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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.

cantabb - 12:30pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13724 of 13824)

bbbuck - 12:20pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13721 of 13721)

When's showalter, due back?

Missing his posts already ?

Mine are going to be different & focused, IF you recall !

cantabb - 12:32pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13725 of 13824)

Oops. Post repeated, for some reason !

gisterme - 12:58pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13726 of 13824)

cantabb -

"...Just review the posts since my first post here yesterday !..."

Not to mention the last couple of years. We actually did have some somewhat interesting discussions about missile defense for a while; but that's been a long time ago.

I agree with you that most of what's been said here doesn't even have anyting to do with human conflict per se. IMHO it's been more about one man's tortured existance.

cantabb - 01:21pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13727 of 13824)

gisterme - 12:58pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13726 of 13726)

Agree.

Have been watching the forum for a long time. Never had time or interest in the inane ramblings about everything and anything, including the personal matters and dirty laundry.

NYT forum -- NOT a place for all that ! Take to a chat room !

patthnyc - 01:27pm Sep 18, 2003 EST (# 13728 of 13824)
". . . how fragile we are . . ." -- Sting

SPEAK OUT ON SENATE VOTE ON NEW NUCLEAR WEAPONS

On September 16, the Senate voted down an amendment to cut funding for new nuclear weapons offered to the energy and water appropriations bill (S 1424). The amendment, offered by Sens. Feinstein (CA), Kennedy (MA), and others, was defeated by a vote of 53-41 (see roll call votes below).

The Senate then went on to accept unanimously an amendment by Sens. Reed (RI) and Levin (MI) to allow research, but not development, of new nuclear weapons. If the Administration wants to start developing these weapons, it must go back to Congress to get authorization. A line was drawn in the sand. No new nuclear weapons will be built unless there is another vote in Congress.

The defeat of the amendment to cut funds for new nuclear weapons is not the failure of FCNL or the thousands of people like you who worked on this issue; it is the failure of the Senate. Over 50 national groups, religious and secular, worked to stop funding for these new nuclear weapons. Senate offices received tens of thousands of letters, emails, calls, and faxes. The people spoke, but the Senate refused to listen.

ACTION: Please thank your senators if they voted to cut funds for new nuclear weapons, and express your disappointment if they voted for funding. The roll call from the vote is listed below. Members of Congress need to continue hearing from constituents that limiting research on new nuclear weapons is important for U.S. security and nonproliferation efforts worldwide.

CONTACTING YOUR SENATORS IS EASY: Start with the sample letter posted in our Legislative Action Center, personalize the language, then email, or fax your message directly from our site. You can also print it out and mail it. To view the sample letter, click on the link below, and then scroll down to the bottom of the Alert. Here is the link:

http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=3458546&type=CO.

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New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense