[extropy-chat] Borders vs. nukes

[Eliezer S. Yudkowsky]

The argument would seem to be that, right now, someone can cart a nuke 
into the US using the same low-tech, inexpensive techniques that get 
illegal immigrants across the border.  Maybe and maybe not.  But still...

Nukes are not low-tech.  Nukes are not inexpensive.

Build a wall against low-tech crossings and at best it will keep out 
those illegal immigrants who cannot afford higher tech.  It will not 
keep out terrorists organized enough to acquire nukes.

The logic here appears to be:

1)  Crossing America's border is cheap.
2)  Right now, someone who wants to cross the border with a nuke can do 
so cheaply.
3)  Eliminate cheap ways of crossing the border - problem solved!

You know, right now, people just walk straight over the border.  So 
let's put a piece of string across the border.  Then they can't walk 
straight through because they'll run into the string.  Problem solved!

-- 
Eliezer S. Yudkowsky                          http://singinst.org/
Research Fellow, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence