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U.S. Air Force Plans for War In Space
arhca writes "Wired has an article about the U.S. Air Force's plans to put military weapons in outer space. Plans include firing hypervelocity rods from space to targets on the ground, space-based lasers and large mirrors to reflect the beams at targets on the ground, and a space-based radio frequency energy weapon to destroy or disable foreign satellites. The Air Force's PDF can be found here."
There is a treaty but it has been ignored for 20 years. So find another reason for your mindless Bush bashing crap.
My father in law spent 6 years at the High Energy Laser Test Facility, White Sands, NM. All in the 80's.
Professional Politicians are not the solution, they ARE the problem.
You would rather we fly commerical jetliners into their huts? Life is good here for a reason man, get over it.
Mods: Have a ball with this one, but it had to be said.
God you're a dipshit.
The US could end life on earth at any moment, and we don't.
If countries threaten us, which they constantly do because we're bigger and better than they are, we can, should, and will fuck with them.
Go fuck yourself please.
Now, now Cheney take it easy man, no need for that language.....but you know that attitude is exactly why people want to screw with us. Dick, really,think about it in your hidden bunker under D.C.
Sehr geehrter Toilettenbenutzer!
I think the Cold War could have ended without the Soviet Union collapsing the way it did. Ideally the Soviet Union would have broken up piece by piece allowing the former Republics to choose some sort of economic relationship with Moscow (the nearest example that comes to mind is the British Commonwealth) that would have been good for both sides.
Ideally Russia itself then would have become a more or less "free" socialist state (like the rest of Europe nowadays). The days of Stalin were long gone -- they certainly weren't going to revert back in that direction. Ask any Russian who was alive during the purges what they think of Stalin and one-man rule.
Had this scenario happened we'd probably have a much more stable World to thank for it -- and Russia (a proud nation with a admirable culture) wouldn't be a third-world nation struggling to feed it's own population.
Instead we pulled the rug out from under them, kicked them while they were down, and oh by the way, set the stage for the rise of radical Islam which may very well prove to be the death of us all one day.
Thanks a lot Reagan.
I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
ahh hyperlinks, that last refuge of the imbecile.
That was classic intercourse!
Can you imagine how the story would have been covered if it was the RUSSIANS who had announced that THEY were pulling out og the Treaty?
Hell, The anti nuclear proliferation agreements are all VOLUNTARY, but when a country we don't like North Korea pulls out we say they're a rogue state. (Compare that to the treatment of "allies" like Pakistan and Israel).
-------- In Soviet Russia, "Soviet Russia" sigs hate Slashdot.
This really isn't anything new. Space-based weapons have been thought of for at least as long as man has been in space.
/. thread is for pasty vegan leftish academics to post their routine furor at the insensate warmongering of the criminal Bush Administration. This is NOT the place to point out anything that contradicts or mitigates that view. Sheesh.
Starting in the late 1950s the Soviets began working on an nuclear orbital bombardment system that would bypass US early warning systems. There was also Salyut 3 in 1975 which carried a 23mm cannon that was used to fire at a target satellite
You obviously didn't get the memo. This
You'll want "Pragmatism", that's down the hall. It's the door on the right.
From the article:
"This will certainly prompt China into actually moving forward" on space weapon plans of its own, she added. "The Russians are likely to respond with something as well."
Yeah, because they'd NEVER have thought of it themselves! (rolls eyes)
-Styopa
/boggle
Warmonger: One who advocates or attempts to stir up war.
Pro-active: Acting in advance to deal with an expected difficulty; anticipatory.
They're not mutually exclusive, but in no way does being pro-active equate to warmongering. This isn't calling for a "President" to step down, this isn't blockading a nation's harbor; this is a _draft_, not even an upcoming action but a _concept for a plan_. Since, as far as I know, _no one owns space_, this is _not_ invading a country. Please refer to the definition of Warmonger, and come back later.
> The US is very much capable to defend themselves as it is today.
That would be your opinion, to which you are very much entitled. I, however, disagree with the concept that we should be content to sit on our laurels because some have the opinion that our military is just fine the way it is, and needs no modifications.
> Where is the threat that would suggest that an even bigger military force is needed?
Why do we need to be actively threatened before we can improve our military? If this inititive makes our military SMALLER by reducing the number of active troops required, would it then make you happy?
