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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.

fredmoore - 04:36pm Apr 9, 2003 EST (# 11219 of 11222)

Mazza ....

Once the recriminations are put into perspective, the UN will realise that it NOW has teeth. So too will states where human rights are not respected.

For example, if the UN now says that North Korea must cease production of weapons grade plutonium, it will mean something. This is progressive.

There also appears to be a responsibility NOW for peace movements across the planet to study HISTORY with a view to understanding that PEACE is not about maintaining their own calm sensibilities, their personal peace, but rather about seeing how FREEDOM is something that comes with a pricetag. A pricetag that sometimes is soaked in blood as well as their taxes. They need to understand the obligations of freedom as well as the benefits. The current conflict is teaching and will continue to teach peace movements how to put their own selfishness and ignorance in perspective. They will start to see that the price paid for freedom is not always directly about them. That whilst their concern is important it must be more sophisticated in a long term sense. That they understand the price is always insignificant in comparison to the fate of those who take the wrong path of allowing millions to suffer and die in silence while they sip wine and believe the world is free when clearly it is not. That they realise that DIPLOMACY is only as good as the last battle where freedom wins. YES there is a lot to learn from HISTORY and peace movements will be far more poignant and powerful for that learning. Of course, they may also think that this involves too much effort and dwindle away. I hope not.

The NEXT big hurdle for world stability and peace is to cancel the current KYOTO treaty and create a new KYOTO treaty based on alternative energy source targets. Any peace movement espousing a decrease in global ENTROPY, an increase in world order by phasing in sustainable energy options is truly showing modernity and sophistication and they will prevail.

Meanwhile on another planet far far away ....

This dudes insulted us man ... let's F##k him up! Can ya pass the joint man! Peace brother!

rshow55 - 04:45pm Apr 9, 2003 EST (# 11220 of 11222)
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.

Plenty of self righteousness and muddle to go around.

The Atlantic Monthly this month as two interesting articles http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/preview/

A very good one gives reasons why Almarst's suspiscions about oil may have a lot of basis, at that:

The Fall of the House of Saud by Robert Baer

Americans have long considered Saudi Arabia the one constant in the Arab Middle East—a source of cheap oil, political stability, and, it must be said, very lucrative business relationships. But Saudi Arabia is ruled by a royal family that is deeply corrupt, increasingly dysfunctional, and, to a surprising extent, complicit in the support of international terrorism. Our correspondent, a veteran former CIA operative in the Middle East, argues that the House of Saud is on the verge of collapse—and if it falls, the economic and political effects on the world order could be calamitous.

Another one, Hitler's Forgotten Library by Timothy W. Ryback ends with a really spooky, wrenching quote that all leaders - especially leaders who think they are "touched by destiny" - or "touched by God" should really think about - and a conclusion they should reject.

Hitler told some guests in December of 1941 "If there is a God, then he give us not only life but also consciousness and awareness. If I live my life according to my God-given insights, then I cannot go wrong, and even if I do I know I have acted in good faith."

Leaders who think that way - and far too many do - ought to be ashamed - and be more careful.

Any human being can go wrong - and is likely to do so trusting their insights.

People make mistakes.

Exactly the same conceptual processes that lead to good conclusions lead to bad ones - and people have to be responsible for knowing that, checking, and being careful. If checking is done, and adjustments made - good conclusions are likely.

If checking's not done - disasters are likely.

Leaders ought to know that.

People who defer to leaders ought to have sense enough to know that, too - and not defer too much.

fredmoore - 05:17pm Apr 9, 2003 EST (# 11221 of 11222)

Muddles of the future can be avoided by understanding the most important need of any individual or state. The need we fight and die for ... EMERGY or energy with a sense of sustainability and order. Some folks think it is only to be found in fossil fuels, in Mid East oil. They are plain WRONG ....

An effective Kyoto Alternative Energy treaty would link all countries

1. In a 10 year plan

2. With countries providing funds on a percentage of GDP basis

3. For an international research and implementation program for:

A. Converting major power stations to dry rock geothermal

B. Developing and implementing Thermoelectric fabrics (eg polythiophene) for urban and agricultural power generation.

C. Developing space based solar collectors and microwave transmission of power from space

D. Terminating every stormwater and major farm runoff in an engineered wetland.

This Kyoto Alternative Energy protocol would be profit generating, whilst producing clean, sustainable electric power for all nations. It would also generate cooperation and potential for peace among all nations.

As for the current CO2 limiting treaty. Well, this has already generated mistrust among nations, downgrades profits in developed countries and doesn't focus on alternative power sources to fossil fuels.

A Kyoto Alternative Energy treaty would provide so many integrated and positive advantages for the whole world and a sustainable pathway for future generations.

Why muddle about, connect the dots, pronounce the nots? It's time to be KYOTO POSITIVE.

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