Missile Defense Test Successful

[ryr8828]

Missile-Defense System Test Succeeds



Apr 6, 11:42 PM (ET)

By AUDREY McAVOY HONOLULU (AP) - The military shot down a Scud-type missile in this year's second successful test of a new technology meant to knock down ballistic missiles in their final minute of flight, the Missile Defense Agency said Friday.
A ship off Kauai fired a target missile before 9 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time Thursday. Three minutes later, soldiers with the U.S. Army's 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade launched an interceptor missile from Kauai that destroyed the target over the Pacific, according to the agency.
The military says it already can shoot down missiles in their last stage of flight by using Patriot anti-missile batteries. But the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system would be able to protect larger areas than the Patriot system because it intercepts targets at a higher altitude, said agency spokeswoman Pam Rogers.
The new system had its first successful test last year at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. It had another successful test Jan. 27 at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai.
A September test at White Sands failed when the target missile failed after launch.
The Missile Defense Agency moved its testing for the Terminal High Altitude Defense system to Hawaii because the New Mexico range was not large enough for the military to do the testing it wanted, Rogers said.
The military also uses the Pacific Missile Range Facility to test Aegis technology that's designed to shoot down ballistic missiles midway through their flight.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070407/D8OBH6PO0.html

[ryr8828]

Build antimissile shield together: Russian lawmaker http://www.breitbart.com/images/common/dot.gif Apr 7 02:06 AM US/Eastern http://img.breitbart.com/images/2007/4/6/070407060620.3zjexg0l/SGE.MVU00.070407060616.photo00.quicklook.default-168x245.jpg
http://www.breitbart.com/images/common/dot.gif
A senior Russian lawmaker called Saturday for Russia (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=russia&sid=breitbart.com) to be included in US plans to build a missile defence system in Europe, warning Moscow will otherwise view the antimissile shield as a threat. "Russia has every reason to be interested in close cooperation in creating Eurasian missile-defense systems," Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the State Duma, wrote in an opinion piece in the International Herald Tribune (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22International+Herald+Tribune%22&sid=breitbart.com).
"And any attempt to build them without Russia (which is not only an interested party but also geographically and technically the most suitable place for an effective antimissile defense) automatically means they are being built against Russia," wrote the lawmaker.
Russia has repeatedly criticised the United States' plans to place missile defence equipment in countries that were once part of Moscow's orbit.
The United States has asked the Czech Republic (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22Czech+Republic%22&sid=breitbart.com) to host a radar system and Poland to host interceptor rockets as part of its missile defence plans.
Washington insists the anti-missile shield is intended as protection against attacks from "rogue states (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22rogue+states%22&sid=breitbart.com)" such as Iran and points out that the proposed system would be useless against Russia's vast weapons arsenal.
Kosachev argued building an antimissile shield without Russia wouldn't be effective and counterproductive as Moscow would view it as a threat.
"Our colleagues in Europe should understand this basic principle: Any attempt to build a security system without Russia (still less against it) by definition cannot be comprehensive or effective," he wrote.
"Instead of security for Europe's people we will have a new division and new targets on our densely populated Continent," Kosachev noted, echoing warnings by other Russian officials that Moscow would be forced to target the anti-missile shield.
On Friday, the lower house of the Russian parliament (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22Russian+parliament%22&sid=breitbart.com) warned that the antimissile shield risks triggering a new international arms race (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22arms+race%22&sid=breitbart.com).
"Such decisions, which are useless in terms of preventing potential or imaginary threats from countries of the Middle and Far East, are already bringing about a new split in Europe and unleashing another arms race," read the declaration, which was approved unanimously by deputies in the State Duma.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070407060620.3zjexg0l&show_article=1

[BoredWithNoSB]

Two successful tests out of how many?

When I was up in Kodiak Alaska everybody would joke about the program there. The only good thing about it, they said, was it brought a lot of people with lots of money into town.
They are actually a prime target for forieng missle attack and they said that they had no faith the system would ever protect them.

The fact that they rarely can hit a target that they know exactly when and where it is going to be doesn't provide much comfort for me. I'd much rather have those billions of dollars going in to scholarships and subsidizing post-graduate education.

[Vegas]

Two successful tests out of how many?

When I was up in Kodiak Alaska everybody would joke about the program there. The only good thing about it, they said, was it brought a lot of people with lots of money into town.
They are actually a prime target for forieng missle attack and they said that they had no faith the system would ever protect them.

The fact that they rarely can hit a target that they know exactly when and where it is going to be doesn't provide much comfort for me. I'd much rather have those billions of dollars going in to scholarships and subsidizing post-graduate education.

So if it doesn't work right away it's not worth doing?

[ryr8828]

Two successful tests out of how many?

When I was up in Kodiak Alaska everybody would joke about the program there. The only good thing about it, they said, was it brought a lot of people with lots of money into town.
They are actually a prime target for forieng missle attack and they said that they had no faith the system would ever protect them.