> The thing is that it looks like the US want to have a big offensive capability for some reason.
Again, this is _your interpretation_. I view it as drafting up a potential for improving our military. If we can use advanced technology to put the men and women of our military at less risk, I say it's worth investigating!
> Most countries is NOT in a decent relationship with the US.
I'm sorry, I must have missed the part where one or more countries declared war, imposed sanctions, or we were warned by the UN. Please, note each recognized country who is in a state of war with us and list them for me.
> Compare it with the kid at school...
Wake up. This does not boil down to a schoolyard analogy. We're not talking about toys or bullies. We're talking about _real life_ - the lives of _millions_ of Americans who our government is there to represent. It is the _duty_ of our military to protect us from all enemies, foreign and domestic.
> Be sure that many countries hate the US with a passion but they are to afraid to take a stand.
Um, why on Earth would we want them to take a stand? I'm all for them airing out their grievances (and then dealing with it in a peaceful, civilized manner), but if guns in space keep our citizens safe from those who wish to do them harm, why is this a bad thing?
> It is sad to watch the US turn into a terror state hellbent on ruling the world.
Elaborate, pretentious, and intellectually vacuous. I've seen no indication that 1) the US is a terror state, nor 2) the US is hellbent on ruling the world. You might try mixing in some fact with your fictitious rhetoric.
-lw
Mods: Disagreeing with me != my post Offtopic / Flamebait.
World without hate or war, invaded. Tragic?
What exactly is a "Rogue Weapon"? Get down off your high-horse, the USA posessing WMD IS EXACTLY THE SAME DAMN THING! . Any nation with a WMD program is a rogue nation, the USA has bio, nuke and chem weapons... why cant everyone else?
And you're right, Bush would probably break one if it was there because he's mean and evil and he breaks little kids candy bars
No, Hes a fucking fascist, who has invaded two nations -- threatened more -- and you are a jingo tool.
Even if nothing changes in the Middle East, it would be interesting to see how many oppressive right-wing puppet regimes fall as a result. Please list all of the oppressive right-wing puppet regimes that are out there?
I assume by your bs rant that any and all "left-wing" totalitarian regimes are free to continue oppressing - Cuba, China, North Korea. And of course, any other oppresive regime that opposes the US - Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, the Palestinian Authority.
You are such a typical dumb shit if you actually believe that if Israel gave up half its land for a palestinian state that never previously existed, peace would break out? Are you actually suggesting that the day after that occured, Hamas and the rest of the gang would immediately stop lobbing missles and blowing up busses? Can anyone actually be that monumentally naive? You really think they will EVER stop until the "zionists" are wiped out of the middle east?
Maybe if the EU cut off its foreign aid to the Palestinian authority and the terrorists, the fighting might stop as well.
Americans take war to space. The first thing they want to attck is their own planet.
Americans are going to die out, you know that don't you? Plese dont take the intelligent human species with you.
your post is so american - its astounding. do you honestly believe your any different than a terrorist? that any human being is different from another? you have to honestly think, what would it take for you to blow up buildings? jealousy of the great USA(TM) or that the usa has bombed your country for years and you have a very long memory. the american public continues blissfully unaware, and they have no reason to care. you think - ill make them pay attention. ill make them acknowledge that they have to be responsible for the actions of their government. thats the thinking behind people like osama. its not we are attacking freedom(tm) like your govt has hammered into your head. everyone wants freedom.
you have been brainwashed by the religious powers that have shaped the world for the last 2000 years. there is no such thing as good and evil, black and white - only shades of grey.
"until the philosophy that holds one race supperior, is finaly and perminantly abandoned, everywhere is war" - bob marley/marcus garvey
I'll just use my special getting high powers one more time...
Bush was widely hated in Europe as soon as he was elected. He's a religious zealot/nut (pretty synonymous heh?) with an extremely simplistic world view.
The quickest way to become an atheist is to study the Bible thoroughly.
...is more weapons right?
no wonder america is the target of terrorism - they attack countries without evidence or justifiable reason (just make up the reasons afterwards - no problem! our people will swallow it!!), they overthrow democratically elected leaders, and now, they develop weapons in space.
and america wonders why it is so hated... the current american administration is like a petulant boys club with no accountability.