Do we cancel each other out?

Question

The US missile defense system failed 4 out of 5 tests. The N. Korean 3-stage missile failed twice, once in 98 and the other 2 days ago. Are we even or is it just politics and brinksmanship game playing going on?

Answer 1

The Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system (the one most people refer to as the US missile defense system) did suffer several failures but these were mostly related to pathertically designed software or defective launchers. There were successful intercept tests in 2001-2002 but the flight-tests seemed to go downhill from there for a while. Asides from the Midcourse Defense System there is also the Naval AEGIS ballistic defense system which will have the Navy's Aegis cruisers and destroyers fire high-speed long-range versions of the Standard SAMs designed to kill ballistic missiles. This is more encouraging as it has only suffered one failure in at least 5+ tests. To backup the Midcourse Defense system the Army also has the THAAD short-range anti-ballistic missile system and as a last resort the MEADS and Patriot PAC-3 missile systems. So essentially in terms of overall defence the USA still has an advantage, but remember that no system however well tested will be guaranteed fool-proof, even against a NoKor attack. Its otherwise just your slightly-unusual politics game between the NoKors and the USA

Answer 2

Oh sure it's a wate of billions of dollars till there's missles in the air. It isn't how many times a defense system works, it's the one that it doesn't stop that counts.

Our defense system is a LONG way from ready & was NEVER intended to be able to protect the US anywhere close to now. It is supposed to stay in development for another five years at least.

On the other hand, they tested an ICBM nine years ago, and a second a few days ago. The popular estimates say it's a max 10 more years till they have it down cold. The concern with them is less about actually launching a missle at us & more about selling the technology (not to mention actual missiles) to people that want to hurt us now. While the ICBM is still a long way off, they did a nice infomercial for short & medium range missiles capable of flying from Iran to Israel or Europe with ease. They've sold to them before, and from those systems the Iranians have refined the weapons into the good capability thay have now. It seems to me NK was advertising for the upgrades & letting them know the missle they really want is on the way.

Answer 3

The only person playing the card is the North Koreans. This time it was nothing more than an attempt to get what we're probably going to give to Iran: Mainly, lots of concessions if they dont go forward and produce Nuclear Bombs

The irony is that we gave them the technology over 10 years ago to produce nuclear bombs! in exchange for their word that they'd use the technology for power plants rather than what they are doing now.

Historically, North Korea has been a puppet of the now defunct Communist East. Even the Chinese don't like them. But they are a thorn in the side of the United States and keep us occupied and bogged down in the quagmire of stalemate, so the Chinese are secretly enjoying how this plays out. Especially seeing thier old enemy, Japan, sweat it out.

Thus: North Korea is nowhere near close to being even with us in the way that, say, an Iran is close. They have the technology but they lack the skill to use it. Only the prospect of a bloody quagmire and severe backlash from East Asian and other world nations prevent us from going in and liberating the country, and thus keeps us in the current game we're about.

Answer 4

Politics and brinksmanship are a big part of it. If Kim Jong-Il postures like he's been doing, he will garner more attention for himself and, in his view, will be more likely to get what he wants. What does he want, exactly? Who knows? He's crazy. We do know that he wants more power for North Korea and to get the US off his back. Ultimately he wants the US destroyed, but the likelihood of that happening is pretty slim.

The man isn't all there, so who knows, he may actually launch a nuke one of these days, but chances are that he'll just keep threatening to do so and working toward proving that he could do it if he wanted to. The threat of launching a nuclear weapon is a much greater advantage to him than actually firing one. A nuclear missile is a hell of a bargaining chip.

As for why Bush and his administration want to go ahead with missile defence: I have no idea. The whole thing is pretty near impossible to pull off and is just wasting truck loads of money.

It's basically a mini Cold War.

Answer 5

The last 4 sets of test of the Patriotic defense system have been successful. I do not think we cancel each other out, I think we have a clear advantage.

Answer 6

Nope, what the N. Koreans are trying to do is easily improved on. They are just trying to launch a missle, not shoot one down. We need to be aware of this and probably do something about it.

It would be too easy for them to arm a missle with a nuke and put it just about anywhere. Remember, a nuke, unlike a conventional bomb, doesn't have to hit the target exactly. Close doesn't count in hand grenades and nuclear bombs.

Answer 7

The technology in the ABM system worked every time. Every test failure was the result of really stupid quality control issues (not taking the diagnostic code out of the flight software, and not plugging in all the cables when it was assembled).

The Navy systems use the same technology and have worked every time.

Answer 8

I don't know how credible a threat Kim Jung Il really is. He is posturing like he's going to be a nuclear power, and is more than crazy enough to attack someone.

If we're lucky, he'll launch a nuclear missile, it will go off course, and fly right up his behind.

Answer 9

Depends how many korean successes theyve had. Our missle defence system sucks. StarWars would have a better chance but that never really got implemented.

Answer 10

Who knows what will happen all I hope is that they don't mess with us cause then a majority of the middle east and N Korea shouldn't bombed and just sink to the bottom of the ocean.