[Gonzo]

The missile defence program would be a waste of money. First it wouldn't work. Never has anything shot down a missile. George Bush the first lied to his people when he said that they shot down missiles in Iraq. When they showed videos they were off Iraqi missiles breaking apart. Imagine that, a Bush lying to the American people. The technology doesn't exist. Secondly, no one has shot a missile here, so why build defence for it? This remindes me of the nuclear arms race. Building these weapons just for the sake of building them. Creating work for companies that leaders have shares in. They are not needed.

[polemarch1]

$1:

Secondly, no one has shot a missile here, so why build defence for it?

Yet no one has fired a missile yet at America. Well it should by no means be neglicted the Missile Defense Program should come secondary to funding of the Army/Navy/Marines/Air Force/Intelligeance survice.

[Johnnybgoodaaaaa]

Gonzo Gonzo:

The missile defence program would be a waste of money. First it wouldn't work. Never has anything shot down a missile. George Bush the first lied to his people when he said that they shot down missiles in Iraq. When they showed videos they were off Iraqi missiles breaking apart. Imagine that, a Bush lying to the American people. The technology doesn't exist. Secondly, no one has shot a missile here, so why build defence for it? This remindes me of the nuclear arms race. Building these weapons just for the sake of building them. Creating work for companies that leaders have shares in. They are not needed.

Never say never. You know there was a time when people thought the planet was flat and that you couldn't fly, but they didn't give up trying and finding out new things....

[Rev_Blair]

But we need missile defense because a rogue nation might...

That's as far as I could get without giggling helplessly. Sorry about that. We wouldn't need this load of fantasy even if it did work. Neither does the US. As Gonzo pointed out though, missile defence doesn't work...we lack the technology.

It exists for two reasons...so Georgie can provide kickbacks to some corporate backers and to get weapons that can be used offensively into space. Martin is pushing for it because he wants to suck up to Georgie.

The whole thing is a waste of time and money at best, a threat to peace at worst.

[DMP08]

It would be pretty neat if the technology did exist though. As long as it was fully automated and didn't rely on US 'inteligence'. My uncle once worked on the "Dew Line" on a Canadian millitary base, that was like 20 years ago, when it was "needed". I don't see a giant war breaking out now with all the allies that everyone has and the mutual obliteration of the planet that would come from it.

[Gonzo]

The lie from the first Bush cost a few american soldiers lives. In the first Iraq war when they heard of a missile comming their way they didn't go for cover because they thought their patriot missiles would shoot them down. Of course it didn't.
Canadians should be pissed off that Martin would go along with this defence plan, waste Canadians tax dollars, just to kiss up to America. Even the right wing should protest this. It's a waste of money.

[Johnnybgoodaaaaa]

Rev_Blair Rev_Blair:

But we need missile defense because a rogue nation might...

That's as far as I could get without giggling helplessly. Sorry about that. We wouldn't need this load of fantasy even if it did work. Neither does the US. As Gonzo pointed out though, missile defence doesn't work...we lack the technology.

It exists for two reasons...so Georgie can provide kickbacks to some corporate backers and to get weapons that can be used offensively into space. Martin is pushing for it because he wants to suck up to Georgie.

The whole thing is a waste of time and money at best, a threat to peace at worst.

I have no problems if they build weapons that can be used offensively in space, as long as it's the United States who has them

I guess since we 'lack the technology' we should give up trying to find cures for aids and cancer, and we should give up trying to find new sources of energy, right? If anti-missle technology is created, it can make the use of missles pointless, thus making nations who would threaten US allies or whatever else with missles a pointless effort, not to mention the US could just position a satellite over them and bomb them whenever, which sounds pretty cool to me in present day situations. Of course, I'm not anti-war when the war is just(I'm not for Iraq). You never know what the future might hold, especially given humans history, and that doesn't just count for the US's history, any country is capable of war if you ask me....

