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Missile Defense

Russian military leaders have expressed concern about US plans for a national missile defense system. Will defense technology be limited by possibilities for a strategic imbalance? Is this just SDI all over again?

cookiess0 - 01:37pm Apr 30, 2001 EST (#2820 of 2828)

rshowalter -

I'm just a person with a degree in international affairs whom concentrated in national security policy. That is it.

rshowalter - 01:40pm Apr 30, 2001 EST (#2821 of 2828)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

In important ways, it doesn't matter, just now, what I believe about who "becq" was, or who you are. I wasn't alone in my belief that "becq" was Bill Clinton. Also, the dialog, whoever you are, and whoever "becq" was -- was interesting -- and I believe showed a good deal about what US nuclear policy is. And "becq" got me to read a lot of Hobbes, too -- interesting stuff.

glennlab - 01:41pm Apr 30, 2001 EST (#2822 of 2828)

Even if we give the Bush administration that a NMD can work, the question is can it do any good. An ICBM with launch harware and warhead will cost a rougue nation on the magnitude of $100 million not counting R & D, where a cheaper, more effective method would be to ship the warhead here on a ship. A 1 megaton warhead would weigh approximately 2000 pounds, create a fireball with a diameter of 6000 feet, and could be placed in a seatainer,shielded and disguised on any incoming freighter. The organization would be able to ship to a predetermined destination, no problems with radar, and large amounts of colateral damage.

The fact is anyone that wants to get to us, can. Launching a tracable nuclear missle would not be the smartest way. Since this system will not stop "terrorist" I would sumize as Reagan did, that this system is offensive in nature and has little if any defensive capabilities.

The second, more compelling issue is whether the system will work on true incoming. The target will be roughly 2 feet in diameter, 4-5 in length moving in excess of 20,000 mph, and we are going to hit it dead on with a blast of sometype to destroy it. Now these warheads are made to detonate when they come in contact with the ground at 25,000 mph, so it is going to be one large blast to even phase it.

rshowalter - 01:41pm Apr 30, 2001 EST (#2823 of 2828)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Now about Star Wars -- it doesn't work. And for technical reasons --- can't .

cookiess0 - 01:42pm Apr 30, 2001 EST (#2824 of 2828)

rshowalter - 01:40pm Apr 30, 2001 EST (#2821 of 2821)

If you need "proof" just go to the South Asian politics forum and ask. The loud one, "mooong" will clearly give you his mind on me:) None of his personalized jabs are worth considering but at least the "clinton" vail will go away:)

cookiess0 - 01:44pm Apr 30, 2001 EST (#2825 of 2828)

rshowalter - 01:40pm Apr 30, 2001 EST (#2821 of 2821)

Be warned. If you do decide to investigate-he will clutter this forum with useless rants-for he enjoys being the fool. He is quite racist and it would be a shame to have the forum cluttered with such garbage.

rshowalter - 01:44pm Apr 30, 2001 EST (#2826 of 2828)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

There's also the matter of stealth technology, and its optical analogs.

The resolution problems on Star Wars are crazy.

There are, however, some limited technical possiblities. If a country knows exactly where our missile subs are, and they have a small, fishing boat sized ship tracking -- they can take the missiles out with a light machine gun, as they emerge from the water . . . .

Farther along on the trajectory -- things get harder.

rshowalter - 01:46pm Apr 30, 2001 EST (#2827 of 2828)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

cookiess0 4/30/01 1:44pm

Consider me deterred.

In a proportional and non-nuclear manner.

rshowalter - 01:47pm Apr 30, 2001 EST (#2828 of 2828)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

A limited objective, achieved by limited means, with minimal costs to the interactors.

MUCH better than nukes.

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