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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.

rshowalt - 03:44pm Jul 24, 2002 EST (#3256 of 3339)

I'm taking a little time to enjoy the market move up just now. rshowalt 7/24/02 12:26pm

But I did a little searching, and noticed that the issue of George Johnson working (as a hack) behind a lot of pseudonyms has been an issue raised on this thread, by me and by lchic more than 40 times since Mar 29, 2001 EST #1742 -- and in other forums, for years before. An issue raised enough times, in enough ways it seems to me, that if Johnson wanted the issue resolved, he could surely have found an effective way to establish the truth - unless it happened to be against him. (For instance - by emailing me with a denial, and a proposal with a way to check - subject to embarrassments and penalties.) If I owe George Johnson, or you, and apology, and that becomes clear, you'll get the apology.

Maybe I'm wrong about you, Cooper. Don't deny that possibility. But perhaps, if you object to my proposal for checking, the proposal can be modified, perhaps at a little cost to me (there's a good deal involved for me, on a number of issues) so that you don't have to turn over your number to me -- but can to someone with some independence and stature.

I think lchic has stature, for the purposes here. She's too much of a crafstman to lie about something like this. And I bet if she sets out to do a competent job of recording a conversation, and asking key questions, she can.

"Cooper", I'll respond more to your question. There's a lot I can say that can be checked. But I want, just now, to do some other things, and enjoy the market move. rshowalt 7/24/02 12:26pm

rshowalt - 04:53pm Jul 24, 2002 EST (#3257 of 3339)

Maybe I'm wrong about you, Cooper.

Don't deny that possibility. But perhaps, if you object to my proposal for checking, the proposal can be modified, perhaps at a little cost to me (there's a good deal involved for me, on a number of issues) so that you don't have to turn over your number to me -- but can to someone with some independence and stature.

wrcooper 7/24/02 4:07pm includes this:

"We were very friendly on the boards until for some reason you started accusing me of lying, at which point I freaked and threatened to write your department to complain about you."

When did I accuse you of lying (some time back)? -Perhaps I may have done so - but don't remember that, just now. Nor do I remember your "freaking and threatening to write my department." Now memories are tricky - but I don't remember that happening. Do you happen to have a record, or some way to check?

I stand by the things I've said about Johnson, both bad and good as reasonable opinions based on what I knew when I made them. (There's been plenty I've said, especially about his articles, that has been good, including a comment recently.)

Now, people form patterns, based on things that seem to make a certain sense, and the process of doing so may be just the same, whether the conclusions are right or wrong. Cooper, I may be wrong about you - and I've said as much. Why not check?

Something I notice, that impresses me, but does so negatively. Attribution of insanity is a serious thing - - because operationally, to call someone crazy is really to say "not human." I don't think that's justified.

rshowalt - 04:55pm Jul 24, 2002 EST (#3258 of 3339)

I'll have more to say - and I'll want to be careful saying it. My relationship with George Johnson goes back a long ways. It has included some significantly positive aspects (perhaps fewer than I've assumed). Also, insofar as I can interpret the situation (and I'd like to check, since I may be wrong) it has included some long duration, high effort sequences where George Johnson (if I understand the situation, and I'd like to be able to check) showed what seems to me to be gross bad faith. Bad faith extending, in my opinion - well into the range of fraud.

Notice that I don't say Johnson's crazy. Nor do I claim infallibility for myself. I could be wrong, and admit that. Still, the issues involved are important enough, I believe, to be worth checking.

Including rather extensive reasons I have to believe that George Johnson has been in contact with, and probably working for, the CIA or an allied agency, acting in ways that show gross bad faith to me, and have inflicted heavy costs.

(Now, the reasons that this makes sense to me could be wrong -- but they aren't crazy just because they could be wrong - they could be checked. If I find I have reason to apologize, I will surely do so.)

Given the stakes, and my personal situation, I've tried to "play it straight" within the limits of my abilities and courage. I think other people, in my situation, might have done, felt,and concluded in the ways I have.

Nor, insofar as I remember, have I ever asked for anyone to trust me without checking. I've asked to be checked.

There's more to say, and I'll take some time.

Attribution of insanity is a serious thing. Raising the issue of fraud is gentle by comparison - especially when I'm asking for a way to check.

And Cooper, if I am wrong about you - that doesn't mean I'm wrong about Johnson's being behind several hack monikers on this thread. I do agree with you that the wrcooper postings, by and large, not counting the attribution of insanity just lately, have been pretty reasonable.

lchic - 09:22pm Jul 24, 2002 EST (#3259 of 3339)

Audit/Consulting

One thing the Wacko reactionist redneck republicans in Congress are refusing to do is to determine that Auditing and Consulting be split and with two different entities - as per Sweden. Raises the point how many Congress men have 'interests' in shonky companies that are being gutted from the inside robbing shareholders of value!?

lchic - 09:26pm Jul 24, 2002 EST (#3260 of 3339)

The American EMPIRE

How's the empire going GeorgeWB?

A post above talks about TRUTH and EMPIRE.

To some extent those under an empire are vulnerable - just as are those who live in institutions. The line of command is distant. Bad things happen. Whose documenting all the bad things and making a record. Did all those civillians and children need to die from bullets, land mines, HIV and starvation ?! Who are the record keepers?

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