September 14, 2004
Rest Easy. We Will Be Protected
It is said that international terrorism is like a hydra, so it only makes sense (I guess) that the defense against terrorism is as diverse. One of those pulled out of the moth ball strategies was the defunct and debunked missile defense system known as "Star Wars." Initiated under the Reagan administration and widely debunked as useless, ineffective, and expensive, it made its comeback under G.W. as critical to the US "war on terrorism." Ready or not, it will be implemented.
Yes comrades, there it is in today's news - Test of Missile Defense System Delayed Again. But wait! This is no setback.
The Pentagon's last hope of flight-testing critical new elements of an antimissile system, before activating the system this autumn, appeared to vanish yesterday with the disclosure that the next flight test has been postponed until late this year, well past the November election.The Air Force general in charge of the program said the setback will not affect plans to begin operating the system in the next month or two. But the delay leaves the Pentagon pressing ahead with a system that will not have been flight-tested in nearly two years -- and never with the actual interceptor that will be deployed.
That's right. The fact that it hasn't been tested, or passed innumerable test, is not an issue in implementation. I guess it falls under "spiral development plan". This "plan" is supposed to speed the development of military technology. Rather than going through extensive testing before deployment, new technology is tested in the field. Any failures (and successes) that happen there goes back into the development cycle.
Forget the fact that the missile defense shield is unlikely to stop any kind of terrorist attack. Forget the fact that fixing problems on deployed missiles will be virtually impossible. Forget the fact that failure of the system could be globally disastrous. We will forge ahead. Who needs to test technology anyway? It hardly ever fails. Right?
Gads!
Posted by rowan at September 14, 2004 6:34 AM | TrackBack | [eMail this article!] |it may just be rumor, but, I hear Dan Rather has procured some copies of test results regarding failed missle tests and leaked them to the media regarding one mustn't put too much faith in rumors, I realize that, but..one does wonder..
Posted by: goesh at September 14, 2004 7:56 AMWhere's the conspiracy theories??
I am hearing from some quarters, vague and ill-defined, but rumblings never the less that bin laden is in chains somewhere waiting to be hauled out for public viewing shortly - the ever so wily Bush has him in ' cold storage' so to speak ready to prop up falling poll numbers -
And VX nerve gas - rumors of several large canisters already found but being held close to Bush's political poker hand, and ace in the hole so to speak, ready to be slapped on the table in mid october ...
anyone else hearing similar things??
Posted by: goesh at September 14, 2004 10:35 AMThis ONE doesn't wonder, and if I never hear another thing about anybody's miliktary service or lack of service ....it will be too soon
Posted by: Bill Whitlatch at September 14, 2004 11:01 AMyup - how does being a part-time jet pilot in the guard or commanding a river boat for 4 months qualify anyone to be Commander in Chief - yet the public keeps feeding from this ridiculous trough, fed by the media - as if there are no other concerns - like the economy, health care, crime, the environment, decaying infrastructure, etc etc
Posted by: goesh at September 14, 2004 11:49 AMFor a comander in chief I think when it comes to war ones experience of combat is very important.
Posted by: Mike Mullane at September 14, 2004 9:13 PMBombs Away!
Bill 'the bomb' Clinton did pretty good in Kosovo I would say - a 30 day sustained air assault that drove the Serbs out - it seems they had been doing some ethnic cleansing and now Milosovich is clapped in irons and on trial. The Defense Dept. and the Pentagon along with the General Staff of the US Military pretty much runs things. Successful managers don't have to have personal expertise in all phases of an operation to make a go of it.
Posted by: goesh at September 15, 2004 4:20 AMFor once I agree with Goesh! :) I think presidential leadership ability doesn't necessarily require a combat experience to be effective in a tense situation of conflict. I would agree that it might help, but it could be debated that a military man (or woman) brings a different perspective to a position of leadership, one that might impact the consideration of optional responses.
Ultimately, I think that a larger portion of a national leader (world leader really) should reflect a multi-faceted individual who is keenly aware of the function of systems, institutions, a value-based economy, and who harbors some compassion. And of course, as Goesh has pointed out several times on this board, it really is a broader spectrum of government that should be examined. What is congress doing? What are they being paid for, and how well are they performing their duties? I think a good look at our congressional activities is in order these days.
I've been struggling with the concept lately of whether it is possible to maintain a world without aggression. Maybe I'm an idealist--maybe I just believe that most people truly want to live above all things--but I feel that ceasing warlike activities means a major paradigm shift in outlook and response. Again, perhaps I'm just naive.
Posted by: Pamela at September 15, 2004 11:04 AMGnashing the Canine Teeth:
I wish I could be more optimistic about a world without aggression, but given the large brain of our species, our opposable thumbs, our frontal vision, our track record and our canine teeth, the prospects are a bit gloomy.
Posted by: goesh at September 15, 2004 6:29 PM