Missile Defense

As for the UN having teeth. The UN has never had teeth. It's taken humanitarian disasters on their doorstep and a vigilant US government to drag it kicking and screaming into action, all too often, too late. With the new knowledge that military action is affordable and cost effective in lives as well as dollars, the wheels of the UN won't be so rusted and reluctant to move in situations such as N Korea and the Congo. THAT very knowledge will cause belligerant states to clean up their act and only the action in Iraq will be required as enforcement. However, If needed the UN now knows it can and should act rather that allowing disasters to unfold at many times the cost of intervention.

mazza9 - 12:02pm Apr 10, 2003 EST (# 11235 of 11242)
"Quae cum ita sunt" Caesar's Gallic Commentaries

Over at the Space Exploration forum I've suggested a space related iniatiative based on Dr O'Neill's "High Frontier" roadmap. I've stated that if I were the President I would set a goal of moving "All Heavy Industry" off planet by the year 2050.

Embodied in this global initiative is scientific and logical policies and enterprises to return the earth to a park like existence. With major pollution sources orbiting at the LaGrange points our biosphere benefits. Mine the moon and asteroids and colonize Mars and we can all look up to a brighter future.

almarst2003 - 02:34pm Apr 10, 2003 EST (# 11236 of 11242)

"we can all look up to a brighter future."

Just try not to look down:)

almarst2003 - 02:46pm Apr 10, 2003 EST (# 11237 of 11242)

Iraqis have paid the blood price for a fraudulent war - http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,933596,00.html

The most that could eventually be hoped for from US plans is a "managed" form of democracy in a US protectorate, with key economic and strategic decisions taken in advance by the occupiers. Given the likely result of genuinely free elections in any Arab country, it is little wonder that the US would have such problems accepting them - just as they collude with torture and dictatorship by their client states in the region. Anyone who imagines the US is gagging for independent media in the Middle East should ponder Tuesday's attacks on the al-Jazeera and Abu Dhabi TV offices in Baghdad.

The wider global impact of this war was spelled out by North Korea's foreign ministry this week. "The Iraqi war shows," it declared, with unerring logic, "that to allow disarmament through inspections does not help avert a war, but rather sparks it", concluding that "only a tremendous military deterrent force" can prevent attacks on states the US dislikes.

As the administration hawks circle round Syria and Iran, a powerful boost to nuclear proliferation and anti western terror attacks seems inevitable, offset only by the likelihood of a growing international mobilisation against the new messianic imperialism. The risk must now be that we will all pay bitterly for the reckless arrogance of the US and British governments.

almarst2003 - 02:59pm Apr 10, 2003 EST (# 11238 of 11242)

Apparent lobbying by American art dealers to dismantle Iraq's strict export laws has heightened fears about the looting of the country's antiquities as order breaks down in the last stages of the war. - http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,9830,933876,00.html

Its not OIL but still... who would refuse some spare change

almarst2003 - 03:05pm Apr 10, 2003 EST (# 11239 of 11242)

Smoking Gun in Baghdad: 'Welcome, Bush' = INC Photo Op! - http://www.democraticunderground.com/duforum/DCForumID66/17554.html

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