Bush's $85 Million Dollar FUBAR

[mora]

Originally posted by OIO
Didnt the report say that 3 out of 5 missiles hit target (or failed to ) in earlier tests?


Imo thats a damn good ratio for firing 1 missile vs 1 target. Once deployed the system would fire a dozen or so at 1 missile to guarantee interception. So statistically the system works a-ok.

True, but what kind of targets were they using? It's a totally different thing to hit a Scud than a re-entry vehicle of an ICBM.

[Gunslinger]

Before 911 the same people that are screaming about missle defense would have laughed about Terrorists using Airliners as Missles.  After 911 they screamed WHY DIDNT YOU KNOW YOU COULD HAVE SAVED 3000 LIVES.


Now it's the same story different content.  No one has ever fired a rough missle at the US.......BUT if somone did drop 100megatons on Los Angels these same people would be screaming WHY COULDNT YOU SHOOT IT DOWN YOU COULD HAVE SAVED 10 MILLION LIVES.

as I tell our safety NCO at work......Just because statistically it's never happened doesn't mean it won't.  If the outcome does not outweigh the risk it's not worth it.

What you gotta ask yourself is this....."is the juice worth the squeeze?"

[TheDudeDVant]

As far as I have read, they have never had an actual 'real' intercept.. At every 'real' test situation, something has failed costing millions.. I understand they have had many simulated intercepts..  So OIO I dont understand your 3 of 5 worked statement.. So is it 3 of 5 failed to?

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Thrawn
That would be a great idea eh?  That way to can try hijack the tread away from it's intended topic and you can shoot the **** about your strawman.  

The thread was "hijacked" from the beginning by connecting Bush to defense R&D.  If we go back in history, you'll find many more cases where huge amounts of money was spent in the name of National Defense.  You won't find me blaming Clinton for Titan IV.  It was money approved for R&D and as the saying goes..."Chit happens".

Now if Bush gave away missile secrets to the Chinese, I would side with rpm.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by RPM
It's a failure and waste of money. It always has been, no matter who was in charge.

The same has been said about many successful programs in Defense spending prior to their success. One of the top of my bald head is the nay-sayers in the Mercury program

[rpm]

[Ripsnort]

rpm, do you think we should cease in spending any taxpayer money on National Defense spending?

[rpm]

Of course not. But there is such a thing as throwing good money after bad.