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July 2005 Poll #2
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July 2005 Poll #1
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Should militaries continue to buy manned combat aircraft or switch to unmanned vehicles instead?
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Manned
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74%
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Unmanned
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19%
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Undecided
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8%
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Total votes: 102
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Amnesty Internation has criticized G8 nations for arms sales to countries that violate human rights. Do you agree with this complaint?
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Yes
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60%
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No
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26%
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Undecided
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13%
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Total votes: 106
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Comment: Efforts like Global Hawk and J-UCAS have faced recent criticism as policy makers realize
that they are just as big and expensive as the manned aircraft they were supposed to replace. However,
advances in miniature munitions and electronics offer the possibility to turn smaller UAVs like Predator
and Fire Scout into very effective and low cost armed reconnaissance platforms.
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Comment: There are certainly plenty of examples worthy of criticism, but Amnesty International seems
to be rather inconsistent in the countries it attacks for human rights abuses.
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June 2005 Poll #2
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June 2005 Poll #1
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Do you look forward to flying aboard the Airbus A380?
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Yes
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64%
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No
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34%
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Undecided
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3%
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Total votes: 110
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Both China and India are rapidly purchasing new advanced weaponry for their militaries. Do you believe these two neighbors will eventually clash over dominance of Asia?
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Yes
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55%
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No
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35%
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Undecided
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10%
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Total votes: 103
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Comment: We are not terribly excited about the prospect of being crammed onto a plane with over 500
other people, competing for overhead bins, standing in long restroom lines, listening to dozens of
screaming children, waiting forever at the baggage claim, and dealing with all the other problems that tend
to grow the more passengers are aboard a plane.
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Comment: Given that most conflicts have been fought over the desire to control resources for
economic expansion, it seems likely that two rapidly growing nations like China and India will eventually
find themselves competing for the same limited resources.
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May 2005 Poll #2
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May 2005 Poll #1
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Do you agree with the US Defense Department's Base Closure and Realignment Commission recommendations?
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Yes
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36%
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No
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49%
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Undecided
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16%
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Total votes: 101
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Do you believe the Space Shuttle is now safe enough to return to flight?
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Yes
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64%
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No
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22%
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Undecided
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14%
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Total votes: 117
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Comment: We are surprised the BRAC recommendations were not more sweeping than what has been
announced. Secretary Rumsfeld has long championed the goal of transforming the military with more joint
operations between the services, and we expected to see more examples of those bold initiatives reflected
in the base realignment recommendations.
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Comment: Given the intense scrutiny that followed the Columbia tragedy, it is likely that upcoming
Shuttle flights will be conducted with the greatest emphasis on safety. The concern comes several years
from now when flights are again considered routine. We must ensure that the same lapses in judgment that
caused the Columbia accident are not repeated again, just as they were once flights had become routine
following the Challenger disaster.
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