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.

rshow55 - 03:18pm Mar 31, 2003 EST (# 10839 of 10842)
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 seemed to me then that all it would take, from where we are, would be military results that favor the US-UK forces reasonably cleanly - and negotiations and operations thereafter that fully satisfy Tony Blair, and are consistent with his promises. Along with sensible negotiations by others - about at the level of sophistication, effort, and good faith that we've seen at the Security Council since November.

"Maybe that's too much of a miracle to ask for. But maybe not.

_ _ _

. That "miracle" is appearing less likely.

The Guardian's leader (editorial) today is

No going back British troops cannot be pulled out now http://politics.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,9115,926102,00.html

The piece ends:

Mr Cook, in retraction mode, was also right to say that now that the war has started it is vital that it ends in victory because "there could be no worse outcome than one that lets Saddam Hussein survive".

That assumption needs to at least be questioned - among a number of assumptions that need to be questioned, as we move through time.

A lot of assumptions people have made have been WRONG.

dccougar - 03:34pm Mar 31, 2003 EST (# 10840 of 10842)
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion but not his own facts.

"...there could be no worse outcome than one that lets Saddam Hussein survive".

Well, that's a bit of an overstatement - there are conceivably worse outcomes - but for his regime to survive is not acceptable. And of course, it won't. Hussein the man seems already to have disappeared.

dccougar - 03:46pm Mar 31, 2003 EST (# 10841 of 10842)
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion but not his own facts.

almarst2003 - 10:58am Mar 31, 2003 EST - "Civilian casualities in Baghdad and its outskirts..."

Yes, civilian casualties are regrettable, but why aren't you decrying the fact that the Iraqi military is routinely hiding behind civilians, positioning their equipment atop schools, hospitals, and in residential neighborhoods? Why are you so outraged at the U.S. forces, when the Iraqis themselves are probably responsible for more civilian deaths than the coalition forces?

Why, Almarst? Why aren't you appalled at the Iraqi tactic of using civilians as human shields? Why aren't you appalled at the Iraqis executing civilians if they happen to wave to the Americans?

Why, Almarst?

rshow55 - 03:52pm Mar 31, 2003 EST (# 10842 of 10842)
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.

A lot of assumptions people have made have been WRONG.

Here's a prediction, based on assumptions and not yet proved true - that still has a chance:

9822 <a href="/webin/WebX?14@28.NwMnajvB6vd.2548604@.f28e622/11364">rshow55 3/11/03 4:23pm</a> includes this:

. . . it seems to me that if Putin wanted to maximize Russia's advantage in geopolitics and oil revenue - he might encourage Bush to invade Iraq. It would be disastrous to US power - increasing Russia's relative power - and if the US gave Iraqis much political discretion might give Russia a big relative advantage in the oil busines, as well. As it is, Putin may or may not be negotiating in ways that serve his own needs - and to think that through - Putin might consider some changes. Bush might, as well.

The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Chrisian Anderson http://www.deoxy.org/emperors.htm

We should check questions of fact - and decent balance - fit to circumstances. If leaders of nation states wanted facts checked - it would happen. By conventions that say "statements of leaders can't be questioned" - it won't...

New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense