US Missile Defense Shield Obsolete

[jeff]

I dont agree that they got nothing to show for it.

Tell us what we got then. We don't have a working missile defense shield. At least the Apollo program got us Tang and better computers.

(BTW: it's been done on this board before. Search on "SDI")

[jessicasimpson]

Tell us what we got then. We don't have a working missile defense shield. At least the Apollo program got us Tang and better computers.

(BTW: it's been done on this board before. Search on "SDI")

we got more national deficit :0 thanks star wars

[L.O.A.S.]

Tell us what we got then. We don't have a working missile defense shield. At least the Apollo program got us Tang and better computers.

(BTW: it's been done on this board before. Search on "SDI")

Generally, military R&D has led to all kinds of new gadgets for us civilians to use and benefit from. Anybody watch the History channel's "Tactical to Practical"? I never have, although wanted to.
Now for $90 Billion, if we don't get our missile defense shield, I'd at least expect something to keep birds from crapping on my car (preferably an active system that returns fire).

[gojujay]

Tell us what we got then. We don't have a working missile defense shield. At least the Apollo program got us Tang and better computers.

we got more national deficit :0 thanks star wars

We broke the back of the Communist world.

[Gav]

We broke the back of the Communist world.

With the missile defence system?

[YankeeRebel]

If there was any lesson to be learned from September 11th, it was that the greatest threat to the United States isn't a conventional attack from a nation state. A missile leaves a long trail which announces the source of the attack. No country (or madman) would voluntarily invite a nuclear holocaust upon themselves with missile attack against the United States. They would be writing their own death sentence.

What September 11th taught us is that the greatest threat isn't a conventional weapon from outside the country; it is the unconventional weapon (such as a dirty nuke) detonated inside the country. And there isn't anything a missile defense shield could do to stop that.

A missile defense shield made sense during the Cold War, but in today's world, it is as obsolete as the Maginot Line.

[gojujay]

With the missile defence system?

With the threat of being able to have a missile defense system. The USSR was already putting more than one third of their budget into the military, there was no way they could put in any more.

[Maeve_Mari]

Generally, military R&D has led to all kinds of new gadgets for us civilians to use and benefit from. Anybody watch the History channel's "Tactical to Practical"? I never have, although wanted to.
Now for $90 Billion, if we don't get our missile defense shield, I'd at least expect something to keep birds from crapping on my car (preferably an active system that returns fire).

Um hmmm. Our tank guidance systems and programs in modeling and simulation resulted in ventures with SEGA (and Sony) which now proudly provide you with those arcade simulation racing games that you can play in Dave and Busters and Chuck E. Cheeses nationwide. If that's not Tactical to Practical... lol... I don't know what is!!

[esskreemr]

Generally, military R&D has led to all kinds of new gadgets for us civilians to use and benefit from. Anybody watch the History channel's "Tactical to Practical"? I never have, although wanted to.
Now for $90 Billion, if we don't get our missile defense shield, I'd at least expect something to keep birds from crapping on my car (preferably an active system that returns fire).

I'm all for R&D. It's important and some very excellent tech is developed because of it.

I do have a problem, as stated numerous times, in publically announcing the deployment of a system that fails miserably in highly scripted tests. That would be like spending billions of dollars to build a bridge to nowhere...

[jeff]

That would be like spending billions of dollars to build a bridge to nowhere...

Not that we know of any government silly enough to do that...

[L.O.A.S.]

Um hmmm. Our tank guidance systems and programs in modeling and simulation resulted in ventures with SEGA (and Sony) which now proudly provide you with those arcade simulation racing games that you can play in Dave and Busters and Chuck E. Cheeses nationwide. If that's not Tactical to Practical... lol... I don't know what is!!

Actually, our tank guidance systems and such resulted in hundreds of burning piles of scrap (formerly known as Iraqi armored units).

[Inquartata]

Ess, thanks for those other links. The one that started the thread drove my pop-up killer into convulsions.

I notice that all the stories seem to be relying on Russian claims rather than independent verifications, though. Perhaps we should believe Russian claims on the efficacy of their missile only as far as you believe American claims on the efficacy of the defense system?

Edited for correct attribution.

[jeff]

Eh? I think you mean esskreemr's links.

[Inquartata]

Er---possibly.

[esskreemr]

Ess, thanks for those other links. The one that started the thread drove my pop-up killer into convulsions.

Sorry about that, I use FireFox which blocks pop-ups automatically.