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Missile Defense

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?

Read Debates, a new Web-only feature culled from Readers' Opinions, published every Thursday.

almarst2003 - 10:47pm Mar 17, 2003 EST (# 10139 of 10155)

"Historical Responsibility: Way to Become Big Political Power"

In my view, their analysis fail short.

Italy (rightly or wrongly) was never associated with atrocities commited during WWII on the same scale as Japan or Germany. As result, its post-war image and self-imposed constitutional constrains have never came close to those of Japan or Germany.

Compare Japan to Germany is by far more realistic and fear. Here indeed, Germany seems to made a more sencere attempt to denounce and rectify its past. However, Germany located in a middle of Europe could not remain isolated even if decided to do so. The Islands of Japan, on the other hand, remained practically isolated from all its neighbors.

The article is on a level of those, usually produced by our famoust per-excelence MR. T. Friedman. Not much worst, but surely not much better.

gisterme - 12:07am Mar 18, 2003 EST (# 10140 of 10155)

mazza9 - 10:34pm Mar 17, 2003 EST (# 10138 of ...) http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@28.scEUaWgQ6gz.2500665@.f28e622/11683

"...It's reported that an ex-air commander of Iraq, who is in exile in Australia is saying that the majority of the Iraq army will fold up their tents rather than fight for the Saddam regime..."

The Iraqi army would be pretty stupid to fight and die for somebody they hate, Lou. They already know from experience that they can't defeat the coalition militarily. That army may not be very well trained or equipped but they're not stupid.

I think the Iraqi army could and should play an important role in the liberation of Iraq once they've renounced any allegience to Saddam.

I've heard that some Iraqi soldiers have already tried to surrender to some Brits who were doing live-fire exercises in Kuwait. The Brits told them it was too soon for them to surrender and that they'd have to go back...that they'd be instructed on how to surrender soon.

Lou, I wonder how Iraqis feel about the French-led initiative to keep them longer under the boot of their tyrant? They may not be wanting to buy French products anymore either.

"France has neither winter nor summer nor morals. Apart from these drawbacks it is a fine country. France has usually been governed by prostitutes." ---Mark Twain

lchic - 12:53am Mar 18, 2003 EST (# 10141 of 10155)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

The matter on France - as the judge would say - be struck from the record. It applied the the second matter which has been leap-frogged backward now to the first matter again ... so therefore and quite logically the freedom-fries are to resort to their original name french-fries and the rest be forgotten --- Mazza do try to keep up to date on this changing situation!

lchic - 12:54am Mar 18, 2003 EST (# 10142 of 10155)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

An important point that came through media coverage on Iraq relates to the people of Iraq feeling and knowing that they WILL be in charge of their own future --- rather than them feel they have forsaken Tyrant S for Tyrant US.

lchic - 01:10am Mar 18, 2003 EST (# 10143 of 10155)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

Didn't catch boring Johnno's Iraq speech ... or did i ... perhaps i did ..... that's right there was a voice from the PUBLIC GALLERY (the People can have a say here in Aus - real people).

Noticed that Simon CREAN the Leader of the Opposition (House of Reps) made the point that America ought not to dictate Aussie Foreign Policy, and that PROCESS should have been followed wrt the UN security council.

Seeds of discontent (Iraq-Australia)

http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s809712.htm

http://abc.net.au/news/justin/default.htm

lchic - 01:17am Mar 18, 2003 EST (# 10144 of 10155)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

Australian Opposition viewpoints

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,6136230%5E421,00.html

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