Replies

"Consider the developments of the last few months:"

Ok lets.

"* The Russians boasted of soon having a new weapon of their own. It is a hypersonic, intercontinental cruise missile, they said in February, capable of maneuvering through any missile defense system."

This isn't what the system is for.

"* Last month the United States announced a successful test of a similar vehicle, the hypersonic X43A, a missilelike aircraft designed to fly to the edges of outer space and then return to Earth. NASA touts the peacetime potential of the X43A, but the U.S. military makes no secret of its interest in an aircraft that might become a bomber too fast to be shot down."

Hmmm lemme see, the Russians were ALREADY working on it???

" * Just a few days ago, Japan announced it would spend $1-billion this year to start work on a joint project with the United States to build a missile shield to protect that nation. The system would be operational in about three years. The United States is reportedly making the same offer of protection to other nations, among them India."

And the problem is?

"* In response, China complained that the U.S.-Japan project destabilizes the region, that it is intended to dilute Chinese power and keep it from ever assimilating Taiwan. Meanwhile, China itself has become a major power in space and missile development."

Ummm you forgot to mention North Korea. I wonder why...

"They say the antimissile system now being deployed by the United States is costly and unproven - that it has "boondoggle" stenciled all over it."

Are these the same ones that said it was IMPOSSIBLE to intercept an incoming missile? They just can't help themselves can they? They just want to spend the money on social programs.

"That's the kind of thing to do if a threat is imminent. But there's no imminent threat now. It's foolish, even bizarre, and it's likely to run up huge costs. That's why those generals and admirals wrote that letter."

Yes let us forget that North Korea is even there, ok?

"Samson agreed. "The problem is that the system being deployed this year is schedule-driven," she said. "The United States is unwisely whisking its programs through development. This rush to failure is creating a missile defense system which offers no defense and will spend billions of dollars in the process."

Oh yes a rush to failure. No no no it will never work nope huh uh.

"In a report on the issue, the center acknowledges that "hostile rogue states, especially North Korea, will have the capability to deliver weapons of mass destruction by ballistic missile on the U.S., perhaps in the next decade."

There it is. Perhaps not even a decade eh?

"However, even our obsolescent Defense Support Program satellites are capable of pinpointing the location of a ballistic missile launch.

Yup. Hey there's a missile incoming. Bend over and kiss it good bye. Rest assured that we will go after them once you're turned into crispy critter. You just won't know it.

"Why would any state, rogue or otherwise, employ a ballistic missile or missiles to deliver a weapon of mass destruction on the U.S., and thereby invite a devastating retaliatory strike?"

How about because Kim Jong's Ill.

"There is no evidence that leaders of rogue regimes, including Korea and Iran, have suicidal tendencies."

Yes their diaries have to this point not been found. Sleep well everyone.

"We are no longer compelled to pursue a 100 percent solution for every possible attack scenario before we can provide any defense at all."

Well if we had three misslies incoming with each able to take out a major city, wouldn't it be nice to save at least one city? Oh yeah that's only a few million people. No biggy.