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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.

mazza9 - 11:25am May 1, 2002 EST (#1922 of 1936)
Louis Mazza

Manjumicha2001:

"manjumicha2001 - 11:06am May 1, 2002 EST (#1920 of 1921)

almarst

I don't think the issue is Jennin (or how many were killed there, for that matter) at thispoint. The real problem right now is the open defiance of UN by Israel."

For over 50 years the Arab world has ignored the resolutions establishing the state of Israel. Within 24 hours of Israel's founding in 1948 it was attacked. Since this initital Arab attempt at "solving the Israel situation" throught the force of arms they have lost multiple wars and yet have continued their aggressions.

This morning Arafat agreed to terms on turning over the six men at his Ramallah office and within an hour reneged. How do you negotiate anything with a person who is not honorable?

LouMazza

rshow55 - 12:01pm May 1, 2002 EST (#1923 of 1936)

manjumicha2001 5/1/02 11:12am . . . I've been asking to be debriefed, by a representative of the US government - very preferably with some sort of witnessing -- and left in a situation where it can be clear what I can do, and cannot do, professionally. I need it to be clear what I can say, and cannot say. That is, what I can say and do without violation of US security laws.

My life history is so embedded with problems of interest to the government, and my background so unconventional - that I don't know what I can safely do - and that's been especially true since September, 2000.

From a very early stage in my undergraduate education, in 1967, I was involved in working on problems of interest to the government -- described in links set out in MD1901 rshow55 4/30/02 11:21am . There were awkwardnesses, but I was given support, after a while informal but often effective, to do work I found of great interest, that also seemed to of interest to the government. A lot has happened since. I haven't been in any direct contact with the government on any basis that could even remotely be called "classified" since 1984. (Professor Kline, I believe, did make efforts at contact).

Essentially everything in my professional work, since the late 1960's, has been informed by, and largely motivated by, education I got under confidential circumstances. My mathematical efforts are an example. According to rules of "classification by inheritance" of logical work, as they were explained to me, it isn't clear to me at all whether I can safely say, outside this thread, things I've been saying on this thread.

It isn't clear to me who I can safely talk to. And it isn't clear to others, either.

For me to do practically anything, I need more clarification than I have.

That means that, from a professional point of view, I'm paralyzed.

. . . .

There are some things that may not be resolvable at this time -- or ever. To permit me to live, the government doesn't have to admit anything -- if I had an affidavit that I had never, to the knowledge of the government, been anywhere close to classified information - I'd not admit to that -- but it would be clarification that I could use.

If you go throught the mechanics of living - in my situation -- you'd find that there are some things that I have to get resolved. I believe that I've been a good enough citizen that they ought to be resolved.

A very useful first step would be for a NYT reporter, using his or her correct name, to talk to me. mrshowalter@thedawn.com (608) 829-3657

manjumicha2001 - 12:19pm May 1, 2002 EST (#1924 of 1936)

Your "star wars" quality of world view (i.e. good vs. evil) works for me fine in Spielberg movies but not in the context of the Arab-Jewish conflicts. Rabin shook hands with Arafat not because he trusted him but because it made a strategic sense the way he saw it. There are enough sinners in that conflict, yes including jewish sinners (surprise to you, i bet), and your endless, self-righteous demonization of the "others" sounds pretty hollow, and boring.

I would be somewhat sympathetic of such attitude from an israeli living in Jesrusalem since, after all, he/she is engaged in a life & death struggle (at least it is percevied as such by many Israelies) so anything more than "enemy is evil" view would be luxury for him, so he would say.

But you? I don't think so....

manjumicha2001 - 12:23pm May 1, 2002 EST (#1925 of 1936)

my above posting was addressed to the big Rou.....

manjumicha2001 - 12:36pm May 1, 2002 EST (#1926 of 1936)

rshow

I apologize if my question is a naive one...but have you tried to contact the relevant governmment agencies directly, rather than trying to speak to a media outlet such as NYT. There are also NGOs formed by renowned scientists that do some good work in the area of NMD (debunking the misinformation)...for example, the Union of Concerned Scientists, etc etc. Have you tried to speak to them?

mazza9 - 01:37pm May 1, 2002 EST (#1927 of 1936)
Louis Mazza

"The big Rou". Now who could that be?

manjumicha2001 - 01:56pm May 1, 2002 EST (#1928 of 1936)

You know who you are. After all, it is easy to identify yourself in my earlier posting, isn;t it?

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