Anti-Missile Defenses For Commercial Jets

The AP reports that the first anti-missile defense system has been installed for testing on a commercial jet, a FedEx cargo carrier. The system is intended to detect the launch of a shoulder-fired missile at takeoff or landing, and disable the missile with a laser beam. Sen. Barbara Baxter (D-California) is one of the supporters of the system. She and other members of Congress are hoping to equip all US commercial passenger liners with this system in 20 years, at a cost of billions of dollars. Is this good common sense or the costly future of a society hobbled by fear of terrorism?

Comments

This is ridiculous.

[Anonymous Coward]

The war on terror is bullshit and 9/11 was carried out by the governments of the United States and Israel.

http://www.amazon.com/Terrorstorm-History-Governme nt-Sponsored-Terrorism/dp/B000HRJLM4/

video.google.com/videosearch?q=terror+storm

Re:Need?

[Anonymous Coward]

Just out of curiosity, how many commercial airliners in the US have been shot down with shoulder fired missiles? I haven't had any luck trying to find an instance in Google.

Good point. Why not wait until missile launchers like SA-18 become easily obtainable and begin shooting down airliners, before starting a research program that may take 10 years to produce something useful!

Re:Spend less money on defense, and be less of a d

[plantman-the-womb-st]

Not sure how this is flamebait, it's dead on.

Exterminate the Sand Niggers

[Anonymous Coward]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to just exterminate the shit eating sand niggers?

Re:Spend less money on defense, and be less of a d

[couch_potato]

What you call "giving the populace the chance to vote" others call "giving the populace the chance to think that they voted."

The Crabster.

Re:Spend less money on defense, and be less of a d

[plantman-the-womb-st]

Speaking as an American, we are dicks to the rest of the world, not just Iraq, the rest of the entire world. It's not flamebait if it's true. And as far as your examples, what? Do you actually think that women in Iraq weren't allowed to go to school? Do you seriously believe that? My advice, meet someone from Iraq. As for the "religious sect" bullshit, that stuff for some reason was never a problem before we lead the insurrection into Iraq. The voting thing, yes true, but it's a shame that now that they voted we've decided we don't like their choices and are still fucking with them.