China is reported to have shot down one of its own satellites, sparking international criticism and concern over the strength and sophistication of the nation's military.
If the report above is ture, then its very very good news. Its about time. Countries should not have ability to spy on others or do something which happened in the movie syriana.
Why is it alright for us to do the very things that we want to prevent anyone else from doing ?? Don't do as I do, do as I say ? I think if I were an Iranian, or Chinese I would question that. "Who died and made you Boss?"
The, the U.S. posture as world father-figure is absurd. They have more WMD's than the rest of the world put together. They haven't fought a 'noble' war since WWII, which ended, if memory serves, over sixty years ago. They moved reluctantly into that one, but once in, ended the war because of their vast resources and manpower. Whatever the motives of the leaders at the time, the American people were motivated by the desire to end Fascist aggression and end a horrible world war.
Unfortunately the very dogs of war that their President Eisenhower warned them about have cynically used the slogans which worked in World War II over and over; but they used it to justify oppressive wars in Asia and the Western Hemisphere. Now they have expanded their theatre into the Middle East.
Their leaders use whatever tools and propaganda they think will work, to pry more money from the American taxpayers. This money does not protect Americans, it is used to enhance the power of military industry. The leaders, who think of themselves not as Americans, but as members of an international elite who deserve to be super-wealthy, generate a fear of foreign attack.
Then this climate of fear, absurd when you think of the relative wealth and power of the protagonists, becomes in itself a conflict-generating force in the world.
The beauty of the concept of terrorist as the enemy is that you can use it to justify war against any country you wish to attack. Because terrorists move quite freely from place to place, and no country in the world can claim to be free of terrorists. Including the U.S.
In fact, using the Bush rationale, Britain had cause of war against the U.S. during all the many years in which Irish Catholics sent huge amounts of money to I.R.A. groups, who in turn used the money to attack British on their own soil. Yet to my knowledge Britain never even brought the issue before the Uniter Nations.
Posts: 6257 | Location: British Columbia, Canada | Registered: 06-11-02
I would expect many people here should be quite happy about this event. After all this means that another country is gaining parity with the United States. The playing field has been leveled.
It also goes to show the Chinese certainly got their money's worth from their illegal campaign contributions to Bill Clinton's coffers during the 1990's. We are just now seeing the results
Posts: 2277 | Location: Martinsville, IL | Registered: 06-03-02
In fact, using the Bush rationale, Britain had cause of war against the U.S. during all the many years in which Irish Catholics sent huge amounts of money to I.R.A. groups, who in turn used the money to attack British on their own soil. Yet to my knowledge Britain never even brought the issue before the Uniter Nations.
This has long been a sore point with Britons. The groups would sometimes try to present themselves as purely humanitarian, sometimes not, but their literature and their speakers showed their true agenda. And we could not extradite IRA men wanted here but who were in the USA because the US courts would treat them as subject to a 'political prosecution' here. As Al Murray , a comedian, said to an audience recently " Are there any Americans in the audience tonight?" "Yes" came some American voices. " Well you know all about terrorism [long pause while the Americans thought of 9/11]...... You ought to: you paid for the IRA long enough!"
It also goes to show the Chinese certainly got their money's worth from their illegal campaign contributions to Bill Clinton's coffers during the 1990's. We are just now seeing the results.
This doesn't seem to make sense. Are you saying that the Chinese somehow bought 1980's rocket technology with their illegal contributions in the 90's, waiting until now to use it?
Some more detail on the technology - www.globalsecurity.org. Note that the article linked to in the original post says 'Both the US and the old USSR shot down satellites in the 1980s, but they curtailed their fun over concerns about where the debris might land.'
The only way to stop this kind of arms race is through international law, treaty and negotiation - things the current US administration doesn't seem to be interested in.
Nice to know that sensible people wont be bothered about the activity of China. But western media will play its role creating a doomsday situation, if its neccessary. China has a long way to go, but atleast its not intimdated by the big shaitan propaganda.
Nobody wants arms rasce, but it goes both ways. One side develops newer and greater capabilities and uses that in getting its way in world affairs but asks others not do same, otherwise stability in the region will get disturbed.
It also goes to show the Chinese certainly got their money's worth from their illegal campaign contributions to Bill Clinton's coffers during the 1990's. We are just now seeing the results.
This doesn't seem to make sense. Are you saying that the Chinese somehow bought 1980's rocket technology with their illegal contributions in the 90's, waiting until now to use it?
Some more detail on the technology - www.globalsecurity.org. Note that the article linked to in the original post says 'Both the US and the old USSR shot down satellites in the 1980s, but they curtailed their fun over concerns about where the debris might land.'
