Why are the Americans worried about missile attack? Why does President Bush ignore NORAD?

Question

I have been watching President Bush and Prime Minister Harper on TV. Nothing new. The Korean situation was referred to again. Nothing new.

News reports July 4 said the missiles were spotted at take off. Had they begun to cross the Pacific I am absolutely positive one of the hundreds of B-52 bombers which fly over Ottawa every day would catch it before it got to Honolulu.

The U.S. (and Canada) may not be ready for Hurricane Katrina but incoming missiles were dealt with in the Fifties and Sixties.

Should the U.S. choose to disarm, matching Korean, Iragi, Iranian and all other comers missile for missile and gun for gun, I would be surprised if all of the aforementioned countries had as many armaments as northern New York State.

I am not affraid of Korea.

This is my first experience with this! It is wonderful! Your answers are amazing!

When the weather is right - one day a week at best - at any given time during daylight hours, it is possible to see about four "con trails", usually slightly south of Ottawa. The exhaust from a B-52 is very distinctive - they are so huge. They are ALL heading west. They are all more or less evenly spaced.

The U.S. has a lot of security problems. (So does Canada.) On Sept. 11 "the system" worked spectacularly well. The skies over North America were emptied (no small feat).

Heck, thanks to the technology invented for NORAD (but used by average Americans), one of four attackers was identified and stopped!!! Even in baseball that is a pretty good batting average.

The respondent who suggested describing our defenses would be poor policy is correct.

American tax dollars are paying for 90 fully functioning B-52s - a nice opening to disarmament dicussions.

Google maps were invented for NORAD.

Answer 1

And how would those "B-52s" get from Ottawa to Honolulu in the 30 mins it takes a missile to reach the USA? And why are there B-52s in Ottawa? We don't have any bases over there.

Answer 2

NORAD is set up for attack or counter-attack purposes. If we get attacked, the NORAD Command will activate our response to their attack and we will have missiles on their way to that our country.

We have a limited system to detect and deflect incoming missiles - and what we do have doesn't guarantee success. In practice tests we hit our target and we also missed our target.

B-52s are large planes that carry bombs. The are totally ineffective against missiles. A missile is also much faster than a B-52.

The US has no intention of disarming. We reduced our numbers along with Russia during the Cold War - but there are no plans eliminate our weapons.

Answer 3

Well, some of us are afraid of any nuclear war, and with good reason....
First of all, no defense can guard us from all incoming nuclear missles. A nuclear war wiil result in nuclear detonations and nuclear deaths; heck, strategists even plan for such anti-missle defenses by aiming a surplus of missles at every target. Are you willing to have even one city destroyed?
Secondly, simply having a new nuclear power in the world, especially one run by a single despot, with no means of recalling an unwise leader, may lead to nuclear blackmail. To avoid mega-death, we may have to kow-tow to leaders with no concern for our lives or well being, leaders perhaps even desirous of causing us harm out of a sense of righteousness. Personally, I would hate for the world to face the hardship of global shortages just because Kim Il Sun fealt the need for some extravegance.
Thirdly, your view of the military might be a bit optimistic. I love my country and respect our forces; but the words "military" and "blunder" go together a little too frequently--and accurately!--for anyone to feel safe

Answer 4

Where do the hundreds are B-52's come from? There are only 90 left in inventory.

Answer 5

there could just as easily be a nasty nuclear accident due to all this,Korea launches something sinister and America strikes back ,and the fallout from a nuclear attack could and would kill millions,plus the fact Korea dont care who or what he kills,

Answer 6

when you got four aces up your sleeve let the sucker keep raising

Answer 7

YOU WILL BE AFRAID IF THEY START A NUCLEAR WAR