The US has tested its defense shield several times, but this was the first time it was used for real and it worked perfectly.
Update: Watch the video of the missile hitting the satellite here.
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Military
Comments (40)
"It is a failure. It did no... (Below threshold)1. Posted by drjohn | February 20, 2008 11:39 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
"It is a failure. It did not achieve what it was meant to do. It was supposed to be a reconciliation."
-Nancy Pelosi
1. Posted by drjohn | February 20, 2008 11:39 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on February 20, 2008 23:39
2. Posted by Jo | February 20, 2008 11:50 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Sweet.
2. Posted by Jo | February 20, 2008 11:50 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on February 20, 2008 23:50
3. Posted by cirby | February 20, 2008 11:54 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Last year's meme: "SDI won't work - they keep using easy to hit targets on limited flight paths."
This year's meme: "Why did they waste all of that money shooting down this satellite just to show SDI works?"
3. Posted by cirby | February 20, 2008 11:54 PM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on February 20, 2008 23:54
4. Posted by Rory | February 20, 2008 11:57 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Reagan was right.
4. Posted by Rory | February 20, 2008 11:57 PM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on February 20, 2008 23:57
5. Posted by Charlie Quidnunc | February 21, 2008 12:01 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Woo Hoo! Good shot guys!
5. Posted by Charlie Quidnunc | February 21, 2008 12:01 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 00:01
6. Posted by 914 | February 21, 2008 12:13 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
"They Military should not have ran this test. it makes the U.S. look to provocative and We are going to have hearings and bring forth sham bills to make sure this never happens again."
-Harry Reid and Arlen Sphicnter
6. Posted by 914 | February 21, 2008 12:13 AM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 00:13
7. Posted by Scrapiron | February 21, 2008 12:34 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
914 is probably correct. Reid and Peeloshi's handlers from the terrorists camps will be on them like flies on a fresh cow pile. What can you say about a bunch of democrats that put the value of donations from lawyers above the safety of 'every' American.
High fives to the Navy.
7. Posted by Scrapiron | February 21, 2008 12:34 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 00:34
8. Posted by Ryan | February 21, 2008 3:56 AM | Score: -12 (14 votes cast)
Jesus, you guys are so hilarious. I put this shit in my blog all the time. "How will the folks over at Wizbang spin this one against liberals?" Big high fives are in order, all around. Our fiscally conservative administration just spent $60 million to shoot down a satellite that was going to fall into the Pacific Ocean, 1200 miles from any even uninhabited plot of land. I wonder how many doctor checkups or school lunches that would have been able to buy for poor kids? But, it sure did make for a super awesome "shock and awe" video-op, didn't it?
8. Posted by Ryan | February 21, 2008 3:56 AM |
Score: -12 (14 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 03:56
9. Posted by Jay Tea | February 21, 2008 4:51 AM | Score: 6 (8 votes cast)
Gee, what a surprise. Ryan The Moron has never heard the term "dress rehearsal."
J.
9. Posted by Jay Tea | February 21, 2008 4:51 AM |
Score: 6 (8 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 04:51
10. Posted by jpm100 | February 21, 2008 5:30 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Ryan,
they had no idea where it was going to land with its toxic fuel and its spy tech. So in addition to being a Moron, you're also simply wrong.
10. Posted by jpm100 | February 21, 2008 5:30 AM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 05:30
11. Posted by Olaf | February 21, 2008 6:57 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
"they had no idea where it was going to land with its toxic fuel and its spy tech."
No, but RYAN seemed to know with 100% accuracy exactly when and where, must be the new features they installed on the latest tinfoil hats.
11. Posted by Olaf | February 21, 2008 6:57 AM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 06:57
12. Posted by WildWillie | February 21, 2008 7:18 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Also, Ryan doesn't know kids do get free lunches if needed and medical checkups. I love liberals. They self destruct before your eyes but keep coming back for more. ww
12. Posted by WildWillie | February 21, 2008 7:18 AM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 07:18
13. Posted by JLawson | February 21, 2008 7:19 AM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Ryan:
"I wonder how many doctor checkups or school lunches that would have been able to buy for poor kids?"
How about... none? The military had already paid for the missile and the development of the technology behind it - creating thousands of well-paying jobs nationwide from the people who designed the missile, the people who made it, the people who sold houses and groceries and gasoline to the folks who made it, to the school districts who had to educate the kids of the people who made the missle, and so on. And those jobs created other jobs.
