NationStates Jolt Archive

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MISSILE_LAUNCH?SITE=7219&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-07-20-08-49-31

US test fires a Minuteman ballistic missile, to make sure they work.

Makes you wonder who they want to be ready to nuke, doesn't it?

Haven't we relied on Minutemen missiles as part of our offensive arsenal for a couple decades now?

We're just now testing one?

Haven't we relied on Minutemen missiles as part of our offensive arsenal for a couple decades now?

We're just now testing one?

Nuclear missiles age just like everything else. They are replaced part by part over time, and have to be occasionally tested.

I guess someone figured we hadn't fired one in a while, and considering how the world is heating up, we had to make sure they still worked.

*Waits for news reports of N. Korea sent anti ballistic missile ships to North America*

Better this than testing our biological weapons stockpiles. Agreed? :p

"The world is heating up."
I like that.
It's like saying "this pile of leaves is heating up because I'm setting fire to it".
America! 'F' yeah!

*Waits for news reports of N. Korea sent anti ballistic missile ships to North America*

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (liquid fueled) are 1950s technology. Apparently, the North Koreans are just getting around to that.

Anti-ballistic missiles that use hit-to-kill technology were considered officially impossible for the US to develop in the 1980s-1990s. And now we have several varieties, one of which was proven in combat against real missiles in OIF.

Probably quite some time before the North Koreans are able to build such a thing.

"The world is heating up."
I like that.
It's like saying "this pile of leaves is heating up because I'm setting fire to it".
America! 'F' yeah!


Second in a row?

I love guys like you

In Soviet Russia, Missile tests YOU!
:P

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (liquid fueled) are 1950s technology. Apparently, the North Koreans are just getting around to that.

Anti-ballistic missiles that use hit-to-kill technology were considered officially impossible for the US to develop in the 1980s-1990s. And now we have several varieties, one of which was proven in combat against real missiles in OIF.

Probably quite some time before the North Koreans are able to build such a thing.

It was a little joke meant to point out the hypocracy of US policy. Sorry if it was too subtle.

It was a little joke meant to point out the hypocracy of US policy. Sorry if it was too subtle.
It's not hypocracy if the US and DPRK are not equal. And trust me, one regime is plenty worse than the other.

It was a little joke meant to point out the hypocracy of US policy. Sorry if it was too subtle.

What's hypocritical?

It's not US policy alone. You fail to remember the multilateral policy the US has been pursuing on North Korea since the Korean War.

IIRC, North Korea invaded, and the UN approved action by UN members to stop the invasion.

Currently, there are several other nations that also want North Korea to knock it off. Japan, China, South Korea, etc.

Or are you saying that they are really happy that North Korea is firing missiles over Japan?

Moral equivalency is a fraudulent concept.

What's hypocritical?

It's not US policy alone. You fail to remember the multilateral policy the US has been pursuing on North Korea since the Korean War.

IIRC, North Korea invaded, and the UN approved action by UN members to stop the invasion.

Currently, there are several other nations that also want North Korea to knock it off. Japan, China, South Korea, etc.

Or are you saying that they are really happy that North Korea is firing missiles over Japan?

Just saying, one nation which hasn't fought an armed conflict since the 50's and has no confirmed nuclear warheads tests a missile and you get very upset. A second nation which has intigated many armed conflicts since then and has thousands of confirmed nuclear warheads does the same and you think it's a good idea.

Just saying, one nation which hasn't fought an armed conflict since the 50's and has no confirmed nuclear warheads tests a missile and you get very upset. A second nation which has intigated many armed conflicts since then and has thousands of confirmed nuclear warheads does the same and you think it's a good idea.

Actually, if you read the papers, you'll find out that they self-confirmed their manufacture of nuclear weapons, have threatened to use them, and what everyone is upset about is that North Korea signed a treaty to not fire missiles, and they went and fired them.

The US hasn't signed a treaty not to test missiles.

Actually, if you read the papers, you'll find out that they self-confirmed their manufacture of nuclear weapons, have threatened to use them, and what everyone is upset about is that North Korea signed a treaty to not fire missiles, and they went and fired them.

None of which have been made small enough to be used as a warhead.

The US hasn't signed a treaty not to test missiles.

Thought that treaties didn't take precedent over national sovereignty?

Nuclear missiles age just like everything else. They are replaced part by part over time, and have to be occasionally tested.

I guess someone figured we hadn't fired one in a while, and considering how the world is heating up, we had to make sure they still worked.

I find it somewhat absurd they'd install parts in such an important device if they weren't absolutely certain they'd work.

Quoted from the article linked in the OP, with jokes.
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) -- The Air Force successfully launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile early Thursday.

The Minuteman III dummy warheads were fired at 3:14 a.m. and traveled about 4,200 miles before hitting a water target in the Marshall Islands. George W. Bush was on board the missile? Hope he can swim.

The launch was delayed by a day because of a power outage at a radar facility that handles flights in and out of Southern California. But luckily, power outages in California are very rare, and in a crisis would never happen.

The purpose is to test the defense system's reliability and accuracy. and the media's reliability for repeating anything issued by the government.


<snip>
The North Korean launch raised questions about the readiness of the U.S. missile defense system, which includes interceptors housed in underground silos in California and Alaska. AND serious questions about the adequacy of publicly funded fireworks displays, for the Fourth of July. "Hey, I wanna see 10 million bucks worth of missile blow up on launch! If it's good enough for those communist dancing-girls, where's my big exploding missile? Where are my taxes going anyway?"

