President Obama said Thursday that he is abandoning Bush-era plans for a long-range missile defense system based in Poland and the Czech Republic, turning instead to a land- and sea-based system of sensors and interceptors that is focused on stopping shorter-range missiles that could be fired from Iran. Full Story »
Posted by Samuel W. Velsor IV - via Washington Post
Very little informed technical opinion on whether the missile systems would be likely to work. It ignores the cruise missile threat and the satchel nuke threat. A smart offense can easily and cheaply outsmart a defensive system.
While Bush's ICBM missile defense was a useless boondoggle, details on this alternative design are missing from the discussion here. Global nuclear disarmament is the only rational goal.
I think this is a good thing for a few reasons; we keep the system in our control, the system will become operational quicker - this is the most important fact as the threats are real. I am not sure even this system will be operational ahead of Iran getting operational, I would guess that this system could be fast lined if required a lot easier then the Bush system. Costs will be lower as we are starting with systems that are in current use or design; and they are tested as workable.
In his briefing, Gates anticipated those criticisms, and fired back strongly. “Those who say we are scrapping missile defense in Europe are either misinformed or ... More »
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