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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.

bbbuck - 09:28pm Mar 24, 2003 EST (# 10443 of 10465)

Yea have a couple of beers for me.

According to Christopher Hitchens, Henry Kissinger is a 'war crimimal'. Something about failure to act on a peace initiative from the North Koreans and that failure cost America another 4 years of Vietnam.

We should put Kissinger in a field and blare loud music at him. How about Michelle Branch's 'Goodbye to You'.

almarst2003 - 09:44pm Mar 24, 2003 EST (# 10444 of 10465)

Background:

Since bombing of Serbia I was fuxated, paralised and shocked trying to understand my deep emotional rejection of what I have witnessed. And it was not that much the bombing per-se. Anyone can be guilty at some point of emotional outbreak leading to violent reaction. Usually by a weak against strong as result of feeling of hoplesnes and dispare.

What shocked and insulted me to the core was a gleatfull, evil, coward, disregard to the truth, triumphalistic way, the Superpower allowed itself to hit and intentionally humiliate a small practically defendless nation, going thru one of the very difficalt periods of its history. To hit intentionaly and wishesly seeking the most painful way of doung so. And not just some nation. The nation which suffered the most in a Central Europe from a German, Italian, Croatian, Hungarian and Albanian fascism. One of the very fiew nations actively fighting the enemy practically along. The enemies from within and from without. The enemies for national, religious or just plainly opportunistic reasons. And this nation no just gave it a fight paying a temendous price, it managed to save the lives of hundreds of American and British pilots downed over its territory. It saved thousends of Jewsh people, hiding them and giving them a cover. At the same time, no Jews where allowed to emmigrate to England aor any of its protectorats. The US slowly started to accept the 6000 jewish refugies out of allowed 60,000. And, at the head of this attack against Serbia I found a long line of American Jewish leaders, calling for the more punishment, gloating at the seen of destruction of CIVILIAN infrastructure. The historical monuments like old Danube bridges, some older then USA. This show was named quite officially - the "HUMANITARIAN" bombing. The destruction of bridges, schools, roads, industry, economy. From a safety of a 15,000 ft above.

It was presented as a triumph of the Good aganst Evil, the modernity aganst backwardness, the technology against helplessness.

For me it was a triumph of Mongols.

It could not be without a reason. And left annoticed by God.

And I got a sence then as I have now, this is a first step toward abiss. And the easier it will be, the sooner, the more, the larger, the worst will follow toward end of the road.

I started to participate in NYT forums since then. Not once was bunned for my views but never for the language! Incidently came to "Missile Defense" and stayed. This was the one where the meaningful conversation was possible. Mostly among just 3 participants. But meaninful. And polite.

almarst2003 - 09:54pm Mar 24, 2003 EST (# 10445 of 10465)

Kissinger just have found a receptive and appreciative place for a full scale experiment of his Grand Political Ideas. As usually, payed by millions of lives and property on all sides of his "mathematical equasion". Never risking his own. Nothing new here, after Napoleon, Hitler Lenin and many others before and after.

Yes. In my view he is criminal. May be not a war criminal. May be a "science" criminal?

almarst2003 - 09:55pm Mar 24, 2003 EST (# 10446 of 10465)

Actually, sorry. Napoleon risked his life. And well being. And not just ones.

rshow55 - 10:18pm Mar 24, 2003 EST (# 10447 of 10465)
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.

2723 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@28.8Ywtab9A5Cn.1324914@.f28e622/3391

4977 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@28.8Ywtab9A5Cn.1324914@.f28e622/6285

By some very clear and reasonable definitions, Bill Casey was a war criminal. Casey knew that very well. And he felt he was doing the best he could - under the circumstances as they were.

I suspect that Kissenger felt the same.

A big question is - what do we do now?

2860 <a href="/webin/WebX?14@28.8Ywtab9A5Cn.1324914@.f28e622/3566">rshow55 7/4/02 11:06am</a>

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