The fact that they rarely can hit a target that they know exactly when and where it is going to be doesn't provide much comfort for me. I'd much rather have those billions of dollars going in to scholarships and subsidizing post-graduate education.

The main purpose of the government is defense. I have no ambition of sponsoring any more career students than we already do.

[LSU]

The main purpose of the government is defense. I have no ambition of sponsoring any more career students than we already do.


but you're cool with sponsoring me, right?

[BoredWithNoSB]

The main purpose of the government is defense. I have no ambition of sponsoring any more career students than we already do.

I think we'd be many times more powerful if we ensured our standing as the world's strongest economy through education than by almost any military program.

Also, if it doesn't work after tens and tens and tens of billions of dollars and only secures against a very specific and unlikely threat, then don't try again. The cost-benefit of this program simply doesn't fly with me.

[ryr8828]

but you're cool with sponsoring me, right?

Apparently I have no choice, son.

[Vegas]

I think we'd be many times more powerful if we ensured our standing as the world's strongest economy through education than by almost any military program.

Also, if it doesn't work after tens and tens and tens of billions of dollars and only secures against a very specific and unlikely threat, then don't try again. The cost-benefit of this program simply doesn't fly with me.

So when the North Koreans and the Iranians have both high yield nuclear weapons and intercontinental launch capabilities, you won't care about having an effective missle shield?

[BoredWithNoSB]

So when the North Koreans and the Iranians have both high yield nuclear weapons and intercontinental launch capabilities, you won't care about having an effective missle shield?

Nope, I don't think it'd do us a bit of good. They launch 6, we hit 5 they win.

Also, China already has missle technology that our aircraft carriers can't defend against because they fly so low and are so manueverable. Only a matter of time before they can hook a nuke up to that and this system will be pointless anyway.

I think we'd be much better off owning them economically. If they couldn't get the latest gen technology without us, or if their markets would be crippled without us, they'd be afraid to nuke us. Also, I still beleive MAD would prevent them from doing anything from a pure military standpoint.

[Vegas]

Nope, I don't think it'd do us a bit of good. They launch 6, we hit 5 they win.

Also, China already has missle technology that our aircraft carriers can't defend against because they fly so low and are so manueverable. Only a matter of time before they can hook a nuke up to that and this system will be pointless anyway.

I think we'd be much better off owning them economically. If they couldn't get the latest gen technology without us, or if their markets would be crippled without us, they'd be afraid to nuke us. Also, I still beleive MAD would prevent them from doing anything from a pure military standpoint.

MAD won't prevent the extreme Muslim leaders from launching a nuclear attack. Think of how many suicide bombers they have sacrificed already.

[LSU]

Apparently I have no choice, son.



Don't worry, I'm just kidding...I don't think in my school tenure, much of your money has gone to me...had some fed student loans for my master's, but all that's going back, plus interest...my pay for there was from the Iowa DNR...and while I've been here, it's been a school fellowship and departmental stipend that's paying.

Now, you could make the argument that any fed funds that are going to the U are indirectly supporting me...


But you're proud of me...don't deny it.


I'll be the one keeping the cost of your fish down in the not so near future. Consider it an investment.

[IBC]

Yeah, missle systems that don't work over education!!! Everyone knows its only supporting career students, while this hit something they knew was there and right where it was. After all, academics are shit anyway. Who wants intellectuals when you can just believe something is (or isn't) true, say it over and over again, and that makes it true. You know, like John Kerry didn't deserve his medals and is actually a traitor, while Bush, he is a great hero to this country.

[LSU]

I wonder who the people are that are designing these defense systems...or more specifically, what advanced degrees they have...

[Iron Jaw]

So if it doesn't work right away it's not worth doing?

With that philosophy, Jonas Salk and the like would have given up on the Polio vaccine.

And I suppose, because we've had little success so far with the AIDs Vaccine or cure, we should just give up on trying.

Or cancer, diabetes, or any of the diseases that kill or cripple mankind.

Trial and error is part of life.....in everything we do. The U.S. space program was mired in disgrace in 1959, especially after the early disasters with the sat program.

But our nation dug in for the fight.

One successful mission after another with the Mercury and Gemini programs, America advanced to the Lunar program with Apollo. Apollo I was a disaster - three astronauts, White, Grissom and Chaffee died in a spacecraft fire during a ground test in 1967. It almost put an end to NASA and the race to the Moon. In late 1968 Apollo 7 orbited the Earth. In December of the same year, Apollo 8 orbited the Moon. After two more successful Apollo flights, Apollo 11 landed on the Moon in July, 1969. Then came another successful lunar landing with Apollo 12. Apollo 13 was a failure, but showed the world that mankind could overcome several tremendous obsticles. Apollo 14, 15 and 16 were all successful lunar landing missions.

Trial and error. Failure to success.

Of course, using the Apollo missions will probably stir the emotions of one of the misled conspiracy whackos that believe the lunar missions never took place. I was talking with one of those "whackos" at work - a fellow agent. A real research whiz. The guy didn't even realize there were six successful lunar missions - he thought Apollo 11 was the only lunar landing. A conspiracy whacko needs to do at least a little research before proclaiming his conspiracy as legit.

