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Path: utzoo!watmath!bstempleton
From: bstempleton@watmath.UUCP (Brad Templeton)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Space weapons on people
Message-ID: <5617@watmath.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 7-Aug-83 01:25:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: watmath.5617
Posted: Sun Aug  7 01:25:28 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 7-Aug-83 01:28:06 EDT
References: <854@pur-phy.UUCP>
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 22

Although it is obvious that any beam weapon could never be effective
as a weapon of destruction against a city, there are other implications
of high accuracy weapons from space.

Perhaps someday we'll be able to aim a laser or some form of death
ray at an individual on the ground.  What an interesting deterrent
this would become.  Hey Mr. Terrorist or Mr. Enemey leader.  Our
weapon kills YOU.  Not your cities.  Not your soldiers.  Not your
people.  You.
Sure, you can stay underground all the time.  Never see the light
of day again.  Be our prisoner in your own home.  If this is what
you want, then mess with us.  You can hide, but you can't run!

I prefer any idea in weapons that means precision.  This means
laser guided bombs and beam weapons.  These are weapons that can't
be used against people, only military targets and military leaders.
Anything that makes war more personal for the Generals and Presidents
involved is a step forward in weapons.  Let all the Generals of the
world kill themselves off.  As Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven would
say, "Think of it as Evolution In Action."
-- 
	Brad Templeton - Waterloo, Ont. (519) 886-7304