On: Fusion Turns Up the Heat

[pfdietz]

When energy people express skepticism about the value of NIF, the NIF team says it's for weapons work.

When weapons people express skepticism about the value of NIF, the NIF team says it's for energy work.

[throwoutway → pfdietz]

Maybe they have dual missions? That’s not unusual in government agencies

For example when a military Is standing around they tend to do peaceful things like help deliver emergency supplies to areas hit by natural disasters. Militaries have great logistics and are used to going to “hard to reach” locations.

And after the Cold War, nuclear subs support whale researchers by monitoring them

[pfdietz → throwoutway]

The point is that unless the weapons and energy people team up and compare their criticisms, each can be deflected by reference to the other.