Ira, we will suspect that Misha is a normal person and does not spend his Saturday in front of the computer, unlike you and me. :-D I will answer, things that you mentioned were not products designed to compete (like weapons) you literally kill the competition with the correct weapon. Sputnik was a purely technological marvel.

Ira, it's debatable whether Sputnik was a product of an Arms Race or of a pure scientific genius, back in those days these two were inseparable.

"Первой задачей, поставленной правительством перед С. П. Королёвым как главным конструктором и всеми организациями, занимающимися ракетным вооружением, было создание аналога ракеты <FONT color=#002bb8>Фау-2
из отечественных материалов"

First rocket development had started in 1946 (I mean for missiles and spce rockets) in 1946. Germans had PRODUCED 20,000 missiles by 1945.

was not sure what topic to post this at, but it would somewhat fit here.
This is an excellent article, read it although it's long and we can disagree with his conclusions:
***********.theatlantic.com/doc/201001/american-decline

Julia, that article was the reason I started the topic. I love James Fallows and love his life's purpose: to research perceived dangers to USA from within, he moved to Japan in 80's and to China recently. Anybody who is interested in this subject should read his article.

and I agree with "perceived dangers" definition...
the only real danger - is complacency...

hey, thinking people can respectfully agree and agree to disagree on many things at the same time.... as long as communication is civil

Интересная деталь - мой дантист рассказал мне что большинство коронок делают в Китае. Самый локальный бизнес - зуботехнический, тоже аутсорснули. Кто следующие - сапожники? Ваши набойки еще не набили, в Шанхае праздники.

Может заготовки к ним? У моего машина стоит в офисе. Он с камерой залазит в рот и фотографирует со всех сторон, потом на компе подправляет изображение. Нажатие кнопки - через 20 минут коронка готова.