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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.

almarst-2001 - 09:45pm Apr 21, 2002 EST (#1636 of 1650)

Dark Victory - http://www.time.com/time/sampler/article/0,8599,232440,00.html

"How did the Republic turn into the Empire? ... and how does a democracy become a dictatorship? It isn't that the Empire conquered the Republic, it's that the Empire is the Republic."

almarst-2001 - 09:52pm Apr 21, 2002 EST (#1637 of 1650)

WASHINGTON -- Operating under new powers to combat terrorism, law enforcement agencies are making unprecedented demands on the telecommunications industry to provide information on subscribers - http://www.newhouse.com/archive/story1a041002.html

almarst-2001 - 10:07pm Apr 21, 2002 EST (#1638 of 1650)

America used Islamists to arm the Bosnian Muslims - http://www.guardian.co.uk/yugo/article/0,2763,688327,00.html

The Srebrenica report reveals the Pentagon's role in a dirty war

almarst-2001 - 10:13pm Apr 21, 2002 EST (#1639 of 1650)

The pretence of peacemaking - http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,686417,00.html

almarst-2001 - 10:24pm Apr 21, 2002 EST (#1640 of 1650)

Two models of capitalism, Anglo-Saxon and European, are on offer - and we've made the wrong choice - http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,688478,00.html

almarst-2001 - 11:09pm Apr 21, 2002 EST (#1641 of 1650)

Venezuela coup linked to Bush team - http://www.observer.co.uk/worldview/story/0,11581,688152,00.html

Specialists in the 'dirty wars' of the Eighties encouraged the plotters who tried to topple President Chavez

It's gard to teach OLD DOG the new triks;)

almarst-2001 - 11:13pm Apr 21, 2002 EST (#1642 of 1650)

the lawless approach President Bush is taking to international affairs is making it even more difficult to defeat terrorism. - http://www.observer.co.uk/worldview/story/0,11581,688193,00.html

almarst-2001 - 11:21pm Apr 21, 2002 EST (#1643 of 1650)

Comment from around the world on the Powell peace mission and the Middle East crisis, the coup that wasn't in Venezuela and whether humanity, like history, is coming to an end. - http://www.observer.co.uk/worldview/story/0,11581,688194,00.html

almarst-2001 - 11:31pm Apr 21, 2002 EST (#1644 of 1650)

Imperialism may be out, but aggressive wars and colonial protectorates are back - http://www.observer.co.uk/worldview/story/0,11581,684308,00.html

lchic - 01:09am Apr 22, 2002 EST (#1645 of 1650)
USA - Missiles - Transparency --- really?!! NO! Not really.

Extremely good references above. It seems there is 'thinking' happening regarding the current sanguine quagmire in international affairs.

Generally - the electorate know and understand domestic affairs via their hip pocket nerve or personal cash liquidity wrt their costs for living, incomings and expenditures.

International affairs - people don't understand. Too many foreign countries with unfamiliar sounding names run by lists of everchanging people. Too much propaganda labelling various groupings in politics good/bad-corrupt. Too many media reporters who don't understand what they are commenting on - or - who follow the bias of their paymasters.

A framework has to be developed to more easily assit people in their thinking and understanding.

All people in the world in all countries have to be assigned a 'value'. People who live within a poor economy can't be discounted as of less worth and value than those within a rich economy. People in rich economies have to have checks and balances that can be exerted on their leadership that monitor and evaluate actions and alliances.

The Observer _{http://www.observer.co.uk/0,6903,,00.html} is in 'thinking mode' this week with good in-depth thoughtful coverage.

Dan Plesch's article (above) is taking a good hard look at the Bush foreign policy.

To my mind there is a real problem with the American 'Presidential' system, where one person hops (like Skippy) from nowhere imparticular - but with strong financial backing - assembles a team of 'no-ones imparticular' ... and that's it, these become the most powerful and influential people in the whole-wide-word ... no-credentials imparticular ... no-positive philosophy necessarily ... and bam wham caput --- the whole darn world is fighting and in chaos - people are weeping and wailing, and the Funeral business is booming!

"Don't make sense - Do it?"

Time that USA Congress got it's act together and started to FUNCTION in the way it was intended!

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Alex has his framework for understanding >> Dan's your man - oil http://www.observer.co.uk/comment/story/0,6903,564525,00.html

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