One thing I've noticed, Ryan - throwing money directly AT a problem rarely solves it. You want to decrease poverty? You encourage companies to grow so they employ more people - you don't give people money for being poor. You get more of the behavior you reward, after all.
That said - GOOD SHOOTING, GUYS!
13. Posted by JLawson | February 21, 2008 7:19 AM |
Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 07:19
14. Posted by Pretzel_Logic | February 21, 2008 7:36 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
If only this country would do SOMETHING to make me proud.
14. Posted by Pretzel_Logic | February 21, 2008 7:36 AM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 07:36
15. Posted by Jay Tea | February 21, 2008 7:42 AM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Brian is also demonstrating his ignorance yet again. "School lunches" and "doctor's checkups" are not in the Constitution as responsibilities of the federal government; national defense is.
J.
15. Posted by Jay Tea | February 21, 2008 7:42 AM |
Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 07:42
16. Posted by mag | February 21, 2008 7:58 AM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Ryan,
The gov't is not responsible for feeding and giving health care to the poor. If they are poor they shouldn't be having children in the first place.....also....even with it many faults NO ONE should be poor in this country (unless of course the sick physically/mentally)....in this day and age poor comes from being stupid and lazy. There I said it!!!!!!!!!!!
16. Posted by mag | February 21, 2008 7:58 AM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 07:58
17. Posted by Proof | February 21, 2008 8:26 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
The military had already paid for the missile and the development of the technology behind it - creating thousands of well-paying jobs nationwide from the people who designed the missile, the people who made it, the people who sold houses and groceries and gasoline to the folks who made it, to the school districts who had to educate the kids of the people who made the missle, and so on.
And the continued employment for those folks as they build the missile to replace the one they just fired!
17. Posted by Proof | February 21, 2008 8:26 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 08:26
18. Posted by John F Not Kerry | February 21, 2008 8:52 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
I was going to say "Liberal moonbats heads to explode in 5...4...", but dang, it already happened!
18. Posted by John F Not Kerry | February 21, 2008 8:52 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 08:52
19. Posted by DJ Drummond | February 21, 2008 9:01 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Boom, baby.
19. Posted by DJ Drummond | February 21, 2008 9:01 AM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 09:01
20. Posted by Jim | February 21, 2008 9:02 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
I just love when a plan comes together, AND it works!
20. Posted by Jim | February 21, 2008 9:02 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 09:02
21. Posted by SarahConnor2 | February 21, 2008 9:25 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
There is much wailing and gnashing of teeth in Russia, Iran, et al. today.
Also, apparently in Ryan's house.
21. Posted by SarahConnor2 | February 21, 2008 9:25 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 09:25
22. Posted by epador | February 21, 2008 9:26 AM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
If we can do it with our technology, then sooner or later some one else will do it to us with our technology. Lets hope its a lot later.
22. Posted by epador | February 21, 2008 9:26 AM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 09:26
23. Posted by _Mike_ | February 21, 2008 9:27 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Ryan:
Surely, you're not so dim as to think the objective was the remove the satellite rather than to test the missile system... surely you're not that freaking dimwitted.
23. Posted by _Mike_ | February 21, 2008 9:27 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 09:27
24. Posted by paintball | February 21, 2008 9:46 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
thank you for link to the video. greetings from switzerland.
24. Posted by paintball | February 21, 2008 9:46 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 09:46
25. Posted by I'm An Asshat | February 21, 2008 10:15 AM | Score: -3 (5 votes cast)
So as long as (Iran, Mooslims, teh brown people, Venezuela)attack us with spy sattelites while giving the Navy has a few days notice, we'll be just fine.
"The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right."
Mark Twain
25. Posted by I'm An Asshat | February 21, 2008 10:15 AM |
Score: -3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 10:15
26. Posted by Peter F. | February 21, 2008 11:45 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
This is particularly comforting to those of us on The Left Coast within potential range of any NK missile and, God forbid, a Russian nuke.
Nice shot, Navy!
(And I just thought of something: The next time somebody asks me "Do you really feel safer under President Bush?" I can provide yet another example of why I can emphatically reply, "You bet your ass I do.")
26. Posted by Peter F. | February 21, 2008 11:45 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 11:45
27. Posted by BluesHarper | February 21, 2008 12:04 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Well doesn't that make you proud to be an American Ms Obama
27. Posted by BluesHarper | February 21, 2008 12:04 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 12:04
28. Posted by Brian | February 21, 2008 12:11 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Brian is also demonstrating his ignorance yet again.
