Physicists say SDI won't work as promised.

[progressivejazz]

The September issue of "Physics Today" reports that an impartial two-year study has determined that "Boost-phase missile defense, the strategy of destroying a hostile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) as it climbs into the sky during the first few minutes of flight, is virtually impossible in all but a few limited circumstances".

The report, prepared by the prestigious American Physical Society, is considered scientifically "bulletproof".

The administration has requested more than $600 million for this part of the SDI program. The request for the entire SDI program is $9 billion. When asked whether the findings indicated that the millions going into this program were "money down the drain", the lead authors indicated they would let people draw their own conclusions.






Your tax dollars at work.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Well, I've drawn my conclusion....

[gristy]

2. study is considered scientifically "bulletproof" - no matter

Scientific evidence or reasoning has never influenced this administration before. They sure aren't going to start letting it now.

[xchrom]

3. bush will label it

as being something other than ''sound science''.
''sound science -- the phrase he falls back on to sound smart.

[progressivejazz]

4. One more thing to be noted.

"Physics Today" is the monthly publication of the American Institute of Physics (AIP). Every physicist in the United States is a member of this organization. (O.K., there may be a handful who are not, but their number is insignificant.)

The AIP has a vested interest in the employment of more physicists. The same can be said for its member organization, the American Physical Society. The conclusions of this report would, if implemented, result in the employment of fewer physicists in the SDI program. That the conclusions of this report are against the interests of the organization issuing it enhances the report's credibility immensely.

But that won't matter to this administration.

[OldCurmudgeon]

5. so that makes...

"faith based" charity.

"faith based" foreign policy (we know the WMDs are there!)

"faith based" economic policy (prosperity right around the corner)

"faith based" environmental policy (polluters will stop if we ask them nicely)

"faith based" energy policy (blackout? what blackout?)

"faith based" strategic defense

the list just goes on and on...

--
"Dear God. Please make his head explode. You know who I mean. Amen"

[Martin Eden]

6. Working as promised

Enriching shrub's pals in the military industrial complex.

Siphoning money from social programs.

Promise of SDI is being fulfilled (it's just a matter of knowing what was promised to who).

[tlb]

7. Japan last week announced it would deploy a US NMD system

to protect their own cities from North Korea. Japanese technical expertise is rarely questioned and they have arrived at a conclusion contrary to those in the article.

Who to believe.


http://www.iht.com/articles/108233.html



TOKYO Hours after North Korea reportedly threatened to test a nuclear bomb, the Japanese Defense Ministry asked Parliament to spend $1 billion a year through 2007 to build an American-designed missile shield to defend the main cities of the Japanese archipelago.
.
Under the plan, elaborated and accelerated in recent weeks, Japan would spend $1.2 billion next year, nearly 10 times the amount spent on missile defense over the last five years.


In a two-tier shield, Japan would deploy SM-3 missiles that would be launched from its four Aegis guided-missile destroyers, ships that could be stationed in a picket line close to North Korea's shore. As backups, batteries of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles would be stationed on land.

[OldCurmudgeon]

8. this is different

from the boost-phase system that was panned. This is an "mid-course" or "terminal phase" (delightful term, that) system.

Easier to implement. Easier to spoof.

[progressivejazz]

10. Japanese technical expertise?

What makes you think the Japanese decision took place as a result of Japanese technical expertise? Where does it say the Japanese scientific community agrees with the feasibility of the program?

It looks more like a purely political move; designed to ease the fears of a public which were raised by the heightened threat by North Korea.

Bush is going ahead with the boost-phase program. Using your logic, this must mean that American technical expertise agrees with him. The article I linked says otherwise.

One should also note that the system to be implemented by the Japanese is not a result of Japanese technical expertise. It is an American system, developed in large part by members of the American Physical Society--the society that issued the report we are discussing.

[KG]

9. not supposed to work

it's corporate welfare for the defense industry.