Pentagon seeks quick hit missile

[CerberusIV]

I still don't think this is a good idea as a weapon but then it isn't really meant to be a practical weapon. I can see two reasons to do this. First it allows people in Washington to give more US taxpayers money to their buddies in the arms manufacturing sector. Second it allows the US Navy to appear to have a role in the War on Terror. After all, as US forces are increasingly geared to quick response against terrorist syle threats, they wouldn't want any stray politicians to get the idea that the US could decommission a couple of boomers and spend the money on equipment for the US Army would they now.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by CerberusIV
Firing a missile at a target in another country is an act of war. Since half the world won't believe the US "intelligence", even if it happens to be correct that would not be a good way to improve the way everybody else regards the US.

More to the point the country hit, or the one that fears it may be next has only one way to retaliate - give a terrorist group the resources to carry out an attack on US soil.

This is escalation. Escalation works if your opponent is reasonable and feels he has something to lose. If your enemy is fanatical or feels he has nothing to lose it will most likely end in tears.

Or you want to hit missile launchers targeting third parties in a lame attempt to broaden a losing cause, like Saddam did in the first go around.

The weapon has a use, assuming you can calm the Russians and Chinese when they detect one of them launching.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara

Originally posted by loinburger

The algorithms for computing the trajectory of a missile aren't that primitive...

Only when the missile is in re-entry, and then you don't have very much time, on the order of minutes.

SLBMs don't have to go into orbit.

[notyoueither]

In fact, with ranges qualified in miles (fractions of the circumference of the Earth) I doubt any of them are truely orbital weapons.

[Tim_Augustus]

Originally posted by Ninot

Originally posted by Geronimo


That would work in the short run but it the long run it might seriously diminish our supplies of Christian fundamentalists.

K, so what's the downside?

We run out of our christian fundamentalist detterent

[Serb]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
I don't think that a missile strike in one hour can stop an iminent threat and save any of our lives. At best, all it an do is nail some leaders having a meeting in Siberia. Not too sure Russia would be all that keen on the U.S. firing a nuke capable missile into its borders.

I think Russia will respond accordingly and fire a couple of its Satans with conventional payload to eliminate some still-hidding Chechen terrorists, last spoted in Washngton D.C. and London, UK.

[Serb]

Re: Pentagon seeks quick hit missile

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Non-nuclear strike on distant target in 1 hour is goal, but some fear fatal misunderstanding...

Screw those pinky pussies! George will protect America!!!

[Kuciwalker]

That pic is really disturbing

[Serb]

Why?
George surely knows what to do.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by notyoueither
SLBMs don't have to go into orbit.

You have to go into orbit to hit anywhere. Otherwise it's just somewhere.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by notyoueither
SLBMs don't have to go into orbit.

Don't have to, no. Fighters don't have to use aams in air combat either, but it's a heck of a lot more effective.

[Vince278]

Pentagon seeks quick hit missile?
Someone at the Pentagon must be playing too much Civ to think up that idea.

Originally posted by Serb
I think Russia will respond accordingly and fire a couple of its Satans

Why am i not surprised the Russians have missiles with that name.

Originally posted by Serb
with conventional payload

Wuss.

[SlowwHand]

Quick is relative too, like anything. What you term quick, they're looking at quicker.

[Barnabas]

You could give to each bolivian 3.000 dollars!

Thats like 12 nintendos wii

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger


You have to go into orbit to hit anywhere. Otherwise it's just somewhere.

Well, SLBMs can't hit anywhere. Trident II has a range of about 7,500 miles.

What can hit anywhere (practically) is a fleet of subs armed with SLBMs if they are spread over the world's oceans.