Shields Up!

[Q Classic]

i didn't hear about the tests at all... is this system actually accurate?

and i love how often times, when arguing in support of the missile defense shield, conservatives will obfuscate the difference between nkorea, a country with icbms and nuclear weapons, which the shield would protect against, and al qaeda, which is a non-state actor with no icbms and presumably at this point no nuclear weapons, before launching into a tirade about how liberals don't want americans to be safe because they oppose the missile shield, which will protect us from all nuclear attacks, including the ones sent by al qaeda.

[Pekka]

Sounds like a lot of money thrown into something that isn't a real application of any modern weaponry or could be integrated to one. Waste of money if you ask me.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Q Cubed
i didn't hear about the tests at all... is this system actually accurate?

I don't recall the system has been tested under any situations remotely close to what you might expect IRL.

But that is just a minor point. As we pointed out repeatedly before, sending a nuclear device on an ICBM at the US is the last thing any country or organisation would do. It's the most expensive delivery method, and it points right back to the launcher.

[DanS]

and i love how often times, when arguing in support of the missile defense shield, conservatives will obfuscate the difference between nkorea, a country with icbms and nuclear weapons, which the shield would protect against, and al qaeda, which is a non-state actor with no icbms and presumably at this point no nuclear weapons, before launching into a tirade about how liberals don't want americans to be safe because they oppose the missile shield, which will protect us from all nuclear attacks, including the ones sent by al qaeda.

Thanks for the strawman!

[GePap]

So after a round of made up testing they start putting in interceptors- well, if anyone launches the missile on a sunny day without any good dfecoys, why, there is a 70% chance we will get it! I feel safer already..not.

[Q Classic]

Thanks for the strawman!

i personally wasn't arguing that, i was merely pointing out that that's the argument i've often seen used justifying the abm shield, and it's crap.

as far as this deployment goes, i'm rather unconfident in it since i didn't know it had even been tested. rather than being told that the abm shield will work, i'd like to see a demonstration with duds, you know?

[Lefty Scaevola]

Is it on the great circle path from North Korea to the west coast?

[DanS]

i was merely pointing out that that's the argument i've often seen used justifying the abm shield, and it's crap.

I.e., you're arguing against a strawman.

[Pekka]

Yeah and even if it would work and have some kind of odds, you know someone will just make a system that is able to fool the ABM shields or something simular to that.

THis system is certainly not the end of all weapons. Furthermore just thinking about how much it costs and how much REAL security it provides, well I'm not American and not taxpayer in there but I'd be pretty pissed off if it was my money.

[chequita guevara]

What's the company that's making these? I wanna invest so at least I can get some of my wasted tax dollars back.

[Theben]

Originally posted by DanS
The patriot missiles have consistently improved over the last 20 years. I have no reason to believe that the missile shield will not improve in like fashion.

So in 20 years we'll intercept two missiles?

[Q Classic]

Is it on the great circle path from North Korea to the west coast?

i think alaska is a bit closer to nkorea than the pacific northwest via great circle.

I.e., you're arguing against a strawman.

ah, i misunderstood what you meant.

[chequita guevara]

The problem with installing an ABM system is that once it's in place, we'll start thinking we can actually use it to defend ourselves, as opposed to thinking, this thing never hit anything outside a rigged test and it'll be a generation or so before it's actually useful, so screw Seoul, let's mess with the DPRK!


What do you mean Seattle's gone???

[DanS]

What's the company that's making these? I wanna invest so at least I can get some of my wasted tax dollars back.

RTFA. Orbital Sciences.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
What's the company that's making these? I wanna invest so at least I can get some of my wasted tax dollars back.

I'd like to have the same right with the National Endowment for the Arts, but alas, I can't invest in the federal government (but then again, would I want to?) .