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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 - 10:59pm Jun 26, 2003 EST (# 12702 of 12715)

Gisterme ...

"I think you've kind of dodged the whole question you intended to respond to, Fred.

The question is: "What happens when somebody doesn't comply with the agreement?". Who's going to do anything about it?"

I never even thought about that. Why? Firstly there will be an administrative body with funds to structure the program as there is currently for the KYOTO GW protocol. Then, when a nation signs up for KAEP it will register a list of 1. funding schedules 2. appropriate wetland sites (in cooperation with an analysis by the admin body) 3. The cities and sites appropriate for a geothermal power plant and 4. a list of scientists available for the research programs and the times and facilities they will have available.

I stress this is a 'crawl before running' concept and all lists will be moderated to the simplest level appropriate for 'to the minute' funding. When that funding dips below required limits, those nations not contributing freely will lose some or all development schedules until they cooperate.

As for not installing their wetlands or geothermal plant(s)? They wouldn't sign up if they did not agree. If they change their minds they (presumably) won't put in their next sceduled payment and the worldwide implementation teams and contracted (largeley US and European initially) companies will not proceed with their next scheduled entitlement. No guilt or punishment , just international cooperation. If the nation cannot afford the scheduled step then they can be ignored (insofar as the program) or assisted depending on circumstances.

Also remember we are talking about 1/200th world $GDP which is a hell of a lot of money and will achieve a lot. But equally it is not enough percentage of world funding to cause any crises or deflect current national integrities. All it does is structure a better, cooperative future for all who wish to participate. Further it goes direct to the heart of what all people want ... energy, order, creativity and a structured way to achieve incrementally greater freedom from the worries of SURVIVAL. IE it gives participants a structured way of decreasing ENTROPY. This is THE purpose of all life. It will do it in a way which is not a UTOPIAN ideal but rather an optimal way of achieving mankind's basic neeeds without unnecessary strife or 'duplicaaated' effort.

PS I cannot think of any better way of boosting a currently flagging world economy ... contracts, jobs, science, research, space, oil company drilling techs, bio and geo products ..........

fredmoore - 11:22pm Jun 26, 2003 EST (# 12703 of 12715)

Gisterme ...

Hate is a bad word to use ... we both have different notions of its usage here.

You have to think like a CEO. They are the best paid people on the planet. Why? Because the can sniff OPPORTUNITIES from all directions at once and despite any contradictions or morality make profits on all of them concurrently .... through administrative prowess and political affiliations. Ever seen 'The Distinguished Gentleman' with Eddie Murphy?

So it is possible to 'encourage' a weak education system. Relevant corporations can then provide 'status' and 'feel good' products to a huge 'unfocused' young market and still skim the cream of the crop as a source of employees. Nothing is impossible for them ... only failure. Good teacher, bad teacher ... they don't really hate or care about them as long as teachers are underpaid the system works to their advantage.

Cynical? No, real world!

Mind you they are REALLY going to hate me! HELP!

gisterme - 11:41pm Jun 26, 2003 EST (# 12704 of 12715)

Robert,

Glad you had a fun trip. That is a beautiful area.

Family reconciliation is also a good thing.

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