Posted on 02/24/2005 6:21:02 PM PST by quidnunc
I just added to the total on that poll and it remains tilted to our side.
Martin made the decision, which still isn't final BTW, because he's an idiot ... period.
A nuclear weapon exploding anywhere in North America is a threat to the United States of America ... fallout is a bitch.
Should BMD succeed, I suspect Canada and other nations to very quickly alter course.
After the extensive name calling you've done, you expect me to give you an apology? No chance. Anyone else on the thread who cares to have a rational discussion can feel free to do so.
Sounds like Canada has about the same division we have, here. Damn liberals! I appreciate hearing the opinions of our members from other countries. I'm glad you're both here.
Thank you. That was very much appreciated.
Thank you. I enjoy being here and taking part.
I take Canada/US relations very seriously and cringe every time the libs up here open their pie holes.
Absolutely, a mature, rational person would apologize.
And don't forget the story of the little red hen. Nobody wanted to help until the final result was clear - then they wanted to come on board. Too little too late for the hen.
Are you giving Americans permission to have a discussion with you as long as they meet your standards? Don't look now but I don't see anyone wanting to hold a discussion with you - do you?
You are correct that the NMD system is not yet complete, but the "Hit to Kill" seekers and boosters are being developed and tested. And yes, these tests tend to show what is wrong until they start working. The THAAD program is an example of what we are discussing. Seven launches that failed in one phase or another and due to poor workmanship meaning there was no specific thing that needed fixing, it all needed fixing. Then the first and second of a next generation missile hit the target. Now the THAAD is being upgraded to possibly fill in for the NMD if they continue to have problems. This is how it is done, so be patient. The parts work, the algorithm (above all) works and boosters are things we have done for many years.
What is taking the time is the government has added requirements that the system be almost self testing, and this is tricky, because you may find a minor problem halts a launch. This means that they need to do the same testing during maintenance that is done on a launch. The other problem is money, the government is watching out for the taxpayer here and trying to bring everything in as low cost as possible. This of course is a drag on performance because you can't always have low cost and high performance. Add schedule to this and the development of these systems is going to have some failures. But they also will end up successful.
I haven't seen anyone but you have a problem and you lost my respect with the name calling.
It's too bad you don't like seeing Canadians posting on a thread about Canada, but what do you really expect?
I favour BMD. I say again: I hope it succeeds! I didn't vote for Martin or his party and I never will. I oppose the flip flop Martin pulled on this issue. I was disappointed my party did not breakthrough (we got 99 seats though). I was thrilled to see Bush win the US election.
I make decisions that add millions of dollars to the exports the USA makes to Canada. I travel to the USA frequently on business.
The relationship between the USA and Canada is very important to me.
I'm half a century old. Calling me names is crossing the line.
The only standard I might wish you'd adhere to is "Please enjoy our forum, but also please remember to use common courtesy when posting and refrain from posting personal attacks..." which is on the front page of this site.
Thanks for the information. The regretable part in all of this is that it was much easier for Canada to reject a system that has not worked yet, and that the failures were front and center in the arguments used by the left up here to form public opinion. It's much harder to fault success. I wish you well. I think you will get there, and I will advocate within my party for Canada to reverse the recent Canadian decision, should my party win the next election.
No one that I have seen has chosen to "discuss" anything with you. There have been posts that took issue with what you have claimed. Nothing more. Your posts have been untrue, offensive, inappropriate and lecturing. You should apologize to all of us for that.
I didn't call you names - I asked you if you are a child. You have not responded to my question if you understand that this is an American site?
This is a thread in which it is clear that Americans on an American site are expressing their understandable displeasure with yet another betrayal from Canada. For you to come on here and tell them they are saying things that are stupid or silly is rude, is lecturing, is inappropriate.
A mature, responsible person would apologize.
Have a nice weekend.
Common courtesy would have recognized that it was inappropriate to interfere with Americans on an American site venting their feelings and desires on the very day that they were once again betrayed by your country.
You really owe us all an apology I think.
At the command "heads up!!" all Canadians will dive under the table.
Another country moves from adulthood to adolescence joining Sweden, France, Germany, etc.
Methinks your PM has decided that his position will resonate well with Canada's liberal thinkers, and perhaps it will, But like the way gun control backfired against liberals in the US, this may not sell too well once Canada understands the situation better. It is only too clear that if a small number of missiles are launched at the US over the polar route (a) Canada may be the target, or suffer from missiles that fall short and (b) if a means of shooting them down exists, the US will do it rather than take a strike.
When we hit dummy warheads over White Sands New Mexico, we planned the test so that debris (from the size of dust to about the size of fish scales) would fall on unhabited areas. This won't be done when real missiles are launched, and if nuclear material is in the missiles, the debris field residents will need to be notified. In the event the warhead is chemical or biological, the impact should render it harmless, but nuclear debris will constitute what has been called a "dirty bomb" and all that can be said in favor of this type of intercept is that it is better in the vastness of the northern wastes than in any inhabited area.
I suspect most Canadains can see this and push for more understanding of how the system works and how we can cause it to intercept in the distant north, far from all of our cities. The answer may well be northern located radars, and this is something Canada has forsworn. Good luck with changing the party in power.
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