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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?

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rshowalt - 06:56pm Jul 20, 2002 EST (#3187 of 3327)

zulphia 7/18/02 5:26pm asked a very good question, with a lot behind it, and lchic 7/20/02 4:04pm is a brilliant response -- with a fine short summary, to wit:

"{{{{{{{{{ Silence is a tax exemption }}}}}}}}} "

When I talked seriously to a very good, very senior "peace activist" I was appalled at how enormously restricted his ability to function (and raise money) was because of restrictions that go with tax exemptions.

I've never taken tax exempt money, and hope never to have to.

The "advantage" of tax exemption carries such an enormous cost -- that it doesn't seem worth it. I, Robert Showalter, have moral and public interest concerns, but I am attempting to make a profit. (If I'm a non-profit enterprise - that's not the way I planned it - - - its just the way, so far, it is working out. )

MD3158-62 rshowalt 7/19/02 10:34am

Looking at

America the Invulnerable? The World Looks Again by STEVEN ERLANGER http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/21/weekinreview/21ERLA.html

and

The Global Cost of Crony Capitalism By DAVID E. SANGER http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/21/weekinreview/21SANG.html?pagewanted=print&position=top

I wondered what Eisenhower, or either President Roosevelt would want to say?

This is what we fought the Cold War for?

Some things bear repeating. The concerns set out in Eisenhower's FAREWELL ADDRESS of January 17, 1961 http://www.geocities.com/~newgeneration/ikefw.htm are concerns that ought to be repeated, again and again. Americans don't want to hear those concerns. But they should.

The very worst things that Eisenhower warned against have happened. Americans, and concerned people all over the world, have very practical interests in getting some records and facts straight, and getting some things fixed.

It is not a good time for "joking." Things are too serious. But on the other hand, maybe jokes are just what is needed MD3111 rshow55 7/17/02 8:39am

Jokes that stick and burn.

. . .

For very little money (not tax exempt) a lot could be shown about how far things have gotten out of balance. This thread, I believe, has had a largish "bang for the buck." Perhaps, sometimes, finding the truth ought to be done in a way that isn't subsidized by a government tax exemption - and the restrictions that go with it.

rshowalt - 08:25pm Jul 20, 2002 EST (#3188 of 3327)

Partly, but only partly because the Science in the News thread is being rebooted, I want to post this: MD506 rshow55 3/13/02 11:28pm

MD130 rshow55 3/2/02 6:59pm rshow55 3/2/02 7:59pm

On soldiers and responsibility:
rshowalter "Science in the News" 8/29/00 7:26am ... rshowalter "Science in the News" 8/29/00 7:27am

THE 'EATHEN by Rudyard Kipling
rshowalter "Science in the News" 8/29/00 7:56am ...rshowalter "Science in the News" 8/29/00 8:00am ... rshowalter "Science in the News" 8/29/00 8:01am

rshowalter "Science in the News" 8/29/00 8:03am

More Kipling: Mesopotamia .....1917 http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee74d94/3625

Soldier an' Sailor Too http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?13@@.ee79f4e/1702

THE VIRGINITY http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee79f4e/1295

THE 'EATHEN http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7b085/18

And ESPECIALLY - with respect to issues of "paradigm conflict" and "connecting the dots" Our Fathers of Old http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?13@@.ee79f4e/241

Our Fathers of Old http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?13@@.ee79f4e/241

Our Fathers of Old http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?13@@.ee79f4e/241

People's head get full of "explanations" -- and have since history began. But are these "explanations" good ones?

http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7b085/129

Erica Goode's IDEAS AND TRENDS piece Hey, What if Contestants Give Each Other Shocks? deals with issues of concern to most people I know, and shows a case where scientific information can give evidence on an issue about humanity, and one particularly troubling. During WWII, what did the Germans know, and when did they know it?

I key the argument to a great Rudyard Kipling poem - The 'eathen rshowalter "Science in the News" 8/29/00 7:56am

and ended with a discussion of military and civilian responsibility and knowledge, keyed to the Germans, th at I was proud to write. rshowalter "Science in the News" 8/29/00 8:03am

Shortly afterward, there followed posts, written indirectly but usefully for their purpose, that meant a great deal to me, and were of practical help, in a circumstance where my humanity had been called into question.

507 lchic 3/13/02 11:29pm ... 508 rshow55 3/13/02 11:33pm

509 rshow55 3/13/02 11:35pm ... b 510 almarst-2001 3/13/02 11:39pm

. . .

We have some questions to ask. And things to fix.

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