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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.

rshow55 - 02:07pm Aug 26, 2003 EST (# 13424 of 13427)
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.

Mazza's mythological story of how "A Benny shaved is a Benny urned." is a good one - 13381 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@13.fQUFbarXBbU.0@.f28e622/15072 - - and uses Zeuss as a symbol of power. Berle does that, too.

9876 - http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@13.fQUFbarXBbU.0@.f28e622/11421 These lines are from the last paragraph of the Preface from Power by Adolf A. Berle . ...

" Some Zeuss must exist to whom appeal can be made when matters get out of hand. "

Berle's Power also includes these rules - which have something to do with the power of anything associated, even in a minor way, with a major press power, such as the NYT.

Rule Three: Power is invariably based on a system of ideas of philosophy. Absent such a system or philosophy, the institutions essential to power cease to be reliable, power ceases to be effective, and the power holder is eventually displaced.

Rule Five: Power is invariably confronted with, and acts in the presence of, a field of responsibility. The two constantly interact, in hostility or co-operation, in conflict or through some form of dialog, organized or unorganized, made part of, or perhaps intruding into, the institutions on which power depends.

Watergate was a big deal because the press took some responsibility, and exercised some real power. http://www.mrshowalter.net/Assessing%20Watergate%2030%20Years%20Later.htm

The Whitewater scandal occurred, much to Clinton's displeasure, because some reporters looked into things - and printed them.

For various reasons such as those, I've guessed that people in the White House, even high ones, might take an interest in this thread. If they haven't - I'm very flattered at the effort NYT staff seems to have gone to to simulate the interest.

The press has some zeuss-like powers - and have a good deal of influence, direct and indirect, about how people think about things. That's not complete power - it isn't enough to leash thunder bolts - but it does effect action. An intellectual makes suggestions - and when they are acted on - those suggestions can matter.

9877 - http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@13.fQUFbarXBbU.0@.f28e622/11422

If the leaders of nation states could set out - now - what power relations they want that they actually think could work in the world as it is - that they actually think can be implemented, by the real people involved, step by step - we'd have a chance of sorting some very basic things out.

Power isn't a matter of should or shouldn't in human affairs. Like sex, it is here to stay - and life couldn't go on without it...

Missile Defense #10022 - http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@13.fQUFbarXBbU.0@.f28e622/11568

The UN is a very poor Zeuss - that's clear. But it needs to be able to grow.

And the UN is indispensible - the US CANNOT supplant it - it doesn't have enough backing from enough people in enough places in the world...

Though Gisterme disagrees, (search Zeuss ) .

I'm doing my duty - and a report on NASA's recent disaster looks like it just may reflect - maybe very indirectly - things that have been discussed here. We're having to learn to handle complex interactions better than we have. I think there's hope that we can - and I'm trying, however ineffectually, to do my little bit. I promised to do so.

jorian319 - 02:38pm Aug 26, 2003 EST (# 13425 of 13427)

almarst2002 - 12:58pm Aug 26, 2003 EST (# 13420 of 13424)

Don't know if "care" is the right word. I'm interested partly because your perspective is so different from that of a typical bred&born American. I disagree with most of your take on things, but strive to understand how the negativity that pervades your posts becomes part and parcel of a person. My comments about personality types might seem to belie that I make such an effort, but it's only human to look to the easy explanation for things that are hard to comprehend.

almarst2002 - 03:13pm Aug 26, 2003 EST (# 13426 of 13427)

jorian319 - 02:38pm Aug 26, 2003 EST (# 13425 of 13425)

If I may, the conclusion is:

A typical bred&born American (is expected to) look to the easy explanation for things that are hard to comprehend.

Well, "Don't worry - Be happy" breed should thank their Life-stile, Schools and the Media for such an "achievement".

jorian319 - 04:54pm Aug 26, 2003 EST (# 13427 of 13427)

Aw shucks, Almarst - I'm only an aspiring "don't worry, be happy". :-)

Seriously, I'm all in favor of not worrying and being happy, but also feel that such luxuries must be earned by hard work and concerted effort.

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