[N8 v2.0]

US makes missile defense system operational
By Will Dunham
Tue Jun 20, 10:15 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has moved its ground-based interceptor missile defense system from test mode to operational amid concerns over an expected North Korean missile launch, a U.S. defense official said on Tuesday.

A missile is launched from the Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), during a test to intercept a separating ballistic missile target November 17, 2005. ​

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed a Washington Times report that the Pentagon has activated the system, which has been in the developmental stage for years.

"It's good to be ready," the official said.

U.S. officials say evidence such as satellite pictures suggests Pyongyang may have finished fueling a Taepodong-2 missile, which some experts said could reach as far as Alaska.

"There's real caution in how to characterize it so as to not be provocative in our own approach," the defense official said of the move to activate the system.

The Pentagon and State Department have said a North Korean missile launch would be seen as "provocative."

While military officials also note the United States has a limited missile defense system, they have so far declined to comment on any details about the capabilities or potential use of the system to intercept a North Korean missile.

 

[Andyman_1970]

And how many sucessful tests has that thing had???

 

[N8 v2.0]

And how many sucessful tests has that thing had???

Enough.

 

[Toshi]

Enough.

seriously, what's the evidence that this boondoggle actually works?

 

[narlus]

one? .

 

[fluff]

Actually I'm just as cynical as the next man but there could come a day when y'all are grateful for the research done on this stuff. It may be ropey now but failure is a big part of achieving success after all.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Even if has 20% sucess rate, that beats the hell out a 0% rate if nothing is done...

 

[ALEXIS_DH]

Even if has 20% sucess rate, that beats the hell out a 0% rate if nothing is done...

wait, and exactly on the same grounds, you reject socialized health care???

 

[Toshi]

Even if has 20% sucess rate, that beats the hell out a 0% rate if nothing is done...

not if its existence causes more animosity (and, by extension, missile strikes) than it can actually stop

 

[ALEXIS_DH]

wait, dont the israelis have one similar system working (at least to n8 fine standards of quality for gvmt funded projects??)

 

[fluff]

Bloody hell. I actually think N8's the one on the money here. I fear for my brian cells.

 

[Toshi]

wait, dont the israelis have one similar system working (at least to n8 fine standards of quality for gvmt funded projects??)

the israelis have moved beyond using patriot missiles? those didn't work too great, either, just for the record.

 

[DirtyDog]

Even if has 20% sucess rate, that beats the hell out a 0% rate if nothing is done...

If the billions we spent on it were instead used on diplomacy, would we be looking at a 50% or greater success rate?

 

[ALEXIS_DH]

who´s more paranoid of who? the kim jong of dubya or el dubya of kin dong?

 

[Tenchiro]

I was kind of hoping that one of those Korean missile strikes would help the traffic problem here...

 

[ALEXIS_DH]

the israelis have moved beyond using patriot missiles? those didn't work too great, either, just for the record.

yes. i was reading about that the other day.

"xxxxx hetz" i think is the name. its supposed to be somewhat reliable.

edit. "til hetz" in hebrew. better known as Arrow.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrow_missile

 

[N8 v2.0]

If the billions we spent on it were instead used on diplomacy, would we be looking at a 50% or greater success rate?

Yeah... it is entirely possible to talk a dictator out of power.... human history is full of such examples...

 

[jonKranked]

who´s more paranoid of who? the kim jong of dubya or el dubya of kin dong?

here comes Cold War Part 2.

or would it be Cold War Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back?

who would be luke skywalker and who would be Darth Vader?

 

[Toshi]

Yeah... it is entirely possible to talk a dictator out of power.... human history is full of such examples...

diplomacy is more than talking. and if you're suggesting that "might makes right", you're right for a while. it won't last, so enjoy your empire until it crumbles.

 

[N8 v2.0]

diplomacy is more than talking. and if you're suggesting that "might makes right", you're right for a while. it won't last, so enjoy your empire until it crumbles.

No it isn't. When some looney had a nuke tipped ballistic missle, nothing short of neutralizing the threat will do.

Talking/appeasing/dialoguing has been proven not to work.

 

[Tenchiro]

No it isn't. When some looney had a nuke tipped ballistic missle...

Do you mean him?

 

[N8 v2.0]

Do you mean him?

 

[Slugman]

Yeah... it is entirely possible to talk a dictator out of power.... human history is full of such examples...

So having an unproven missle defense system will remove Kim from power?

 

[N8 v2.0]

So having an unproven missle defense system will remove Kim from power?

that's right.