[Gonzo]

It just smacks of a whole new arms race. The answer is for nations to not build weapons of mass destruction and to spend that money on health care and aid to third worlds. Think of what that money could go to? African nations wouldn't be suffering if the US put all the money they spent in Iraq to African aid. What would other countries think of the US if America put it's efforts into humanitarian aid instead of war. The world would love the US. Right now it's a different story.

[UglyYank]

"Never has anything shot down a missile."

Wrong.

Actually the joint Israeli-US Arrow Missile Defense System looks promising. The sooner we deploy a reliable system the better.

[Johnnybgoodaaaaa]

Gonzo Gonzo:

It just smacks of a whole new arms race. The answer is for nations to not build weapons of mass destruction and to spend that money on health care and aid to third worlds. Think of what that money could go to? African nations wouldn't be suffering if the US put all the money they spent in Iraq to African aid. What would other countries think of the US if America put it's efforts into humanitarian aid instead of war. The world would love the US. Right now it's a different story.

It's odd you mention an arms race considering that is already going on. North Korea and Iran are trying to develop nukes, and when has either of them come to the US to try to be friends? Why is it always the US who has to be other peoples friends, while it's okay to hate the US and not try to be their friend? Libya is trying to be their friend, and the United States is starting to send business there and open up trade. This isn't such a black and white issue where the US is all at fault and other countries are helpless. Also, the US does give humanitarian aid, so it's not like they give nothing in that area. Sure, it might not be as much as some other countries, but the US also has to pay for 2 ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and I think it's pretty stupid to think that the US can just leave Iraq right now. I mean basically what happens with the US is people will hate them no matter what they do. If the US gives money to countries they will bitch about how it's spent and who it's given to. If the US doesn't give money to countries who threaten them, everyone bitches about how they should be helping those poor countries like North Korea and Iran(who the US has tried to help, such as in Irans major earthquake, and they helped North Korea with their famine until North Korea kicks them out and starts blackmailing them for oil and other goods). Another thing I don't understand is why the US even has to give money to most of these countries? I think the US should give the money to their citizens instead, who actually have to work and pay taxes to our government. Now, humanitarian aid is nice for facevalue, but there's plenty of poor people in the US who could use that aid and help, yet you are only concerned with foreign aid. I would like to know what would happen if the US did as you all suggest, gave up their military, and just gave out foreign aid? Who's to say that if the US didn't have a strong military....a military more like Canada's, that a country like North Korea wouldn't attack the US? That a country like China wouldn't attack the US? That's just my 2 cents though....

[Johnnybgoodaaaaa]

UglyYank UglyYank:

"Never has anything shot down a missile."

Wrong.

Actually the joint Israeli-US Arrow Missile Defense System looks promising. The sooner we deploy a reliable system the better.

I thought that the Patriot missle system thing also shot down a few missles in the Iraq war....I could be wrong though, I can't remember for sure, but I remember the system being used.

[EricVA]

Pretty sure you are right on that one Johnny

[Robair]

Johnnybgoodaaaaa Johnnybgoodaaaaa:

I thought that the Patriot missle system thing also shot down a few missles in the Iraq war....I could be wrong though, I can't remember for sure, but I remember the system being used.

It was used for sure but...

$1:

A later report by the General Accounting Office concluded that Patriot missiles destroyed only 9 percent of the Scuds they tried to engage. The Israeli Defense Force calculated they'd destroyed just 2 percent. William Cohen, Bill Clinton's secretary of defense, admitted upon leaving office in January 2001, "The Patriot didn't work."

...it didn't work.

article: http://slate.msn.com/id/2080615/

Google it, there's lots more.

[EricVA]

9 percent is 9 percent...so it worked lol

[Robair]

EricVA EricVA:

9 percent is 9 percent...so it worked lol

THAT article didn't even go into the freindly aircraft shot down by patriot missles.

I know how the US can wage cheaper wars! Stop buying million dollar missles that shoot down your own billion dollar fighters!! I'm so smart I amaze myself.

Google it. The patriots would be laughable if they didn't kill people...