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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?

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rshow55 - 09:19am Mar 19, 2003 EST (# 10198 of 10215)
Can we do a better job of finding truth? YES. Click "rshow55" for some things Lchic and I have done and worked for on this thread.

It has been a long time since the Westphalian Settlement of 1648. That agreement, which ended the Thirty Years' War, recognized the absolute sovereignty and legal equality of states as the basis of international order. There has to be some exception handling negotiated into place, that works in the world as it actually is, not as we might like it to be.

If that point had been honestly accepted - we wouldn't be having this war. The point has to carry - and I think that means that this war, ugly as it is, is necessary.

Territories are much more permeable now in ways that matter. Interdependencies and vulnerabilities are different. There have to be limits on rules - exception handling.

Limits on the United States, as well.

Things are having to be renegotiated - and I'm concerned and afraid - but there are some opportunties, as well.

Almarst , as you say, lying is a problem (and a larger problem in most other parts of the world than the United States.) On and before Apr 8, 2001 you and I discussed the "culture of lying" in the press, and I'll try to notate references and links to those concerns - which are big concerns of yours and mine now. http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md2000s/md2088_2089.htm contains many references that are available by date via http://www.mrshowalter.net/calendar1.htm

But within "Treaty of Westphalia" standards - lying in the press is unavoidable - has to be expected - and cannot be nearly well enough controlled - either institutionally or morally.

647-8 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@28.Lo8mam5u5RM.140964@.f28e622/801

670 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@28.Lo8mam5u5RM.140964@.f28e622/830

There have to be limits - institutional and moral - on what people and institutions can do and say within their own borders - because we are interdependent, and there is no turning back from that. We have to negotiate them into being.

The things that matter can be agreed on - to keep the peace, and leave room for human welfare - there are few enough basics - even if we disagree about a great deal.

4009 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@28.Lo8mam5u5RM.140964@.f28e622/5047 includes this:

since our "missile defense" hardware won't work - we have to look at other options -- including interdiction.

since we can't defend against all alternatives - there are times when it will be necessary to make exceptions - - and deal with the challenges of interdiction - - problems and all.

I think I've been supportive, in some key ways, of the Bush administration's arguments for a "new doctrine of justified interdiction. "

With concerns about details involved both with justification and with interdiction .

Also, a concern about end games.

Stakes are very high now, and there are plenty of things to be concerned about. I think that the Bush adminstration is being careful about many things - and taking decisive action under circumstances where, after all the negotiation - it looks justified to me.

If other nations are careful, too - but take action to reorgnize patterns that plainly can't work - a great deal can work out well.

Just now, I'm rooting for the United States and the UK, and for people in other countries who are willing to negotiat an international law that can work into being. And just now, though I'm sad that war is happening, overall I'm feeling optimistic.

lchic - 09:34am Mar 19, 2003 EST (# 10199 of 10215)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

Saddam

was he the CIA's man

Did they train him re terror

Is his passport lost

If so

Was it 'error' ?

© dR3

lchic - 09:37am Mar 19, 2003 EST (# 10200 of 10215)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.

~ Albert Einstein ~

http://www.enchantedspirit.org/Potpourri/MagicalMysteries/SynesthesiaTheCrossingoftheSenses.php

lchic - 09:44am Mar 19, 2003 EST (# 10201 of 10215)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

Iraq - take the test on

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/wwwboard/messages/951.html

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