Rude Awakening to Missile-Defense Dream

Christian Science Monitor ^ | 1/04/05 | Scott Ritter

[1LongTimeLurker]

Yes I know Scott Ritter takes pleasure in trashing the United States, but it sounds like he makes some valid points. A few years back the IEEE (institute of electrical and electronics engineers) studies the missile defense issue and came to the conclusion that any country with the sophistication to build an ICBM would be easily able to overcome any known technologies for missile defense, so it does beg the question of whether spending trillions of dollars on a system that won't work is a good use of our tax money.

[Fury]

Scott Ritter? Give me a break. This guy's 15 minutes of "fame" (or infamy if you prefer) were over 2 Burger Kings ago...

[Brilliant]

The faulty premise of this article is that we were trying to counter the Russians with this missile defense system. I'm more concerned about the Chinese and the North Koreans, someday soon about the Iranians.

[nuffsenuff]

Why is a pedophile being published on the Christian Science Monitor?

[FlipWilson]

It depends upon the country we are focusing on. I doubt North Korea would have such sophisticated technology as the Russians. Same with China. I think those are the countries that worry our policy makers the most, not Russia. At least with Russia, there is MAD to act as a deterrent.

P.S. Ritter is a tool.

[gr8eman]

The Bush administration would do well to reconsider its commitment to a national missile-defense system, and instead reengage in the kind of treaty-based diplomacy that in the past produced arms control results that were both real and lasting. This would not only save billions, it would make America, and the world, a safer place.

What's this guy smoking? Everyone knows the Commies always violated their own treaties.(See every missle ban treaty and Oil for Food.) What kept them at bay was overwhelming firepower to destroy them. I know...maybe we should sign a non-nuke treaty with Al Queda!

[wireman]

"Scott Ritter is a former intelligence officer and weapons inspector in the Soviet Union (1988-1990) and Iraq (1991-1998). He is author of 'Frontier Justice: Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Bushwhacking of America."

As well as a known pedophile and all-around piece of sh@t..

[MikefromOhio]

we werent ever attempting to counter the Russians....we are more worried about the North Koreans, the Iranians, the Pakis or the Chinese.....

[t-1000]

Yeah why should anyone take him seriously?

[xm177e2]

Why is a pedophile being published on the Christian Science Monitor?

Oh, that's why he hates Bush. Because he likes little girls. It makes more sense now.

[liberty_lvr]

Oh yes, Homer Simpson, you're right...

Can't possibly succeed, so don't even try. Never mind that there could be some very valuable spin-off technology.

Or that this research could lead scientists and engineers in a different direction not initially envisioned as the concepts of missle defense are defined and explored.

I wonder, when was it that this country founded and built by fearless explorers turned it's back on this rich heritage and became content with blind, but very safe, conformity?

[RAY]

Scott Ritter, are you kidding! BS!

We will bury the Russia (economically they can't keep up) if they try to keep up with counter measures to our missile defense. This was expected and is just part of the evolution of this defense system.

We must have a defense against incoming missiles and we shall if the idiots don't once again get control of our government.

[MizSterious]

In case you were wondering what Scott Ritter is up to these days...

[Paradox]

By the same logic, since armor piercing bullets are available that easily go through bullet proof vests, the police and military should stop wearing body armor.

[ArrogantBustard]

A few years back the IEEE (institute of electrical and electronics engineers) studies the missile defense issue

When it sticks to purely technical issues, like publishing cutting edge research or developing standards, the IEEE is excellent. On political issues, the IEEE is just another leftist advocacy group.

Yes, I AM an IEEE member.

[1LongTimeLurker]

we werent ever attempting to counter the Russians....we are more worried about the North Koreans, the Iranians, the Pakis or the Chinese..

I think the early vision was to counter the Russians, but you are right that countries like China or North Korea are a substantially greater threat. But I think the point that I'm trying to make here is that from various accounts (even forgetting about Scott Ritter for a second), missile defense is an iffy proposition at best. IMHO we'd have better odds of destroying the programs up front (e.g. North Korea and Iran) than we would stopping missiles once they have launched.

Even if we succeed in building a working defense, a country like North Korea or Pakistan could simply smuggle weapons into ports of major cities and detonate them there.

[Heavyrunner]

Scott Ritter is an imbecile.

There will never be a boost phase fast enough using solid fuel or otherwise to defeat a heat-bloom sensor and spaceborne laser of sufficient power to disable such a weapon mid-flight.

This missile platform in development by the new Soviets represents the last dying gasp of an obsolete delivery system.

Does it represent a setback for a missile defense shield? Sure, as one of the few facts Ritter got right is that it was developed to counter an older delivery system. Does it make the concept of a multi-tiered missile defense shield unviable? Not only no...Hell no.

Our most serious threat now and in the future remains smuggled weapons placed in strategic locations to effect the maximum damage on our infrastructure and economy. The ballistic missile will stop being a credible threat in my lifetime. Nuclear proliferation and smuggling will not.

[t-1000]

"Can't possibly succeed, so don't even try. Never mind that there could be some very valuable spin-off technology."

The Russians were working on building a stealth airplane long before we were. They called the technology the "hopeless diamond".
Basically, saying building it is one thing, getting it to fly is another.
They basically gave up.

So if the US had Scott Ritter's "Child Rapist Wit" then we too would have given up our stealth project.

As a side note.
The fat tub of crap, traitor, pedophile, should be hung. Not heard.

[Daus]

and instead reengage in the kind of treaty-based diplomacy that in the past produced arms control results that were both real and lasting. This would not only save billions, it would make America, and the world, a safer place.

"And I, Scott Ritter, can get a fat job 'monitoring' treaty compliance. Sure, this could work."

Don't you feel safer already?

[1LongTimeLurker]

By the same logic, since armor piercing bullets are available that easily go through bullet proof vests, the police and military should stop wearing body armor.

A poor analogy, given that developing the vests didn't cost a few trillion dollars.