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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 - 08:53am Aug 4, 2002 EST (#3481 of 3489)

Had an interesting call with Louis Mazza (pronounced "Mat-zah") that lasted about three hours. If he's a "construction" he's a lot more vivid, complete one than I'd known about before. VERY much like a real person - near enough to make no difference -- so far as I could tell over the phone. I was about ready to call Mazza, hesitating to do it, after I'd found out some background - some things about him that "checked out."

We had a good talk - and I felt better, about myself, about Mazza, and about this thread, as it went on.

On this thread, I'm windier than Mazza, and he commented about that - - but during this conversation, I think Mazza said eight words to every one I said. I was happy to talk and listen to him, and I think he was happy to talk and listen to me.

I didn't record the conversation - but in some ways I wish I'd done so. I don't think Mazza would have minded, if he'd been asked, though I could be wrong about that. There are a number of people who I think might have found it interesting - and useful. Including, perhaps, people at the Center for Defense Information , at Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War , and maybe at The New York Times. In a few years, with storage getting as cheap as it is, it may become fairly common practice to put such conversations on the web. This time, listeners would be pretty convinced, I believe, that both Mazza and I are pretty interesting, reasonable, honest (and, of course, fallible) people.

Some of the conversation reinforced, strongly and vividly, concerns set out on this thread by almarst and others, including me, lchic, Mazza, and gisterme. And reinforced for me how reasonable some of Casey's advice to me was - and how terribly unstable and dangerous our nuclear arrangements always were, and still remain.

If Mazza doubted the things I've said about my background (and, without checking, of course he should) he didn't say so.

It seems to me that Mazza may be able to help me, in small but useful ways, in getting some security issues resolved that are important if I am to function.

Mazza and I agreed on a great deal, and there was a great deal of mutual sympathy, along with some tension in spots.

I should have called Mazza earlier, but I thought I had some reason to be cautious - and that still seems reasonable.

MD3315 rshow55 7/28/02 5:47pm points out that

"All any human being can ever do is construct patterns from available information - and check them. The pattern formation can be right or wrong - and there is no way to tell, in the end, except to check the checkable. That's not a point that distinguishes sanity and insanity. It is the human condition. "

Being wrong doesn't mean being crazy. Were the patterns there to see? If the answer is yes, the pattern recognition is reasonable, based on what was known when the pattern was seen. J.M. Keynes was very clear about that in an interesting book A Treatise on Probability (I think it was Keynes' Ph.D. thesis.)

As far as this thread goes, I think the "Ishmael hypothesis" is worth some attention, as well.

I'm giving careful thought to how thoroughly I'd like to apologize, and make amends, to George Johnson.

The idea of a conference call, carefully done and recorded, seems reasonable.

rshowalt - 09:26am Aug 4, 2002 EST (#3482 of 3489)

MD2981 rshow55 7/10/02 3:58pm

lchic - 01:12pm Aug 4, 2002 EST (#3483 of 3489)

Showalter | Interesting that you spoke with a 'mAzzA' whoever ... (there were aspects of 'him' that didn't follow through the deeper levels of a search).

rshow55 - 01:44pm Aug 4, 2002 EST (#3484 of 3489)

I very much appreciated your searching efforts, and knowing about them, before I talked to him!

It would be worth a great deal to me, if I was able to show my parents, and the people who know them, what has happened. They'd be proud if they could say that it all worked out for the best - and was worthwhile.

The strains on my parents, and all my family, have been brutal and unfair, and I'm guilty that I couldn't have spared them. But the terrible truth is that I've done the best I could.

Sometimes, money is secondary (though STILL IMPORTANT) -- but the truth matters more.

It is late for church, and people should be looking at the very good Sunday New York Times today, but some might enjoy a sermon that I value a great deal - given by the pastor at my father and mother's church. Scoffers may not like the first 9 minutes, but I think most responsible people are likely to like that rest. We shouldn't let certain kinds of degradation go on. Or let the world end because of negligence. As it easily could. http://www.wisc.edu/rshowalt/sermon.html

lchic - 02:31pm Aug 4, 2002 EST (#3485 of 3489)

Bright young people at the beginning of their 'careers' who might have strayed onto this MD thread would certainly have to consider hard if contemplating 'working for their country'.

If they came across 'ethical' issues that didn't sit well - would they ever be able to cleanly withdraw to move on with a civillian life?

Or would they be ceaselessly linked and burdened?

lchic - 02:50pm Aug 4, 2002 EST (#3486 of 3489)

Fukuyama had concerns (The Weekend Australian - 3-4Aug2002) that the after-shock of 9/11 was pushing American foreign policy ---
[lchic - if they have one]

(BBC) Lord Bramell former head of UK military - and thought to be speaking for current 'Top Brass' - has warned Blair that the USA move on Iraq is neither considered nor practicably feasible

(nor necessary?)

He, as Fukuyama, sees it as a follow on from 9/11.

Europe is against such moves

(& probably also applies to Russia)

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