[LSU]

With that philosophy, Jonas Salk and the like would have given up on the Polio vaccine.

And I suppose, because we've had little success so far with the AIDs Vaccine or cure, we should just give up on trying.

Or cancer, diabetes, or any of the diseases that kill or cripple mankind.

Trial and error is part of life.....in everything we do. The U.S. space program was mired in disgrace in 1959, especially after the early disasters with the sat program.




Hey, that's my argument. At least in regards as to why there have been no surefire cures from embryonic stem cell research that is...and now that I think about it, the post you quoted is also an argument I've used in that debate. Ironic.

But back to missiles...

[ryr8828]

Yeah, missle systems that don't work over education!!! Everyone knows its only supporting career students, while this hit something they knew was there and right where it was. After all, academics are shit anyway. Who wants intellectuals when you can just believe something is (or isn't) true, say it over and over again, and that makes it true. You know, like John Kerry didn't deserve his medals and is actually a traitor, while Bush, he is a great hero to this country.

Teachers in my area are generally overpaid and underqualified in my opinion.

Throwing money at a problem doesn't always fix it. Of course if we're dead we can't learn anything.

[BoredWithNoSB]

Teachers in my area are generally overpaid and underqualified in my opinion.

Throwing money at a problem doesn't always fix it. Of course if we're dead we can't learn anything.

Are teachers in your area required to have their degree in a specific major (education) PLUS serve a six month unpaid intership (required) PLUS take tests to certify their knowledge in subjects outside of their major course of study (to teach that subject)?

Not many professions are that specific in their requirements. Hard to say folks are underqulaified when those are the minimum entrance standards most places. Then, add on to that you have mandated continuing education.

Also, I don't beleive the biggest threat to our society's existance comes from missles that we'll be able to shoot down.

[IBC]

Teachers in my area are generally overpaid and underqualified in my opinion.

Throwing money at a problem doesn't always fix it. Of course if we're dead we can't learn anything.

I made a post a while back about how Rush and his type attack teachers and non-profit workers. Throwing money at the problem may not work all the time. Paying teachers competitively might. We spend over 50% of our $ on defense. Do you know how much we spend on education? Do you really think our priorities are out of whack and we spend too much on education? Have you seen the budget of this country?

[Vegas]

I made a post a while back about how Rush and his type attack teachers and non-profit workers. Throwing money at the problem may not work all the time. Paying teachers competitively might. We spend over 50% of our $ on defense. Do you know how much we spend on education? Do you really think our priorities are out of whack and we spend too much on education? Have you seen the budget of this country?

Education costs have gone up faster than the cost of health care over the past 20 years. What do we have to show results-wise for all of the extra money spent?

And you're referring to the federal budget. If you look at total tax revenues spent at all levels, education costs are a huge expenditure. I have no problem spending money on education, but the amounts spent for the results received are out of whack.

[Land_Shark]

Two successful tests out of how many?

When I was up in Kodiak Alaska everybody would joke about the program there. The only good thing about it, they said, was it brought a lot of people with lots of money into town.
They are actually a prime target for forieng missle attack and they said that they had no faith the system would ever protect them.

The fact that they rarely can hit a target that they know exactly when and where it is going to be doesn't provide much comfort for me. I'd much rather have those billions of dollars going in to scholarships and subsidizing post-graduate education.

Personally, I am always suspicious when the pseudonymous "they" is evoked. Are "they" truly in the know? What is their source of information? Or is it more likely that "they" are just generally cynical when it comes to the competency of our Representative Republic.

[swordfish]

Knock, Knock!
Who is it?
Pizza Boy.
Umm, I don't remember ordering a pizza. (opens door)
LAND SHARK!!
Munch Munch.

[BoredWithNoSB]

Personally, I am always suspicious when the pseudonymous "they" is evoked. Are "they" truly in the know? What is their source of information? Or is it more likely that "they" are just generally cynical when it comes to the competency of our Representative Republic.

Which they are you referencing?

The "they" I mention first were the coast gaurd individuals assigned to watch the front gate and drive the folks administering the test in. Plus, you'd be amazed how news travels on a 5,000 person island with two flights a day on and off the island.

The second use of "they" was the island of Kodiak, which is a primary target based on their location and strategic importance.

The final they was the folks administering the missle test program.

[IBC]

Knock, Knock!
Who is it?
Pizza Boy.
Umm, I don't remember ordering a pizza. (opens door)
LAND SHARK!!
Munch Munch.

Candygram
I'm not a shark maam, I'm a dolphin.

[Nixon's Head]

MAD won't prevent the extreme Muslim leaders from launching a nuclear attack. Think of how many suicide bombers they have sacrificed already.You seriously think that they have the technology to attack the US with a 'nukular' ICBM?

[IBC]

You seriously think that they have the technology to attack the US with a 'nukular' ICBM?

No they don't. The only way they get in a nuke is through ports. We have done essentially nothing to secure them.