reading this thread my not take the paper as I do, I'm setting
it out here.
No Need To Lie Hiding The Truth About 'Star Wars' http://www.tompaine.com/op_ads/opad.cfm/ID/5241
"This certainly has the appearance of a well-orchestrated
fraud," MIT physicist Theodore Postal, a critic of the ‘Star
Wars’ missile defense program, told The Boston Globe last
week. Postal was reacting to a just-released General Accounting
Office report documenting how, in a 1997 test, missile defense
contractors Boeing and TRW manipulated data to make a
failure look like a success.
" Also last week, the Union of Concerned Scientists released an
analysis of a January 25 anti-missile test that defense contractor
Raytheon said "demonstrated the capability" of sea-based missile
defense systems. b "This is clearly not true," concluded UCS analyst
David Wright, who detailed the test’s many shortcomings.
" The GAO and UCS reports show how the ‘Star Wars’ program
depends on rigged tests and overstated successes to justify its
existence. But such tactics may no longer be needed: Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has now exempted the Missile Defense
Agency from normal oversight and accountability.
" The agency "will not be subject to traditional reporting about
program timelines and costs. And many of its testing efforts will be
free from oversight by the Pentagon’s test evaluation office,"
Bradley Graham reported in The Washington Post on February 16.
" Several members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff "expressed
reservations" when briefed by Rumsfeld on the new exemptions, Graham
reported. But no matter -- Rumsfeld granted his special dispensation
anyway.
" So, as Pentagon generals give defense contractors an
estimated QUARTER-OF-A-TRILLION TAX DOLLARS to chase the ‘Star Wars’
fantasy over the next decade, there won’t be any need to lie about
it’s failures.
" President Bush has decided to let them hide the truth.
Related Articles, with links are included in http://www.tompaine.com/op_ads/opad.cfm/ID/5241
:
Whatever We Build Is Good Enough An Interview With Dr.
Lisbeth Gronlund Of The Union Of Concerned Scientists by Sharon
Basco
When standard operating procedure says "Star Wars" doesn't
work, drop the SOP.
A Shot In The Dark? Congress Investigates Missile Defense
Cover-Up Controversy by Owen Dyer
Reporters Dig Up The Missile Defense Dirt The Best Of
'Star Wars' Media Coverage by TomPaine.com Staff
How Politics Helped Redefine Threat ... Rumsfeld Pares Oversight
of Missile Defense Agency ... MIT Team Tied To Questionable Missile
Studies ... and more.
Missile Defense Is Not The Answer A Position Paper by
Union of Concerned Scientists
Congress: Backing Away From Missile Defense? A Report From
The Council For A Livable World by Council for a Livable
World
*********
This thread has covered much the same information -- and more,
especially about laser based weapons, reviewed in
MD14 rshow55
3/1/02 6:07pm ... MD15 rshow55
3/1/02 6:10pm
almarst-2001
- 12:47pm Mar 13, 2002 EST (#439
of 484)
There is a very dangerous propaganda fronts I can detect:
1. The notion of exclusiness of America as a chosen nation, on
the mmision and commited to spread the GOOD to all. Even those who
don't understand between RIGHT and WRONG. Even by FORCE.
2. For the majority of Americans to accept the notion that US
"interests" span the Glob.
Such mixture coupled with wery weak democratic control over the
foreign affairs and unprecedented and growing disbalance of
economical and military power brings to mind a very vivid analogies
in the human's history. Hardly the happy ones. In contrast to the
Founder's ideology and the phylosophy behind the US own's
Constitution.
almarst-2001
- 12:57pm Mar 13, 2002 EST (#440
of 484)
"Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has now exempted the
Missile Defense Agency from normal oversight and
accountability."
As I recall, this is not the only agency being excempted. As well
as most of a CIA and other intelligence offices. Widly used not just
for intelligence but also for diversions and political manipulations
abroad.
Ones allowed, the exceptions have a tendency to replace the
rules.
rshow55
- 01:01pm Mar 13, 2002 EST (#441
of 484)
Almarst, because of my history I'm not sure that I can do a
single thing, except post here -- that can be of any use - without
violating security laws. I've been threatened before. Do you have
contact with political leaders? If someone like Putin, or someone
connected to him, could pick up the phone, and talk to people at
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War http://www.ippnw.org/ a good deal
might be done - - at least I'd have more of a chance. (Russia has
distinguished chapters.)
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