missile defense system question

[Logiola]

if this system actually happened, would other countries not just create a missile with technology similar to the stealth bomber.. would this not make the whole system even more pointless? or is the stealth bomber.. umm stealth because of the shape? not a material thing?

[Vincardog]

1. stealth because of the shape and material combination

Don't worry the Missile defense system is a fantasy anyway. It will never work.

[bearfan454]

5. That's right. They proved it doesn't work.

It couldn't even hit a target that had a homing device on it. Every scientist that has said it doesn't work has turned up dead. That is a fact. It is one of the Carlyle groups little fraud taxpayer ripoff schemes.

[Goathead]

2. That is the definition of proliferation

and the arms race. We use state of the art technology to build this system, our enemy counteracts by building a system to do an end around our system, then we build a more advanced system to counteract the system they built, on and on, ad. infinitum.

[The Doctor.]

3. The issue boils down to cost and available technology and

experts...

It would be too expensive for other countries to try to copy or get around such a system... assuming it worked that is...

[K-W]

9. You cant assume that.

The solution might come very cheaply, accidentally, or incidentally. We might put up the system only to see technology rendering obsolete developed the next day.

[Jack_DeLeon]

4. I dont think stealth technology works....

on ICBM warheads.

There are all kinds of ways to "penetrate" our missile defense system though.

Obviously it wont stop terrorist attacks, and our system isnt designed to stop cruise missiles.

That being said I still think its a good idea to keep working on, maybe someday the technology will be there for it to actually work.

Some people claim its like the Maginot Line France had in WWII.

I agree, however what some people forget is that the Maginot line worked, the Germans didnt break though it they were forced to go around it.

Defenses usually dont stop things, but they usually force your enemy to find alternate ways around it. Which hopefully you use the time to counter thier other moves.

Just for the sake of argument lets say North Korea would have used a nuclear ICBM to attack the US, and lets say they decide not to now because our missile defense would work.

Well now instead of waiting a few hours maybe to cause us harm they have to wait a few months to work out a plan for getting a nuclear weapon to terrorists and for them to smuggle it into the US. Thats time that we otherwise wouldnt have had, and thats time that we could have to hopefully thwart suchs plans.

Atleast thats the theory.

[Trajan]

6. Great question ....

Even if it WORKED .... technologies and techniques could be devised to overcome it's weaknesses ...

[K-W]

7. This is very speculitive question, impossible to answer.

It would require us knowing two things that we cant know.
1. How would a working missle defense system work?
2. Would technology be developed that could fool that system?

Since, so far, no one has come up with a workable system, who knows.

Btw, the stealth bomber isnt stealth. It is designed to be difficult to identify and track.

[punpirate]

8. Stealth technology...

... is much a matter of both materials and shape. ICBMs have to deal with re-entry heat, so some of the current stealth materials and shapes are unsuitable.

There are a lot of simpler ways to overwhelm a missile defense system--dummies, phony heat sources, radar jamming tricks, and simple excessive numbers, either by number of missiles or by multiple re-entry warheads.

As for "if this system actually happened," it already has. It's being deployed in Alaska now (despite the fact that it hasn't been tested nearly thoroughly enough to trust in any minimal fashion).

The deployment, frankly, has much to do with defense spending, and little to do with common sense. We wouldn't be hearing nearly so much hoo-hah about North Korean missiles being able to hit the US western coast (still an absolute myth) if there were not billions to be made on this program. As tested and deployed, this system isn't going to hit anything but the tax-dollar trough, and it's not able to resist a full-scale assault from the only country capable of mounting one--Russia.

This program is pretty much the thin edge of the wedge to revive Star Wars in all its ignomy. A couple of trillion dollars later, the Air Force can claim they have military superiority in space. In the meantime, the country will become a banana republic--no meaningful economy or middle class, over-armed for every possible threat, and mired in debt.

Those are the true stealth aspects of the missile defense program.

Cheers.

[Up2Late]

11. I agree ...What he said>>>

See post below:smoke:

[Up2Late]

10. missile defense system is 100% Pork/Kickback

and TOTALLY obsolete!

That's a 100 BILLION Dollar gift to the "Military Industrial Complex," as President Eisenhower called it, that should have been used to upgrade security at U.S. Ports. :puke:

In 4 years, we have gone from 2% to 5% of the Intermodule containers that enter this country each day. I've unpacked those things (as a Temp a few years ago) and I can tell you, a Mega Bomb could easily be packed into the middle of one of those things that could destroy a Tunnel, Building, Bridge, all kinds of things. :mad:

Even if it did work, the system would have to be about 100 times bigger (and more expensive) to even make it likely to work.

Check out <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/missile/>

Another Question? Who's Missile's are we defending against? Russia, China? N. Korea? Russia and China are major trading partners now. Unless Bush totally screws up those trade relations, we have know one to defend against.

I really think Bush is hoping N.Korea will Test a Nuke, :nuke:so he can justify this STUPID system.