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From: robinson@ubc-cs.UUCP (Jim Robinson)
Newsgroups: can.politics
Subject: Re: Star Wars North
Message-ID: <996@ubc-cs.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 31-Mar-85 21:12:53 EST
Article-I.D.: ubc-cs.996
Posted: Sun Mar 31 21:12:53 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 1-Apr-85 10:47:10 EST
References: <890@ubc-vision.CDN> <6@aquila.UUCP> <409@water.UUCP>
Reply-To: robinson@ubc-cs.UUCP (Jim Robinson)
Organization: UBC Department of Computer Science, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Lines: 53
Summary: 

In article <409@water.UUCP> rggoebel@water.UUCP (Randy Goebel LPAIG) writes:
>................   As many people have observed, the Japanese fifth
>generation project seeks to provide the tools for transition to an
>information society.  This includes lots of things like improving
>quality of life, improving the the production and delivery of good and
>services, and providing better access to knowledge of all kinds.
>I would like to see those who have defended defense research on the basis 
>of our ``imperfect world'' try their hand at explaining why these goals
>are not more important?

Ideally the end purpose of defence research is a more secure country.
Star Wars may or may not fall into this category, depending on to whom
one talks. However, the result of *no* defence research and *no* defence
spending in general is a country without any security whatsoever. This is
a country that is subject to military blackmail and invasion by unfriendly 
nations. 

So suppose that Canada decides that it wants absolutely nothing to do with
defensive measures. The Evil Empire ( replace "Evil Empire" by your 
favourite pond-scum country ) notes Canada's lack of defences and successfully
invades. The War Lord ( replace "War Lord" by the leader of your favourite
pond-scum country ) then decides that from now on all Canadians shall be
second class citizens, a la South African blacks. It is now *impossible* 
for Canadians to have any control over their destiny. They cannot work for 
and reap the benefits of a better society as  described in Randy Goebel's
article. It is for this reason that an adequate defence is essential
to the well being and continuing prosperity of any country.

I now challenge anyone to tell me why the progression from a defenceless
country to a subjugated country is not only possible but probable
given our "imperfect world". If anyone can prove to me that we can drop all
of our defences and *not* suffer because of it then I will gladly agree
to such measures. 

Usually it is possible for me to read someone else's article, totally
disagree with it, and yet still understand what motivates the author's
view. However, that is not the case when it comes to this notion that 
any money spent on defence is money wasted. I not only disagree, but
also cannot understand how anyone can believe that some defence is not
necessary. The fact of the matter is that nobody in their right mind
picks a fight that they don't think they can win. 

                                           J.B. Robinson

P.S. Part of the reason that the Japanese can afford a mega-project like
Fifth Generation is due to the fact that the US is wholly responsible 
for Japan's defence. Unless I am mistaken ( corrections happily accepted )
Japan is not allowed to have anything even remotely similar to a real 
military. Amazingly enough, the Japanese spend even less than we do on 
defence: about 1 percent of their GNP.