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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 - 07:50pm Sep 16, 2003 EST (# 13700 of 13824)
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.

http://www.mrshowalter.net/Sequential.htm sets out evidence that there's been a lot of work on this thread - and not only by lchic and me.

Looking at the number of postings, salaries, and overhead, and guessing that somebody at the NYT has read every post, or most of them - the NYT cares at least a little about this thread. I appreciate that chance to post here.

13599 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@13.gKfQbUHeHtB.971563@.f28e622/15292

Learning to Stand http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee79f4e/662 is a tribute to lchic , the most valuable mind I've ever encountered. We share hopes that C.P Snow and many others have expressed http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md4000s/md4125.htm

We're working to make clearer, more practical, ideas of what hope looks like...

10912 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@13.gKfQbUHeHtB.971563@.f28e622/12464

What would people involved be proud to do?

Unless we can anchor discourse on some agreed-upon facts - set out and reinforced according to the standards that work for human beings (that is, the standards actually needed in jury trials) there is no solution. But orderly, sharp, solid solutions to problems often do happen.

Often they are series solutions - successive approximations.

I don't have to be right all the time - and neither does anybody else - for progress to happen.

gisterme - 02:46pm Sep 17, 2003 EST (# 13701 of 13824)

Robert -

"...Unless we can anchor discourse on some agreed-upon facts -

Facts are facts whether they are agreed upon or not. Because somebody doesn't believe a fact or agree with it does not mean it's not a fact. Said otherwise, reality doesn't cease to exist just because somebody can't face up to it.

"...set out and reinforced according to the standards that work for human beings..."

As opposed to standards that work for nonhuman beings? Those on earth who are not human beings have no option but to face facts. If they can't find food and water within the narrow niches wherein God has granted them dominion then they die. Be greatful that we humans have a much broader scope of dominion than our animal cohabitants on this world.

"...(that is, the standards actually needed in jury trials) there is no solution..."

So we need to prove as if to a jury that red is red and hungry is hungry and comfortable is comfortable before those things can be? Do you and I have to agree that all the same things are good in order to both exist? I think not. Suppose that one person in the jury didn't agree on some "fact". Would that make it not so for all?

I'd have to place that whole statement of yours at or near the top of the all time "stupid writings" list, Robert.

fredmoore - 03:35pm Sep 17, 2003 EST (# 13702 of 13824)

Gisterme,

I don't agree with all that Robert says ... but ... I don't have a problem with 'human beings' in the current context as meaning people with a heart as well as a mind. To wit: Humanity. People, like FDR and Lincoln for example, who knew that to exclude one person or one state from US constitutional rights and ideals is to damn all people.

I'm not sure if your problem with Robert is an isolationist philosophy, hurt feelings, or you are just shagnasty. I don't have a problem with making fun of Robert's prolix writing but I would hesitate to inject the degree of spite that you are currently demonstrating. What gives? Personally I would be flattered if I were mistaken for some High ranking Official.

Regards: Colin

Robert ...

You are making some progress ... Well done!

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