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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 - 11:47am Nov 13, 2002 EST (# 5715 of 5724)

Iraq http://www.guardian.co.uk/iraq Iraq Gu talk thread

lunarchick - 11:58am Nov 13, 2002 EST (# 5716 of 5724)

Iraq - Economy (analysis) - Trading Fair
http://www.usatoday.com/money/markets/world/2002-11-10-iraqecon_x.htm

lunarchick - 12:06pm Nov 13, 2002 EST (# 5717 of 5724)

Iran - Immense Marketing Opportunity
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2002/8/prweb44749.php

rshow55 - 12:50pm Nov 13, 2002 EST (# 5718 of 5724)
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.

5441 rshow55 11/1/02 12:23pm 5442 lchic 11/1/02 2:06pm

It seems to me that the Security Council, and the nations involved, including Iraq, have a chance to make the world a more beautiful place than it is today in very practical, specific, and important ways.

When the people involved have strong emotional feelings - strong aesthetic feelings - that is practically important - and to adress the reasons for those feelings - it seems to me that the formality of "disciplined beauty" described above can be useful.

I hope that the Iraqis and the U.N. inspectors work carefully - with really compatable objectives - and that they do so, in communication not only with each other, but with other interested human beings - with the clear knowledge that international law, in theory and in fact - is in the process of being redefined, renegotiated, and formed now.

This is a hopeful, potentially creative, as well as risky time.

lunarchick - 03:39pm Nov 13, 2002 EST (# 5719 of 5724)

Iraq - every new day brings new opportunity

Iraq is moving from fight to peace

How best to smooth the transition?

Ask what is now redundant and discard it

Bombs | Bios | Guns | Swords | OUT

Plough/Plow Shares IN

Herald in the new era

lunarchick - 03:58pm Nov 13, 2002 EST (# 5720 of 5724)

Put 'basic law' in place - refine it

Look to simple strategies that enfranchise all

Look at base education provision
Put it in place

Look to higher/technical education
Use cultural exchange schemes to get folks out into the 2003 world and understand 'the state of the art'
Bring in experts and educators
Bring in 'process' and 'systems' that are effective

Look for tourism and tourist exchange

Welcome alliances that bring process in

Soften trading barriers
work in with neighbouring populations - markets

Look to empowering those in process (commerical manufacturing administration education logistics) so that they can communicate well and implement the transition and changes to give an efficient economy

Look to deals with countries requiring outstanding payment ... deals for 'plow shares' not deals for swords&death

Look for international GOODWILL -- there'll be lots of it -- welcome it!

lunarchick - 04:02pm Nov 13, 2002 EST (# 5721 of 5724)

Work on leadership transition

Empower the parliament
Set visionary plow share targets
Work towards equal numbers of male|female in ministerial office

Look at Community level empowerment and accountability - give communities responisibilty to ensure security and standards in their neighbourhoods - develop civic pride

Re-emphasise religious tolerance with SECULAR education systems and Government.

(3 following messages)

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