Sunday, July 05, 2009

No Defense Against Russia?

Huh?

In the interview, Obama repeated U.S. assurances that the missile defense system isn’t aimed at Russia.

“We are not building and will not build a system that is aimed to respond to an attack from Russia. Such thinking is simply a legacy of the Cold War,” he was quoted as saying.

Not to be too picky here, but shouldn’t any missile defense system be designed to respond to an attack from any country?  Heck, if those Brits get ticked off and launch a missile at us, I sure as heck want to be able to try to shoot it down. 

(Of course, technically speaking, the whole business of “aiming” is a matter of targeting coordinates, but it seems to be of importance to politicians.)

(8) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1808 hrs
Foreign Affairs + Military + Politics + Politics - General

  1. An interesting semantic question, and I’m sure that Obama is phrasing very carefully, hoping the Russkis will not notice.

    Or maybe that the Americans will not notice.

    Posted by dad29 on July 05, 2009 at 2010 hrs


  2. The teleprompter must have had the weekend off.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 06, 2009 at 0053 hrs


  3. And the press thought Sarah Palin was dumb…this guy is our President?  I think they could be a run a bomb shelters soon.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 06, 2009 at 0751 hrs


  4. Well apparently none of you know how these missile systems work.  Why do you think it was being put in Poland?  You need to get the target when it is climbing not when it is coming down.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 06, 2009 at 0942 hrs


  5. Well, yes… but a placement in Poland also covers launches from a number much of Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Scandinavia, and as far down as Turkey.

    Posted by Owen on July 06, 2009 at 0951 hrs


  6. It is possible, that semantics are intended to reflect the aim, or purpose, of any system we install. The purpose may not be to respond to an attack from Russia, but it damned certainly COULD if needed.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 06, 2009 at 1509 hrs


  7. Owen- That is why it was in Poland so it could cover the multiple approaches (Russia, Middle East, etc.).  If we just wanted to cover the middle east we would place it elsewhere.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 06, 2009 at 1857 hrs


  8. Um… yeah.  Your point?

    Posted by Owen on July 06, 2009 at 1908 hrs


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