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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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(8791 previous messages)
rshow55
- 11:51am Feb 10, 2003 EST (#
8792 of 8796)
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 feel that http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/09/weekinreview/09GOOD.html
is worth looking at again.
Here is a prayer from the imam of Mecca's Grand Mosque -
for comparison.
From: AFP --Newsgroups Subject: [Sm85] Mecca's Grand
Mosque imam prays for victory to Muslims
"MECCA, Saudi Arabia, Feb 7 (AFP) - The imam of Mecca's
Grand Mosque, the holiest shrine in Islam, prayed for
Muslims to be victorious against their foes, in a final Friday
sermon before two million faithful take part in the annual
hajj pilgrimage.
"Strong belivers are not scared of death regardless of
how loud the enemies beat the drums" of war, Sheikh Saud
al-Shraim told the pilgrims as he prayed for God to help
Muslims achieve victory.
"Believers are aware that life has a limit and that the
Almighty controls our destiny ... They should expect
either victory or martyrdom, both of which should be sought,"
added Shraim, without singling out any enemies.
The imam urged the worshippers, who filled the giant
mosque and all roads leading to it, to stay away from
disturbances during the hajj which reaches its climax on
Monday.
Saudi Arabia's top cleric in remarks published Friday
accused "enemies of Islam" of working to undermine the
Islamic nation.
"The Islamic ummah (nation) is facing many challenges
from its enemies," said Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, the
grand mufti of Saudi Arabia.
These challenges include "fighting against the Islamic
faith, the ummah's foundations, principles, values,
economy and culture. They aim at containing this nation," the
mufti said.
The area around the Grand Mosque, which contains
hundreds of high-rise hotels and shopping malls, was
flooded with a sea of humanity, many of whom waited for hours
under the scorching heat of Mecca.
This year's hajj is being overshadowed by serious
security concerns over growing US threats to attack
neighbouring Iraq. The cabinet has appealed for calm and urged
pilgrims to steer clear of trouble.
The kingdom's top leaders, including King Fahd, Crown
Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and Defense Minister Prince
Sultan bin Abdul aziz, have moved to Mecca to oversee the
pilgrimage.
- - - - -
A President Puts His Faith in Providence By LAURIE
GOODSTEIN http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/09/weekinreview/09GOOD.html
ends with this, from Elaine Pagel:
""Religious language can be unifying. It
can also be enormously divisive and dangerous. If there
is an axis of evil, that obviously places him in the axis of
good, and also means that anyone who disagrees with the
policies he is advocating is placed on the other side."
If we're to face up to the complications of real life,
responsibly - we have to face a reality about human nature
that is more complicated than that. Technical facts are part
of that reality.
8742 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@93.V6nHaVe12l2.1804844@.f28e622/10268
rshow55
- 04:30pm Feb 10, 2003 EST (#
8793 of 8796)
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.
Iraq Agrees to Allow U-2 Flights By JULIA PRESTON http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/10/international/middleeast/10cnd-nations.html
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 10 — The Iraqi
ambassador to the United Nations delivered a letter from
Baghdad today to the chief United Nations weapons inspectors
agreeing to allow flights over the country of photographic
surveillance aircraft.
Iraq also promised to move swiftly to adopt
national legislation banning all weapons of mass
destruction, the ambassador, Mohammed A. Aldouri, said.
The letter came after the arms chiefs, Hans
Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, held two days of talks in
Baghdad over the weekend with top Iraqi officials.
For all Iraq's faults - this is a long way from Hitlerian
defiance.
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