[Dr Caleb]

Excellent news! We need as much hi-tech R&D as we can get!

[whelan costen]

Agreed Dr C, except that I am wondering how this connects are dollars and this initiative in particular to BMD? They never seem to use the front door anymore?<br /> <br /> I would like to see mega bucks put into research on infectious disease, and the drugs they are pumping into us, and seriously looking at CFB Gagetown and how the hell they are going to help all the people affected from their little experiment? <br /> <br /> Not against our tech industries, and I am still peeved about the Avrow arrow but, I also see the other side of their plan and yes I am cynical and suspicious! Why is it they can find money when they want to, just not when it affects people directly, like healthcare and research into what is making us all sick, why so many babies are being born with birth defects, developing Autism, ADD etc, and why would they ever use Agent Orange, Purple or White in Canada and subject our own people to it, were we at war and didn't know it?? Sorry I guess I am off topic, and it is good to see an investment in our space industry, to a point.

[wadestock]

Yes this basic question is huge for the future of our planet.<br /> <br /> Just a brief US perspective.<br /> In the US we pride ourselves on our military, and claim that the "fallout" to tech industries and ultimately to the public largely justifies the huge expenditures.<br /> <br /> Nothing could be further than the truth. <br /> <br /> Invest the money in bridges....anything...spend the money to build parks for our children to play in.<br /> I can think of 1000 other projects that would more directly improve society.<br /> <br /> The US technological military thrust hasn't yielded the advertised payoff. It's part of a specific advertising campaign that technology in military will somehow save us. The press about the advantage of "smart weapons" is largely BS. Victories against pathetic armies like Iraq have been a result of superior air power and communications control...and then the rest is academic....the result of the ability to mobilize and sustain a large and well and trained strike force that has the logistics to sustain itself.<br /> <br /> "Why is it they can find money when they want to, just not when it affects people directly, like healthcare and research into what is making us all sick, why so many babies are being born with birth defects, developing Autism, ADD etc, and why would they ever use Agent Orange, Purple or White in Canada and subject our own people to it, were we at war and didn't know it??"<br /> <br /> Yes indeed.<br /> The amount of human endeavor expended on military technology doesn't in any way justify any miniscule technological fallout that might find its way into society. <br /> <br /> The free market has kicked the butt of any US military expenditure on communications....that's just one example and there are many more. <br /> <br /> The bottom line is this.<br /> Expenditures on military do not produce a "quality product or service" for society. It is an inherently inefficient product which must sell itself based on a perceived threat or the advantage of aggression. <br /> <br /> Society has to come to the realization that quality business endeavors are the only hope for society in the long term. They have to be well thought out, produce quality products/services that benefits the citizenry, define and concentrate on the specific improvements provided and why they make sense, and exploit constructive feedback on these products/services from the citizenry so that the products/services can be incrementally and consistently improved. <br /> <br /> This has to become the core hope and belief for free enterprise.

[Marcarc]

I had assumed that the above poster was being sarcastic. It's good news that we are funding military research for americans, whose foreign policy we absolutely oppose? And in a province that gripes whenever we get involved in their province's 'business'. How about sending that money to Prince Edward Island where they are trying to build a PEACEFUL aerospace R&D industry and unemployment is in the double digits? Or how about actually investing in PEI wind power like they've been begging for ten years? How about investing that money in renewable energy resources, or health, or education, or, well, just about anywhere but where it IS going. I had assumed the article was listed because of the "here's another way your government is screwing up" component, and thats certainly how I read it.

[FootPrints]

You assumed right <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/smile.gif' alt='Smile'>