Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Tek) 9/26/83; site tekig.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!houxm!houxz!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!tekig!garey From: garey@tekig.UUCP (Garey Fouts) Newsgroups: net.followup Subject: Star Wars again Message-ID: <2241@tekig.UUCP> Date: Sun, 19-Aug-84 17:25:58 EDT Article-I.D.: tekig.2241 Posted: Sun Aug 19 17:25:58 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 22-Aug-84 00:51:46 EDT Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 25 From: elt@astrovax.UUCP (Ed Turner) Newsgroups: net.followup Subject: Re: Star Wars Defense Plan Date: Fri, 17-Aug-84 11:00:06 PDT >4) A missile defense system is an attractive project to (at least some >elements of) the military industrial complex. It offers the opportunity >of opening up a huge new military enterprise. This may seem like a drawback >to idealists who would like to see as few resources as possible "wasted" >on military activities; realistically, however, the military industrial >complex is such a powerful and influential economic interest that it is hard >to imagine us giving up the development of new *offensive* weapons systems >without some substitute activity to replace it. A defense system could serve >this purpose as well. I would like to know the economic differences to PEOPLE between a cruise missile and,say a Boeing 727. Somehow I think the airplane has a greater return on investment. A 727 has a lifetime of 20-40 million hours of service. A missile has only a few minutes of life. The 727 employ a crew of at least three, and offers the service of transportation to passengers/cargo. What benefit does a missile give PEOPLE.