Pentagon report throws doubt on defence system capability

[DuctapeFatwa]

A Pentagon report says existing test data gives only limited confidence in a missile defence system that the United States is intent on deploying from this year and which Australia is to be part of.

In an annual report, the Pentagon's director of operational test and evaluation, Thomas Christie, says very little testing of the system was performed last year due to under-developed components.

He says the Missile Defence Agency will depend on two flight tests this year to validate the system, which is designed to intercept long-range missiles in space.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1029793.htm

[Old and In the Way]

1. This should be a top national priority

How soon before Bush/Cheney tell us that Al Qaeda have developed ICBM nucular strike capabilities?

For such an urgent priority, I have to say I've heard much much zip on Star Wars since Raygun launched this corporate welfare program.

[daleo]

2. The basic principle seems to be:

If you don't test cows, you won't find BSE.

If you don't test a missile system, you won't find out that it doesn't work.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. I had forgotten about this idiotic waste of money

I had wrongly assumed that since the country was bankrupt, they had canceled this program. To get something like this to work would require ten times what we are spending in Iraq and more.

This system doesn't work, so they don't want to run any tests that will verify and publicize the fact that it doesn't work. They would rather just put these bogus installations in place and pretend to our "enemies" that it works. It reminds me of the cardboard decoy tanks that were used in WWII to confuse the enemy.

[Capt_Nemo]

4. It's the Maginot Line all over again

at the tune of at least $6B/y

It wil not take long for US the fate of the USSR...