Glad to know you're always thinking of me, Jay. But it wasn't me who posted.
28. Posted by Brian | February 21, 2008 12:11 PM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 12:11
29. Posted by brainy435 | February 21, 2008 1:23 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Congrats to the USS Lake Erie and her crew.
Not a bad shot for a "target."
From, an ex-bubblehead.
29. Posted by brainy435 | February 21, 2008 1:23 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 13:23
30. Posted by Brian | February 21, 2008 1:25 PM | Score: -4 (8 votes cast)
Wow, this really shows the effectiveness of SDI! As long as China gives us months notice, sends us the trajectory plans, and fires only one missile at a time, we'll be set!
30. Posted by Brian | February 21, 2008 1:25 PM |
Score: -4 (8 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 13:25
31. Posted by JLawson | February 21, 2008 1:57 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Step by step, Brian. 10 years back, this would have been pretty darn difficult. 10 years from now, this will be 'easy' - and combined with advances in systems like the THAAD and Patriot, it'll be a fair defense against ICBMs. It might not be PERFECT, but I think you'll agree than taking out, oh, 80% of an attack will be preferable to letting 100% of them get through.
31. Posted by JLawson | February 21, 2008 1:57 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 13:57
32. Posted by Sheik Yur Bouty | February 21, 2008 2:02 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
JLawson,
Don't confuse poor Brian with reasoning and logic.
He's stuck in the standard leftist groupthink. "If it isn't perfect now, it never will be!!! Therefore, it is a waste of money that we could better use on (insert useless liberal pet program of the day)"
32. Posted by Sheik Yur Bouty | February 21, 2008 2:02 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 14:02
33. Posted by Mac Lorry | February 21, 2008 3:10 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Billions spent on SD and progress is being made. Billions spent on the war against poverty and we're loosing the battle. Which is the waste of money?
33. Posted by Mac Lorry | February 21, 2008 3:10 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 15:10
34. Posted by Sheik Yur Bouty | February 21, 2008 3:20 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Mac Lorry,
Actually, it is TRILLIONS spent on the war on poverty.
34. Posted by Sheik Yur Bouty | February 21, 2008 3:20 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 15:20
35. Posted by LaMedusa | February 21, 2008 3:40 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"1200 miles from any even uninhabited plot of land."
Ryan, the whole point of the launch was to obliterate an inoperative spy satellite carrying highly toxic fuel. The destruction was carried out specifically to make sure it did no threatening debris landed in populated areas. You scoff at the government's defense even when they are looking out for you?
35. Posted by LaMedusa | February 21, 2008 3:40 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 15:40
36. Posted by LaMedusa | February 21, 2008 3:42 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
correction: "...to make sure no..."
36. Posted by LaMedusa | February 21, 2008 3:42 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 15:42
37. Posted by Everlasting | February 21, 2008 3:58 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I heard today that the satellite was successfully destroyed by a missile.
That reminds me so much of a science fiction book that was published last year called Moon over Key Biscayne. - A light novel that gets into satellites and objects on a collision course with Earth.
37. Posted by Everlasting | February 21, 2008 3:58 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 15:58
38. Posted by Brian | February 21, 2008 4:15 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
He's stuck in the standard leftist groupthink. "If it isn't perfect now, it never will be!!! Therefore, it is a waste of money that we could better use on (insert useless liberal pet program of the day)"
Wow, make shit up much?
38. Posted by Brian | February 21, 2008 4:15 PM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 16:15
39. Posted by JLawson | February 21, 2008 5:15 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Actually, Brian - that does seem to be a standard argument against stuff the folks on the left side of the aisle don't like. If (fill in the blank) isn't PERFECTLY accomplished, then it's completely worthless and needs to be scrapped.
I've seen it a lot. Dams kill fish - therefore they should be torn down. Never mind the benefits of flood control or power - the fish must come first. Global warming is terrible, therefore we must act... despite the dubious science behind it and a lack of consensus of what would actually be beneficial - greenhouse-gas emitting technology is the villian and must be abandoned.
(Shrug.) It's not made up.
39. Posted by JLawson | February 21, 2008 5:15 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 17:15
40. Posted by spurwing plover | February 21, 2008 9:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Of course the navy can still do it no matter what you hear from those infernal scibblers in those dirty wretched news papers
40. Posted by spurwing plover | February 21, 2008 9:03 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 21, 2008 21:03