From: Samantha Atkins (samantha@objectent.com)
Date: Mon Oct 14 2002 - 15:36:02 MDT
Samantha Tennison wrote:
> Greg Burch wrote:
>
>
>>>>The scenario you describe -- basically a world-wide
>>>
> descent into conservative, totalitarian theocracy
> seems remotely possible, but highly unlikely. (In
> fact, it was part of the background of the last
> science fiction novel I tried to write -- ten years
> ago or so ... But that's another story.) I confess
> that I sometimes shudder with the thought that I see
> signs of such a thing -- the seemingly intractable
> religiosity of the United States, the violent energy
> that seems to be growing in the Islamic world, etc.
>
> I do agree with some of your counter arguments, but
> lets not ignore the growing threats to the West in
> general. There is increasing evidence that China and
> Russian are the real threats behind everything going
> on right now. Their financial and armament ties to
> islamic fundamentalist cannot be ignored. Their is
> growing evidence that Russia and China are the
> suppliers of "red mercury" and tactical nukes to
> islamic terrorists.
As far as I can find, there is no such thing as "red mercury"
except for in the world of computer games, alchemy and a perhaps
a record label. There is no information I have been able to
find that says "red mercury" as a uber-weapon material is
anything more than a wild rumor. If you have information it is
real then please present it. Otherwise I would suggest dropping
it as it lowers the quality of the other points you make.
Why should we be that afraid of tactical nukes? Where is this
evidence that terrorists have these nukes? So far there has
been none forthcoming. Why the scare tactics with lack of evidence?
>
> Several analyst strongly suggest that the cold war
> never really ended, and in fact we are seeing is a
> very well thought out long-term strategy by both
> Russia and China (now "friends") to destabilize the
> Western Economic stability. There is no doubt that
> the global financial markets are on the verge of
> collopse. Derrivatives brokers are worried that one
> little mistake on their part and the whole damn thing
> will come down.
>
Analysts or conspiracy theorists? Why exactly would it be at
the moment in the interest of either country to do this? China
is being brought on board the gravy train fairly rapidly by the
West. There is no evidence that terrorism is the reason that
global financial markets are so shaky. Look to unsound
economics, levels of innovation and change the markets and
economic theories where never set up to handle, and greed far
beyond the bounds of what is healthy and unrestrained by any
ethics or longterm thinking to explain the state of markets.
> Who can doubt that all it would take is a single
> suit-case nuke going off in the US to totally collopse
> the already fragile economy? Nevermine the political
Anyone who is sane and gives it a bit of thought would doubt
this very much.
> fall out from such a nightmare. Say goodbye to civil
> liberties for starters. There is now growing evidence
> that "red mercury" nukes have been developed which
> enable 2 megaton bombs to be the size of baseballs.
Quite a claim. Evidence now please.
> Imagine if several of these went off in the US.
> Perhaps there was more truth when the Al Qaeda says
> that soon, "America will be gone". They did not say
> "Ameriac will collopse" or "America will be
> destroyed", but "America will be gone". Could they
> already have suit-case nukes in the US ready to go
> off?
>
Many things "could" be. But I can't see the point in having
what "could" be rule one's thinking and actions without evidence.
> And of course there is the looming wat with Iraq, and
> the grave possibility of Israel launching nukes in
> retaliation for what Iraq might do. Imagine the
> radiacl increase in terrorism in the coming years if
> nukes are used against a muslim state.
>
The impending war against Iraq is a fundamental danger to
regional and world peace and stability. But not because of what
Iraq may do.
- samantha
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