Re: How many different processors do you use?

["Robert I. Eachus" <eachus@mitre.org>]

Richard Kettlewell wrote:
> 
> "Michael A. Covington" <covington@mindspring.com> writes:
> 
> > Touche'.  Wasn't it Orwell who said that if you don't believe in
> > defense, you should try living in a country that doesn't have any?
> 
> Are there any?  Is it actually possible to perform the experiment in
> question?
 
   Good question, but the answer is surprising.  Costa Rica abolished
the army some years ago, because the government realized that the
largest threat was military coupes.  However, the US has provided a
fairly effective shield which makes the experiment work.  (For example,
we sent troops to Costa Rica when guerillas from Nicaragua were a
problem.)

   In addition, several small countries have no military forces.  But
almost all of these, such as Monaco and Lichtenstein, have "mutual
defense" treaties with larger neighbors.  For example, no country could
attack the Republic of San Marino without passing through Italy (other
than Italy of course).  So RSM pays Italy for providing defense, rich
Italians move there for the lower taxes and everyone is happy.  (The
deal with the Vatican is similar, but the Vatican has an army--the Swiss
Guards.)

   However, almost all these countries, other than Costa Rica, delegate
all control over foreign affairs to the much bigger neighbor.

-- 

                                        Robert I. Eachus

with Standard_Disclaimer;
use  Standard_Disclaimer;
function Message (Text: in Clever_Ideas) return Better_Ideas is...