Article

2010-09-09 Science & Technology

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Uncle Phester 2010-09-09 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11129 views ] Top

#1 The background is that the Democrats have consistently opposed *any* anti-ballistic missile defense, even anti-missiles, calling them "provocative", since before Reagan.

This is based on the utterly insane non-logic that if the US has defenses, other countries will be *more* inclined to fire missiles at us, but if we are defenseless, they won't.

While a 747-based chemical laser is old technology, it is the only technology we have while the newer, solid state lasers are being developed. The latter are so promising that the developers are continuing development on their own, despite the Democrats cutting back funding for R&D.

This has made the Democrats furious. They don't even want the possibility that we will be able to defend ourselves. They want America to be totally reliant on the goodwill of people like the North Koreans, Iranians, and Chinese.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-09-09 06:28|| 2010-09-09 06:28|| Front Page Top

#2 I wonder why it failed? It is a bit old tech, true. From various things I read, in the short book on DEW by Doug Beason, I'm surprised it did fail. Either way, it is a necessary test bed.

That aside, the liberals view any weapon as provacative. They bend over, stick their heads in the sand and let people have them all the while pretending all is great. They turn a blind eye to China and think Jihadists, which they removed from their, "Good Thought," are just misuderstood. Why any one would trust one is beyond me. The very fact that they think the world is full of fluffy bunny slippers just emphasizes their lack of reality. Look at what they've done to the US with the past presidency. Has any thing they've done actually improved this country or held up/protected the constitution? Many claim it's an outdated document.

Posted by miscellaneous 2010-09-09 08:04|| 2010-09-09 08:04|| Front Page Top

#3 China? China? Come on are you suffering from neurosis?

Not wanting to get into a moral debate about the ethics of the Chinese but I have to ask why China suddenly became the great American global threat only after the USSR was done and buried.

It's too convenient to define another country of equal power as a threat. It helps keep the prols in a subordinate order.

Posted by Kojo Cromble5733 2010-09-09 08:17|| 2010-09-09 08:17|| Front Page Top

#4 Cromble, based off China's specific development in arms to fight and counter US tech and forces and their increases attempt at a dominiate super power, and with their history of human rights abuse and billigerence, it's about time people actually start paying attention. Some assume it's just a matter of time before there is a war over the Taiwanese straight. Also, I don't think Russia has crumpled, just shrunk a bit. They seem after cozy with any one that is against the US, like say Iran.

Posted by miscellaneous 2010-09-09 08:44|| 2010-09-09 08:44|| Front Page Top

#5 Both China and the US have *assumed* that we will eventually get into war since the 1980s. However, in addition to a major naval build-up, overtly trying to achieve military warship parity with the US, China has also become considerably more aggressive.

It is now trying to shoulder out several countries from long disputed islands, as well as continuing to menace Taiwan with increasing numbers of missiles, and not too long ago, even tried setting some groundwork for claiming northern Korea.

It is also actively trying to repopulate Tibet and the Uighar region with Han Chinese, displacing the Tibetans and Uighars. And it has been showing signs of wanting to take back a disputed chunk of India.

This is so unnerving in the region that India is cooperating with Japan and South Korea to try and mitigate this assertive Chinese behavior.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-09-09 10:25|| 2010-09-09 10:25|| Front Page Top

#6 but if we are defenseless, they won't.

If they really think this they're as dumb as sack of wet oatmeal.
The truth is,
We are NOT attacked BECAUSE we're Armed to the teeth.
Helpless is DEAD.
(Muslims come immediately to mind)

Posted by Redneck Jim 2010-09-09 10:55|| 2010-09-09 10:55|| Front Page Top

#7 This is based on the utterly insane non-logic that if the US has defenses, other countries will be *more* inclined to fire missiles at us, but if we are defenseless, they won't.

if this is true, which I happen to believe is so, these people are dangerously naive and completely crazy. It is crazy to allow them to be in charge of national defense. Truly insane.

Posted by JohnQC 2010-09-09 12:10|| 2010-09-09 12:10|| Front Page Top

#8 I am impressed that they were able to hit the missile at 100 miles. Destroying a missile in flight is not an easy thing. I took part in some of the early tests back in the 70s and missiles are much less susceptible to physical destruction than the movies would lead you to believe.

Posted by rwv 2010-09-09 16:54|| 2010-09-09 16:54|| Front Page Top

#9 #7 This is based on the utterly insane non-logic that if the US has defenses, other countries will be *more* inclined to fire missiles at us, but if we are defenseless, they won't.

if this is true, which I happen to believe is so, these people are dangerously naive and completely crazy. It is crazy to allow them to be in charge of national defense. Truly insane.

Didn't these schmucks that claim this go to school? Whom do bullies pick on? The tough kids or the easy marks? It's dang near a simple law of nature.

Posted by miscellaneous 2010-09-09 16:58|| 2010-09-09 16:58|| Front Page Top

23:31 anonymous2u
23:16 DarthVader
23:14 DarthVader
23:10 Barbara Skolaut
23:02 KBK
22:59 DarthVader
22:59 Skidmark
22:57 Sprocket Muppet
22:51 Skidmark
22:49 Frank G
22:47 Skidmark
22:38 Skidmark
22:34 Frank G
22:34 retired LEO
22:28 borgboy
22:25 borgboy
22:22 borgboy
22:22 Procopius2k
22:03 Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division
22:01 Barbara Skolaut
21:54 Barbara Skolaut
21:46 DMFD
21:43 swksvolFF
21:42 DMFD