Guess this would a good time to try out the airborne laser system on the 747 that the Air Force has been experimenting with over the last few years. If it doesn't work, then go with the missiles mentioned in the story. Either way, you get a real life test of capabilities.
They have ASAT systems, we have ASAT systems. They test, we test. This is a good target of opportunity to test our system. We don't need to wave it under everyone's nose, but we shouldn't deny it either. If we hit USA 193, or even get a near miss, it will send a powerful message to the world.
This is where the U.S. needs to quit being concerned about these other countries. If one wants to be the tough guy on the block, act like it. As far as I'm concerned all this PC nonsense is what is getting us in triuble. We as a nation need to be more assertive.
Originally posted by rkgtactical: This is where the U.S. needs to quit being concerned about these other countries. If one wants to be the tough guy on the block, act like it. As far as I'm concerned all this PC nonsense is what is getting us in triuble. We as a nation need to be more assertive.
And this where the RHETORIC goes ballistic. Half the people on here say we are too assertive (or aggressive), the other half, like rkgtactical, say we are not assertive enough. I'm with the latter.
Plus, if we miss on both missle attempts, a 747 Airborne Laser System, and cropdusters throwing rocks, we will look really stupid in the eyes of the world. [our military can't do what their's can]. Why don't we just bet the Chinese a case of Yanjing beer they can't shoot it down, and pay close attention to what they did right.
While taking this satellite out is obviously a necessity, the world we presently live in is getting very leery of any actions our military takes anywhere on the planet these days. We are talking about something once launched which might not hit what it aims at. Or is their a backup, a fail safe destruct capabilities? Can the government tell us? Remember this will be an ICBM sized object right? So being worried about a Pandora’s Box of possible over-reaction of a sovereign state because of an accident is not farfetched. I became concerned about international tension last year when the Russians and the Chinese had a joint war game, that no one thought was for anything else then to be ready for us. My point, I believe any kind of a mistake could create a possiblity of some kind of retaliation. More troublesome is the fact that to date the anti-missile system which is suppose to guard us against incoming missiles has failed more then it has hit even a predictable target, so anxiety should be high for the world when we launch to shoot this bird down. Finally the idea that our news sources information for our people is hardly what can be called objective, factual, or journalistic. Other wise they would not keep saying things like were the only super power. In weapons systems China and Russia have plenty of ICBM’s that could reach us pretty quick, and all have nuclear warheads, so we are not as invincible as corporate brain-dead news sources would lead us to believe. We must be very careful and error on the side of caution and professionalism.
