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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.

gisterme - 01:14am Mar 24, 2003 EST (# 10400 of 10412)

fredmoore - 01:31pm Mar 23, 2003 EST (# 10372 of ...)

http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@28.LQ3Sa1Mf5SZ.1081463@3d7aa9@.f28e622/11918

"I found this article on channeling:..."

"...I'd be interested in what people think of it. It is not what I had originally thought...."

Not what I thought either, Fred, but quite interesting. I've done most of the steps in the "exercise" naturally for years. I certainly don't think of what I do as "channeling" or even meditation, really. I just think of it as relaxed thinking...I often physically go to water to do that or just sit under the stars at night. I find that my most creative accomplishments are spawned by ideas that come during those times of relaxed thinking.

Another application is for problem solving. When I have a problem that I just can't seem to get my arms around, something I just can't seem to figure out, I just think about it for a while, try to visualize the probem (not the solution) and then forget about it for a while. It's amazing that sometime later, sometimes days, sometimes even years, a solution appears in my mind, full-blown. I just think of that as loading the problem into my "back brain" and letting that unconcious tool work away until the result appears. It's wierd but seems to work for me. I don't generally think of that technique as being the result of communicating with some spiritual "other".

"...1. The interviewer of the ex CIA 'op' seemed to be totally au fait with the channeling concept when it was mentioned. He didn't even raise an eyebrow. It certainly recorded on my BS meter..."

I think that "ex" might be the key operator that should certify the calibration of your meter. :-)

"...My take on this is Thermodynamic. Increase the sustainable energy in a cultural system, increase its order, lower its entropy , increase its self esteem and decrease the evil deeds."

Makes sense to me. I wonder which of those variables has the most impact on the desired result?

gisterme - 01:24am Mar 24, 2003 EST (# 10401 of 10412)

almarst2003 - 10:33pm Mar 23, 2003 EST (# 10382 of ...) http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@28.LQ3Sa1Mf5SZ.1081463@.f28e622/11928

"...Well. A year is 1812, a place is Russia. And the memories are still fresh."

Gee, almarst, you're way older than I had imagined! But if you think Iraq is Russia and the Americans are the French, then perhaps your confession of ancientness explains a lot. Has your problem been senility all along?

Poor, poor almarst. I suddenly feel much more sympathy for you. ;-) I can now grant you the senior discount in good conscience.

almarst2003 - 02:00am Mar 24, 2003 EST (# 10402 of 10412)

Some people should be reminded that "They may get what they where looking for. And some more."

No. Iraq is not Russia. And America isn't France. But the question about senility should be addressed to one who forgot the word OCCUPATION.

Add to the mix some more like INTERNET, REAL-TIME TV COVERAGE, CIVILIAN CASUALTIES, CRYING BURNED AND STARVING BABIES, ARROGANCE OF HUMILIATING FOREIGN INVADORS, PALESTINE, CRUSADE, ISLAM, EVIL, GOD AND OIL and be ready for the consequences.

And I didn't even touch the NEW WORLD ORDER and AMERICAN "PREEMPTIVE" CENTURY

This may be too much even for the tough guys who just enjoy watching the "humanitarian" bombing while taking a healthy bite of a good old Big Mac. They may found it less interesting to be conscripted for a project of remodeling (OIL REPIPING) this poor Earth in places that far away. They may suddenly discover a lot of what needs to be fixed just at home.

fredmoore - 02:18am Mar 24, 2003 EST (# 10403 of 10412)

Gisterme ...

You have my admiration ... you are a true seeker. My thought processes are similar to your own, but I never would have imagined I was channeling. It may have given me some ideas!

Two points ... 1. The CIA chap (Buzz something) did mention that the CIA was looking at Babylonian history in an effort to discover possible tactics that Saddam might use to entrap Coalition forces.

2. Sustainable energy, order, low entropy , self esteem and decreased evil deeds are all the one thermodynamic entity (If you think about it).

gisterme - 03:02am Mar 24, 2003 EST (# 10404 of 10412)

almarst2003 - 02:00am Mar 24, 2003 EST (# 10402 of ...) http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?@@52c4e0@.f28e622/11948

"...senility should be addressed to one who forgot the word OCCUPATION"

Nope. It should be addressed to one who forgot the world LIBERATION!

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