Shields Up!

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
That's not good for anybody.

Indeed, that's why the PRC and Russia classified the "Missile Shield" as destablising.

Furthermore, they have reasons to believe that any such system is a US bid to be able to launch a first strike with impunity. As long as the first strike could eliminate enough ICBMs so the surviving number drops below what the ABM system can intercept. Thus, they see it as an attempt to eliminate MAD to give the US the ability to issue nuclear blackmail.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Even NK isn't going to lob a nuke at the US unless Pyongyang was being overrun.

Another good reason for the system

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Furthermore, they have reasons to believe that any such system is a US bid to be able to launch a first strike with impunity. As long as the first strike could eliminate enough ICBMs so the surviving number drops below what the ABM system can intercept. Thus, they see it as an attempt to eliminate MAD to give the US the ability to issue nuclear blackmail.

[KrazyHorse]

I don't believe that the US is going to invade NK.

[Kuciwalker]

Yes, but it's best to keep your options open

[KrazyHorse]

The question is cost versus benefit

[Q Classic]

Yes, but it's best to keep your options open

you'll probably be invading without the blessing of japan, skorea, china, and russia.

[DanS]

I'm saying that this guards against the least likely method of delivery of a nuke to the US.

What makes you think we aren't trying like mad to develop defenses against all delivery methods?

Even NK isn't going to lob a nuke at the US unless Pyongyang was being overrun.

But they can say that they will, even if they're not. They're building ICBMs in order to be able to say that. The risk is unacceptable.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by notyoueither
The same thing was once said by navy people about aircraft sinking ships.

The difference being that the guy who proposed sinking ships with planes then went out and proved that planes could sink ships (thereby ending his career, too). Here, the people saying you can shoot down a missile with another missile have missed every single friggin' time they didn't cheat!!!!!

Guess what, if the NK fires a nuke at us, they aren't going to fire it from next to the US radar base, nor are they gonna tie a big balloon to the warhead to single it out from all the decoys. :rolleyeys:

[Whoha]

If we invade NK we lose the ability to let them invade SK and Japan over that whole female/female reproduction crap.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
That's why it's in development. Duh.

Sorry, but this one isn't in development. It's in deployment, duh! There's a big difference between spending $20 on creating and testing a new system, and spending $20 billion on a system that does not work and will have to be completely rebuilt with new technology once the technology finally works!

How would you like me to sell you something that doesn't work, on the promise that some day in the future, I might sell you a working version?

[Dis]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
So virtually all land-based threats against US come from North or West.

Only South America is an exception to this.

!!!

We must put up another shield in the south to protect from Argentina. Those lousy argentinians!

[Dis]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger


Indeed, that's why the PRC and Russia classified the "Missile Shield" as destablising.

Furthermore, they have reasons to believe that any such system is a US bid to be able to launch a first strike with impunity. As long as the first strike could eliminate enough ICBMs so the surviving number drops below what the ABM system can intercept. Thus, they see it as an attempt to eliminate MAD to give the US the ability to issue nuclear blackmail.

what president would take a chance on that?

They have to know the U.S. would never strike first.

[Dis]

and I was under the impression that NK did have nukes that could reach the U.S.

I remember reading a local article that NK nukes do have the ability to reach the Hoover Dam. That's about the extent of their range.

or maybe that was china they were talking about? I'm not sure.

[pchang]

That would be China. NK doesn't even get to Hawaii, but they can get all of Japan.