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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 - 12:07am Dec 15, 2002 EST (# 6620 of 6649)

almarst2002 12/14/02 4:14pm

"...Hundreds of thousands of weapons have been distributed by the regime to the people of Iraq,..."

Proof that the lesson is forgotten.

"...the majority of whom respect their leader and who would fight against an invading army to protect their dignity, if not their leader..."

That's Saddam's lie to himself. The forgotten lesson? Never believe your own propaganda!

Truth is that Saddam's "people" will simply shoot him to maintain their dignity and to avoid a foreign invasion launched to acheive the same end.

The other day I heard a TV analyst say something like this: "When each of Saddam's officers turns in at night he's got to wonder if he will be the last soldier killed for Saddam, if his family will be the last left fatherless. And that officer has to wonder the same thing when he wakes up in the morning."

That's reality.

"... the [Iraqi] military commanders would do whatever necessary to visit destruction on those perceived to be the enemies of Iraq,..."

That's true.

"...namely the US Forces in the region – and Israel..."

There's the lie. Saddam is the true enemy of Iraq. His officers know it.

That's more reality...

"...The whole region would be gripped by a refugee crisis, destabilising economies which are already weak,..."

Not true. With Saddam and sanctions removed Iraq's economy can only get stronger.

"...creating, in President Assad’s words, “fertile soil for terrorism”."

Seeing as how Iraq is already a well-spring of terrorism, that statement leads one to wonder about Assad's sincerity.

gisterme - 12:16am Dec 15, 2002 EST (# 6621 of 6649)

lunarchick 12/14/02 8:09pm

"...Democarcy for Iraq is what Iraqis want!..."

Liberty is what the Iraqis want whatever their chosen form of government is. Iraqis are by far the best folks to make that happen. I believe they will at the end of the day.

manjumicha - 12:21am Dec 15, 2002 EST (# 6622 of 6649)

oops !

Here ia one inconvenient fact for gisterme re: his "stealth" subs...:-)

"According to a Japanese newspaper (JapanToday, October 3, 2002 at 17:30 JST), an American nuclear submarine, The USS Helena, a 6,000 ton Los Angeles class attack submarine, collided with an unidentified 'fishing boat' in the West Sea (Yellow Sea) in October this year. The 'fishing' boat was apparently tracking the American sub.

North Korean 'fishing' boats track US subs on the surface and North Korean subs shadow the US subs under the water. It is believed that North Korea has modern anti-sub missiles that zero in on submerged submarines."

Apparently there are a lot going beneath what we hear and read in CNN, NYT...but most in the US blaoc their ears and hum along....:-)....Rummy says he wants to resolve the issue with NK peacefully...for some reason, I doubt it is because he is a peace-loving man.....it just cracks me up how there is almost a knowing conspiracy to deny simple facts among so called US intellectuals.....like cultish emperor worshippers pretending not to see the naked emperor....:-)

gisterme - 12:30am Dec 15, 2002 EST (# 6623 of 6649)

"...You know, your word games is, frankly speaking, quite boring...enjoy and adios. "

Word games? What word games? I know that English is not your primary language manju; I admire your skill in this difficult language. However, confusing simple, straight, clear statements with word games seems a bit beyond you.

That's not a very face-saving way to retreat. manju.

manjumicha - 12:39am Dec 15, 2002 EST (# 6624 of 6649)

gisterme

You "think" you know a lot of things...:-)...that is what is most amusing about you. Nonethless i just don;t find it in me to spend more than a few minutes to respond to you...as an afterthought at that..

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