"Charles Angelich" wrote to "Tom Walker" (24 Dec 02  17:24:26)
 --- on the topic of "Word Trade Center"

 CA> I've always thought the guys who 'invented' the A-bomb could've
 CA> discussed it over coffee and doughnuts, said "gee interesting",
 CA> then moved on to something productive rather than running
 CA> screaming to the government with "Look what we found!".

 CA> Industrialized nations seem to do things just because they can
 CA> with little to no time spent considering the long term effects.
 CA> It has often been said that older men who make the decisions to
 CA> go/stop on these projects have too little to lose and no fear
 CA> of long term consequences.

I saw a documentary once that claimed it seems Adolf's scientists were
working on the bomb but that amongst themselves they decided to
deliberately delay the project and leaked the real-dope on how to make
one to fellow fleeing scientists who ended up on the USA project.
Apparently when the German lab they were working at was captured, the
documents showed they were really close to completion but there were
crucial parts missing as if by intent. Don't forget the very first
fission reaction tests were done in Germany only they weren't as
effective as was expected. For example they didn't know about the
fundamental idea of a critical mass but it's 20/20 hindsight.

 Mike
 ****

... A fail-safe system fails when it fails to fail safely.
--- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30