Does it really work? Maybe, maybe not, but if you were thinking of lobbing a first strike at the US (or a US ally) are you prepared to gamble that your missile is not taken out only to be followed by an attack you can not defend against?
This strengthens the hand of the United States President. Too bad the current President is too weak to see it that way.
Maybe this test was aimed at sending a message to America's enemies in the White House, instead of America's enemies in the rest of the world...
Does it really work? Most definitely. The only question is how close the plane must be to the missile to heat it sufficiently, and of course weather and atmospheric conditions factor in. The key for any laser weapon is in maintaining a coherent beam on the same spot on the missile skin for long enough to heat it up. That becomes progressively more difficult the further the laser is from the missile, and of course the beam deteriorates with distance as well.
Too bad the current President is too weak to see it that way.
Even Clinton was far better than the current occupant. When asked what would be the response if North Korea used a nuclear weapon, he responded “There would be no more North Korea.” Just can’t say it plainer than that. The current occupant? It would be considered a “teachable moment” (read heavy head trip for the American public), maybe a beer, kimchi and dog with Kim Jong Il.
Not likely. It's boost phase or we're hosed.