The only way to stop this kind of arms race is through international law, treaty and negotiation - things the current US administration doesn't seem to be interested in.
So why would my statement no make sense??? It makes perfect sense. The Chinese are a very patient people. Studying & testing what they have found, waiting till the appropriate moment to conduct a test of this nature.
I will grant you this...the Chinese are not the first, you having pointed out the U.S. & the former U.S.S.R. having done this type of testing years ago. However do we really have an "arms race" going on??? Perhaps. But not like what we had in the old Cold War days. I suspect Chinese technology may no be so much for the purpose of aggression but perhaps for sale to whoever has the big buck$.
Posts: 2277 | Location: Martinsville, IL | Registered: 06-03-02
So why would my statement no make sense??? It makes perfect sense...
You mean you are saying that the Chinese somehow bought 1980's US rocket technology with their illegal campaign contributions in the 90's, waiting until now to use it? Is there even a shred of evidence for this? Your statement makes no sense because there isn't any link (except the word 'China') between the campaign contribution issue, and the anti-satellite rocket story.
And why limit the possible motivations of the Chinese to profit or aggression? Given that the US (which also spends more on its military than the rest of the world put together, and recently started a war in Iraq for no good reason, for example) has been the leader recently in the weaponisation of space, couldn't the Chinese be thinking about deterrence or defence?
'For much of the past decade, one of the loudest voices raised against the weaponisation of space had been Chinese. A white paper published nine years ago talked of space belonging to all mankind, to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. Since then, China and Russia have locked horns with Washington on the need for a binding international legal instrument on the Prevention of An Arms Race in Outer Space (Paros). The issue has deadlocked wider progress in the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, despite attempts by China to relax the link between an ad hoc committee on Paros and an eventual treaty.
China has been alarmed by the deployment of America's National Missile Defence (NMD), which would not only could negate its nuclear deterrent, but could also be extended to Taiwan. A Pentagon war game in Colorado in 2001 made the connection explicit, by pitting the US against an opponent who was threatening "a small neighbour". Hundreds of Chinese missiles point at Taiwan, and if these could be intercepted by US missiles or lasers directed by satellites in space, then the logical step for China would be to prove that it could knock one down. Under these rules, the satellite would be just as dangerous as the missiles they direct.
So neither China nor Washington has much to crow about as they chase each other down a well-worn path...'www.guardian.co.uk
Originally posted by Lighteningrodd: I suspect Chinese technology may no be so much for the purpose of aggression but perhaps for sale to whoever has the big buck$.
How immoral....
U.S. Dominates Arms Sales to Third World The United States retained its dominance of the Third World arms market for the eighth year in a row in 2002, according to the latest in an annual series of reports produced by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
Altogether, arms sales from all sources to developing countries made up about two-thirds of arms sales worldwide during 2002, according to the report, which is based on the most comprehensive data compiled by the U.S. government.
New arms agreements with developing nations totaled 17.7 billion dollars, a 10 percent increase over new deals in 2001. Of that total, U.S. sales came to 8.6 billion dollars, or almost 48 percent of all arms transfers to Third World countries, up from 41 percent the previous year.
Washington was followed by Russia, which sold 5.7 billion dollars worth of arms; Ukraine (1.6 billion dollars); Italy (1.5 billion dollars); and Germany and France (1.1 billion dollars each).
China was the leading recipient of conventional arms transfers in 2002, accounting for 3.6 billion dollars in purchases; followed by South Korea (1.9 billion dollars); India (1.4 billion dollars); and Oman (1.3 billion dollars).
Ten out of 14 conflict-hit countries in Africa bought arms from Britain in 2003.
British banks are holding $1.3 billion looted from Nigeria by the Abacha family. The UK government has not co-operated with Nigerian efforts to recover this wealth.
British banks are holding $1.3 billion looted from Nigeria by the Abacha family. The UK government has not co-operated with Nigerian efforts to recover this wealth.
So is that what all those Nigerians who e-mail us are talking about? The ones who just want our bank details so they can free millions of pounds they are owed but need our help to get?
'US plans to expand its embryonic missile defence shield to the Czech Republic and Poland are an "an obvious threat", Russia military officials say...'Missile shield 'threatens Russia'
Originally posted by FredPuli: So is that what all those Nigerians who e-mail us are talking about? The ones who just want our bank details so they can free millions of pounds they are owed but need our help to get?
No, no Fred! You have it backwards. The Phishers say they want to get their money out of Nigeria. Only a fool would want to get their money into Nigeria. So if someone wants you to help them do that, go ahead. Just keep the money. They'll never know the difference.
Posts: 6257 | Location: British Columbia, Canada | Registered: 06-11-02