 

[rooftest]

If the billions we spent on it were instead used on diplomacy, would we be looking at a 50% or greater success rate?

How do you spend billions on diplomacy?

 

[kinghami3]

How do you spend billions on diplomacy?

Foreign aid, loans, etc...
Statue of Liberty is a good example of French diplomacy.

 

[Changleen]

So you've spent billions on a system to protect the furthest tip of Alaska? Nice going. Pity you don't apply the same logic to protecting the place from dirty industry...

 

[BuddhaRoadkill]

Foreign aid, loans, etc...
Statue of Liberty is a good example of French diplomacy.

And look what it got them ... Freedom Fries with that?

 

[rooftest]

So you've spent billions on a system to protect the furthest tip of Alaska? Nice going. Pity you don't apply the same logic to protecting the place from dirty industry...

What the hell do you care?

 

[kinghami3]

And look what it got them ... Freedom Fries with that?

touché

 

[Changleen]

What the hell do you care?

Uh, I live on this planet too, fvckwit.

 

[ragin-sagin]

Missiles that shoot missiles. Fvck Yea!

I see these solving all problems indefinately.

 

[dhbuilder]

wait, and exactly on the same grounds, you reject socialized health care???

oh yeah.
the united nations has done wonders living up to their potential, solving all the worlds problems through diplomatic channels.

when they're not raping little girls in africa and lining their dirty little pockets with oil for food $$$.

it may cause problems abroad, and no body has the answer for that.
but our big stick is all that keeps us from being attacked.

it's for darn sure kofi anan(sic) won't look out for us.

 

[ALEXIS_DH]

oh yeah.
the united nations has done wonders living up to their potential, solving all the worlds problems through diplomatic channels.

when they're not raping little girls in africa and lining their dirty little pockets with oil for food $$$.

it may cause problems abroad, and no body has the answer for that.
but our big stick is all that keeps us from being attacked.

it's for darn sure kofi anan(sic) won't look out for us.

going back at n8´s theory, just for the sake of the argument (the one i made fun of for a contradiction, not in the theory but in n8s selective application of it).

Even if has 20% sucess rate, that beats the hell out a 0% rate if nothing is done...

if you accept that, then you could rightly apply the same justification to UN.. after all "Even if UN has 20% sucess rate, that beats the hell out a 0% rate if nothing is done...".

you could replace UN, for socialized health care/welfare/anything-you disagree-with on the grounds n8 agrees with the missile defense. and it would make the same relative sense.

 

[sanjuro]

Even if has 20% sucess rate, that beats the hell out a 0% rate if nothing is done...

So only 80% of America would become a radioactive wasteland?

And this has been mentioned before, but considering the reason for a missile shield, the Soviet Union, has broken up, couldn't we spend those billions, on lets say, anti-terrorist intelligence?

 

[N8 v2.0]

So only 80% of America would become a radioactive wasteland?

And this has been mentioned before, but considering the reason for a missile shield, the Soviet Union, has broken up, couldn't we spend those billions, on lets say, anti-terrorist intelligence?

As long as it's the left coast and the blue state NE... I guess so..???

 

[bjanga]

but considering the reason for a missile shield, the Soviet Union, has broken up,

I think we should be MORE worried about missile threats because of the break-up

 

[LordOpie]

I think we should be MORE worried about missile threats because of the break-up

What's Brad and Jennifer got to do with anything?

 

[alwaysbroncin19]

So only 80% of America would become a radioactive wasteland?

And this has been mentioned before, but considering the reason for a missile shield, the Soviet Union, has broken up, couldn't we spend those billions, on lets say, anti-terrorist intelligence?

What good is knowing there is a missile on its way without having the ability to do anything about it?

And intelligence doesn't make a bit of difference to most citizens. You think if the citezenry were told 9-11 was gonna happen, they would have believed it? I'm not downplaying the importance of intelligence by any means, but it's better to be PROACTIVE. Everyone knows that right :wonky2: ?

 

[Toshi]

What good is knowing there is a missile on its way without having the ability to do anything about it?

And intelligence doesn't make a bit of difference to most citizens. You think if the citezenry were told 9-11 was gonna happen, they would have believed it? I'm not downplaying the importance of intelligence by any means, but it's better to be PROACTIVE. Everyone knows that right :wonky2: ?

how about being proactive by:

a) not supporting regimes that are hated by most of their neighbors (israel and south america alike)
b) trying to welcome north korea into the modern world since it's clear that kim jong il is not moved by his people starving