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 [F] New York Times on the Web Forums  / Science  /

    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.


Earliest Messages Previous Messages Recent Messages Outline (10304 previous messages)

fredmoore - 07:08am Mar 22, 2003 EST (# 10305 of 10312)

Robert ...

Thanks for the citation.

My take on current events comes from that Simpson's episode where there is a 'Jumper' on the Springfield town hall roof. At a critical moment the Chief calls out "Bring in the sound trucks" and the psychological effect of the music defuses the situation.

The Lionel richie song 'Se La' is perfect to the situation in Baghdad.

"There would be no more living in desperation

And no more hatred and deceit

Tell me can you imagine

All the children playing

And everyone dancing in the street

It's time you know for everyone to come together

I know its hard but this dream must come to light

Because life should be one big celebration

I'm talking to you now

Only we can make things right!"

So .... Bring out the sound trucks .... and a few million leaflets with translated lyrics.

Ballerina girl .......

Smart music can be every bit as effective as smart bombs in the right situation. In fact the entire 'Dancing On The Ceiling' tape has a lot to offer both coalition forces and Iraqis. I suspect a lot of bonding will occur over the coming weeks in Iraq and that process should be enhanced by targeting with 'smart psychology'. We all hope the smart bombs can be put away and saved for the next tyrant.

LOL

rshow55 - 08:08am Mar 22, 2003 EST (# 10306 of 10312) Delete Message
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.

Here's fredmoore's 9426 of Mar 3, 2003 again. Fredmoore's story involves consequences, and coupled effects. Willy Hoppe, the great billiards artist, would have appreciated the story - because, in a pool or billiards competition - unless you can actually sweep the board, never missing - with divergences totally under control as ball hits ball - you have to worry about how you leave the board. Hoppe was a master of that. I don't think President Bush can hope to play\ his game so well. http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@28.BIeGalYc5az.750658@.f28e622/10965

And this is not a game.

rshow55 - 08:11am Mar 22, 2003 EST (# 10307 of 10312) Delete Message
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.

Bill Keller did an interesting piece today - that I think is wrong - Powell should stay.

Why Colin Powell Should Go By BILL KELLER http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/22/opinion/22KELL.html

The famous hardheaded definition of war is "the continuation of politics by other means." In the real world, though, war is the failure of politics. This war — undertaken at such cost to America's own interests — is specifically a failure of Colin Powell's politics.

Even if you believe that this war is justified, the route to it has been an ugly display of American opportunism and bullying, dissembling and dissonance.

The negotiations I've ever seen, that are actually negotiaitons on serious things, have all involved plenty of "opportunism and bullying, dissembling and dissonance." Keller's father was a major oil industry executive, and Keller must have a very much wider experience of negotiations than I can have - I wonder whether he really knows of very many exceptions, when stakes are serious.

_ _ _ _ _ _

Here's another interesting Keller piece:

Pre-emption By BILL KELLER http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/15/magazine/15PREE.html

In a world where shadowy enemies can create havoc without warning, the lone remaining superpower is obliged to strike first wherever danger breeds. That is this year's bold new idea in grand strategy, the offspring of America's seemingly insurmountable military superiority and the heightened sense of danger after Sept. 11. The United States, the argument goes, cannot afford to let an adversary land the first punch, or even start his windup, when that punch could let loose a nuclear, chemical or biological horror.

Depending on which analyst you ask, this represents either a radical departure from, or an overdue updating of, the two mainstream schools of American strategy that have jostled for primacy since World War II.

We've got some interesting negotiations, involving force and very high stakes going on now. I'm concerned, but reasonably optimistic. And I don't think Powell should go.

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