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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.

gisterme - 08:34pm Oct 14, 2002 EST (# 4890 of 4902)

manjumicha 10/14/02 7:57pm

"...Sorry to pop your bubbles...but last time I checked, Clinton couldn't bomb NKs because they already had ICBMs deliverable to Chicago and the rest...."

You seem delighted to report that, manjumicha. Why? And, just for the record, if you will, how did you check that? I'm sure both Robert and I would like to know. And, oh, by the way, all the more reason to have a missile defense. Wouldn't you agree, manju?

rshow55 - 08:37pm Oct 14, 2002 EST (# 4891 of 4902)
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.

I'm knocking off (to have another beer, and eat dinner) - - but here's another thing you can check.

I'd advocate work on MD programs that have any reasonable chance of working.

I've said that all along.

A lot of money could be freed up - and still do that effectively.

Out.

I'm hungry.

almarst2002 - 08:58pm Oct 14, 2002 EST (# 4892 of 4902)

gisterme 10/14/02 8:34pm

Aren't you, gisterme, delighted that millions of lives (even those of NK whom you probably consider "underhuman") are saved? Which may not be the case once NMD is deployed?

Same goes for China, Iran, and eventually Russia. After all, as Bush put it, why should any American live with a fear? If it is impossible to disarm the world and better, place it in one big concentration camp modeled after Guantanamo, even a NMD will not provide 100% protection.

gisterme - 09:07pm Oct 14, 2002 EST (# 4893 of 4902)

almarst2002 10/14/02 8:58pm

"Aren't you, gisterme, delighted that millions of lives (even those of NK whom you probably consider "underhuman") are saved? Which may not be the case once NMD is deployed?..."

Almarst, I don't see how defending against a possible ballistic missile attack here in the US could possibly threaten the innocent people of North Korea.

"...why should any American live with a fear?..."

That's a good point almarst. Why should any American live in fear if we can do something about it?

"...place it in one big concentration camp modeled after Guantanamo, even a NMD will not provide 100% protection.

Right, almarst. Are you suggesting that we should let those terrorists that are being held at Guantanimo loose in your neighborhood?

manjumicha - 09:13pm Oct 14, 2002 EST (# 4894 of 4902)

gisterme

I neither delight nor despair on matters of missiles, nukes, etc like some arm-chair warriers that need to get off on that sort of things....I will spare myself of the pyscho analysis re; your need for such emotional "clutch" except to state that it is a painful sight to watch.

But I do delight in calling the naked emperor naked when everyone else (it seems) acts blind.....:-)

As for missile defense, it should be built and deployed if it can be done in technologically sound and reliable way....in fact it would be a treason for any US president not to do so....but it would be a terrible mistake to do so merely to gain some psychological advantage in a geopolitical game....since it would increase danger to the continental US by many folds. Why is this so difficult for peopel such as yourself to understand? Btw, please relax and go easy on rshow since no viable weapons system will be put aside because of some moral objectors: it has never been nor will it ever be.

gisterme - 09:52pm Oct 14, 2002 EST (# 4895 of 4902)

manjumicha 10/14/02 9:13pm

"...As for missile defense, it should be built and deployed if it can be done in technologically sound and reliable way....in fact it would be a treason for any US president not to do so...."

Thanks, manjumicha for being so reasonable. I agree with you that if the emperor is naked then he needs a mirror. Time is the mirror that will ultimately reveal the truth. I think the clothes are on, you may not. If he's naked, then we taxpayers will waste a lot of money; if not, a lot of us will remain alive who wouldn't otherwise. We'll see... Hey! I'm hungry too!

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