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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 - 11:05am Mar 27, 2003 EST (# 10561 of 10581)

"Of course, poets have said the same thing more clearly - and earlier."

But left unnoticed by a "beans counters"

jorian319 - 11:10am Mar 27, 2003 EST (# 10562 of 10581)

In fact, almarst, it now seems likely that the residential neighborhood in question in Baghdad was in fact struck by and Iraqi SAM that went astray (maybe accidentlly-on-purpose). If that is the case, we will never know for sure, since it will be "cleaned up" by the time US troops get there. If, OTOH, it was US ordnance that did the damage, you can expect fragmentary "proof" to be gloatingly flaunted to the media by a delighted Sodom.

almarst2003 - 11:14am Mar 27, 2003 EST (# 10563 of 10581)

The math allows the great level of abstraction and nurtures the sense of beauty of the mind.

The individuals become percentage points in beautiful equations. Like nothing else, it clarifies the BOTTOM LINE of the WAR.

almarst2003 - 11:21am Mar 27, 2003 EST (# 10564 of 10581)

jorian319 - 10:32am Mar 27, 2003 EST (# 10559 of 10563)

It will take a lot for me to believe what US-British are doing in Iraq has anything to do with wishes of Iraqi people.

jorian319 - 11:32am Mar 27, 2003 EST (# 10565 of 10581)

It will take a lot for me to believe what US-British are doing in Iraq has anything to do with wishes of Iraqi people.

I think it is always healthy to be skeptical. I sincerely hope you get "a lot" to support that notion. It won't be soon in coming, even under the best scenario. And I am sure that to whatever extent the interests of the Iraqi people are in the hearts of the US/Brit leaders, it is subservient and tertiary to

a) their own personal interests

b) their countries' interests (as interpreted by them)

That's human, and just the way it is, always has been and always will be.

mazza9 - 12:26pm Mar 27, 2003 EST (# 10566 of 10581)
"Quae cum ita sunt" Caesar's Gallic Commentaries

WE fight a just war to give freedom to the Iraqi. Our declaration and consititution recognizes these "unalienable rights". Indeed, they are the foundation of the UN's human rights.

Here is the Preamble to the United Nations Charter.

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and

to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and

to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

AND FOR THESE ENDS to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and

to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and

to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and

to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,

HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.

Oct 24 1945 in San Francisco the United States breathed life into the United Nations.

As this Iraqi War of Liberation proceeds we must ask ourselves who has failed to:

"to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained"

The torure chambers, rape rooms and plastic shredders don't appear to meet this standard. What say you Saddamophiles?

almarst2003 - 01:08pm Mar 27, 2003 EST (# 10567 of 10581)

"What say you Saddamophiles?"

Nothing that can be printed here.

(14 following messages)

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