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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.

lunarchick - 07:38pm Nov 11, 2002 EST (# 5598 of 5651)

What's wrong with Iraq?

What's right with Iraq?

Why - if Iraq has cash from OIL - aren't the people of Iraq enjoying democracy?

What was the structure of human-capital within Iraq :

prior to OIL

post OIL

Who had control?

Who had NO-control?

Is there a danger of countries with incomes from pipelines using it to import goods rather than develop production within their borders?

What did Iraq purchase under contracts from RU?
Why is there debt?

Should contries such as Iraq develop alliances with advanced economies - to introduce 'process' that generates jobs with incomes?

Do regimes see the development of a 'middle class' as an advantage .... moving on to develop a more complex society that further enriches all?
If not, then why not?

Do 'pipeline' countries have under-utilised educated elites ... how can this human-capital be put to work to create a better country?

~~~~~

Saddam Hussain - He's made his money, had power ... on the Maslow framework ... to enable self-actualisation what strategy should be envisaged and implemented for the betterment of the entire nation?

Is the concept of rule by 'terror' an outdated one for the 21st Century?

If Saddam has been 'reasonably smart' in the Arab world - then, what's stopping him being 'super smart' and working towards a positive, constructive vision, that gives Iraq democracy and makes it a real power in terms of morals | ethics | economy | culture | and Leadership - wouldn't that be 'simple' for an intelligent leader who looks beyond mere tribal-one-up-manship?

rshow55 - 07:40pm Nov 11, 2002 EST (# 5599 of 5651)
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.

Almarst , if you looked hard, you might be able to find spots where the Bush administration and I do not agree.

All the same - in this particular situation - I think that honor is far better served by getting the inspection process expeditiously and effectively done - - from just about every point of view I can think of.

Here is a direct quote from Iraq States Its Case by MOHAMMED ALDOURI http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/17/opinion/17ALDO.html

"After so many years of fear from war, the threat of war and suffering, the people of Iraq and their government in Baghdad are eager for peace. We have no intention of attacking anyone, now or in the future, with weapons of any kind. If we are attacked, we will surely defend ourselves with all means possible. But bear in mind that we have no nuclear or biological or chemical weapons, and we have no intention of acquiring them.

"We are not asking the people of the United States or of any member state of the United Nations to trust in our word, but to send the weapons inspectors to our country to look wherever they wish unconditionally.

Why not?

We need to find stable ways to accomodate distrust.

lunarchick - 07:42pm Nov 11, 2002 EST (# 5600 of 5651)

In a world where

1/10th of the population can make basic provision for the rest
then

The 9/10th issue is visible in 'pipeline' economies - it requires 'intelligent' leadership think-tanks to come up with good workable solutions that VALUE people!

almarst2002 - 07:45pm Nov 11, 2002 EST (# 5601 of 5651)

"What's wrong with Iraq? ... What's right with Iraq?

What's right the people outside of Iraq have to decide? To kill. To destroy. To rule. To impose. To abuse. To pilage. To provoke. To interfear. To play God?

My answer is - the POWER. And the feeling of impunity.

lunarchick - 07:50pm Nov 11, 2002 EST (# 5602 of 5651)

'Security - if there WAS such a thing, then it wouldn't be a problem' ...... Dawn Riley

http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=security

If there's no such thing as 'security' then it's better that all countries move for getting along peacefully and delimit war, excuses for revenge, excuses for warped ideology.

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