From SlateStarCodex--a very interesting site--a link to a piece about Mozi, a Chinese philosopher from the Warring States Period whose recipe for universal peace was to teach city-states how better to withstand sieges.
And they said Reagan's SDI program was destabilizing, because people who don't fear being attacked won't refrain from attacking. Sometimes a good defense just discourages the bullies.
4 comments:
The SSC site seems to be run by a good guy. He seems to be decently concerned about those he critiques, and honorably interested in ideas.
The real issue with SDI was it WAS destabilizing... for the Soviets. They honestly feared that the US having a protective shield would then invite us to do "what we wanted to all along" and take that first strike. Because they fundamentally did not understand us as a nation. So they passed that fear to their useful idiots on the American left who parroted it as was their wont/job.
Now, my fear regarding a successful SDI is that it was not ever going to be something that could be turned on one day, but instead was more like the process of several years of putting elements into orbit as well as building ground based installations. And in that time, it was my fear the Soviets (believing the construction to be a prelude to attack) would feel "forced" to get in their licks while they still could (and thus starting the nuclear exchange they assumed was going to happen anyway). As it worked out, they merely spent themselves into penury trying to keep up/find ways around it and collapsed from the effort. In retrospect, it is likely the best outcome for all concerned, and I for one am grateful.
"Sometimes a good defense just discourages the bullies."
Like allowing concealed carry...
Oh, yes.
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