Is it all about the money?
It's consistently astonishing to me how the neo-conservative Republicans currently in power can say things that are so unbelievably untrue without being challenged. Missile defense is just one example of demonizing that has gone on since the inception of the Cold War. I'll provide a quote from this writer who is as baffled as I am.
No rogue state has missiles capable of hitting the continental United States. Until last week, it was thought that North Korea’s Taepodong-2 might be able to hit parts of Alaska. But when they tested it, we learned that, in fact, it can’t. Indeed, it can’t even launch at all. In other words, if our missile defense system did work, which it doesn’t, there would be nothing for it to defend against.The Red Army we were told to fear for many decades was found to be much less capable than expected. The fearsome Soviet war machine didn't even have enough toilet paper, much less the capability to overrun Europe. I spent many hours in Fulda Gap in Germany fighting T-72s on the paper and cardboard battlefield in the "Next War" that never happened.
Can it really be as simple as a way to provide trillions of dollars for their best buddies in the military industrial complex? Making things like the "Star Wars" missile defense or the B-2 bomber that nobody needs?
As always, the most depressing fact is not what they're thinking and saying, it's that the opposition and the media let them get away with it.
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2 comments:
That's a total apples to oranges comparison Shocho. SDI (whether you agree with it or not) was not meant to combat China's ground forces or Russia's toilet paper as you're suggesting. Both of those nations have the ability the U.S. or our territories with missiles. The exact thing that anti-missile technology was designed to combat. And in the past, both of those countries have made gestures indicating their willingness to use them.
For my money (as a conservative) I'm more concerned about a leader who's a) a megolomaniac that believes time started with his father and b) actively testing missiles to get them to the point where they'll work than I am worried about an aerosol can. If you can make sweeping generalizations, let's open the gates! :)
Sorry, that should have read "...have the ability to target the U.S...."
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