EDIT OUT: 39 words which weren't so funny.

I find it somewhat absurd they'd install parts in such an important device if they weren't absolutely certain they'd work.

As an example, the electronics on the missile are ON all the time while in the silo. They have to be replaced over time.

The warhead itself degrades over time, largely because of the decay of tritium in the warhead. Have to replace that regularly.

This sort of test is called an "integration test". You're making sure the whole thing still works together.

But luckily, power outages in California are very rare, and in a crisis would never happen.


Minutemen missiles are ICBMs. They require no radar during normal operations.

The radar in question is used to track the flight for testing purposes.

Luckily, the people in the military are not as seriously misinformed as you are.

Minutemen missiles are ICBMs. They require no radar during normal operations.

The radar in question is used to track the flight for testing purposes.

Luckily, the people in the military are not as seriously misinformed as you are.

And let's hope that they don't have as twisted a sense of humour as me, either. :D

I didn't realize you took this seriously. Really. You didn't get even one "er, hmm, that's kind of funny" moment out of my post?? Not even me calling the North Koreans "communist dancing-girls?" Awww-w-w come on. Lighten up. ;)

And let's hope that they don't have as twisted a sense of humour as me, either. :D

I didn't realize you took this seriously. Really. You didn't get even one "er, hmm, that's kind of funny" moment out of my post?? Not even me calling the North Koreans "communist dancing-girls?" Awww-w-w come on. Lighten up. ;)

I guess Clinton has a twisted sense of humor. He officially approved a standard package of 40 nuclear weapons to be dropped on North Korea by a set of F-15E fighter-bombers in the event that North Korea actually started anything (such as a conventional invasion of the South).

Exercises were held out of Seymour-Johnson AFB every year during the Clinton Adminstration.

I don't believe anyone would have survived the bombing in North Korea.

Holy
Living
Shit

You are taking this seriously.

As an example, the electronics on the missile are ON all the time while in the silo. They have to be replaced over time.

The warhead itself degrades over time, largely because of the decay of tritium in the warhead. Have to replace that regularly.

This sort of test is called an "integration test". You're making sure the whole thing still works together.

Tritium has a halflife of what? 12 years if I recall correctly. I don't see why they feel the need to even use the stuff. I'm aware it gives a major boost to explosive potential, but frankly we don't really need to use massive nukes anymore. A somewhat bulkier single stage device would do the same job without having to muck with Tritium.

Actually, if you read the papers, you'll find out that they self-confirmed their manufacture of nuclear weapons, have threatened to use them, and what everyone is upset about is that North Korea signed a treaty to not fire missiles, and they went and fired them.

The US hasn't signed a treaty not to test missiles.


I'm a little stund, so bear with me. . .I would say that anyhting the US says about treaties is null and void, seeing as how they don't adhere to them themselves. How many un treaties does the US break in pursuit of its nuclear arsnel, ballistic missle tests and unlawful wars? I say - including the madman at the helm - North Korea is behavin like the states. Threatening all around them and saying anyone who sides with them will be okay. I say, if anyone lands on the 'side' of the US in this debate, then they'll just strengthen the position of korea.

But, with all that said, Kim is a freaky, nutty tyrant. Not only that - and worst of all - I think he's a fag. I mean, 'Kim'? That is SUCH a girls name.:fluffle:

Kim would be his family name if I'm correct.

I think Korean names run backward from the way westerners do naming. Family name first. Yep, his father was Kim Il-Sung

...

But, with all that said, Kim is a freaky, nutty tyrant. Not only that - and worst of all - I think he's a fag. I mean, 'Kim'? That is SUCH a girls name.:fluffle:

I'm OK with that. Korean girls are HOT! It's not Kim's fault that he (or she?) is stuck inside the podgy body of a 50-year-old alcoholic. And his best and biggest missile blows up a minute or so after launch. Could happen to any of us!

Kim would be his family name if I'm correct.

I think Korean names run backward from the way westerners do naming. Family name first. Yep, his father was Kim Il-Sung

I was not aware of this.:(

Y'see, this is why I always use a self - deprecating intro to all my post: now I don't look supid, because everyone knew I was when I called myself 'stund' in the last post!

This works for everyone!

Something else: has the US signed on OFFICIALLY to any anti - nuclear weapons prolifiration, or the like? I mean, signed and sealed at a UN level, or anything?

And his best and biggest missile blows up a minute or so after launch. Could happen to any of us![/QUOTE]


Certainly happens to me a lot. . .damn small weiner. . .:mad:

Something else: has the US signed on OFFICIALLY to any anti - nuclear weapons prolifiration, or the like? I mean, signed and sealed at a UN level, or anything?Wouldn't really matter if you're testing "dummy" missiles...

Wouldn't really matter if you're testing "dummy" missiles...

Because it's not like we've built upwards of 50,000 nuclear missiles.

Deep Kimchi has gone offline, which I guess means that this thread failed on launch.
Though, my last thread took me so long to compose, I was totally sick of it by the time I'd got it up.

Come on. Calling George Bush a "dummy warhead" has got to be worth at least one 'lol.' Gimme!

Deep Kimchi has gone offline, which I guess means that this thread failed on launch.
Though, my last thread took me so long to compose, I was totally sick of it by the time I'd got it up.

Come on. Calling George Bush a "dummy warhead" has got to be worth at least one 'lol.' Gimme!

lol

The self appointed sniffer of farts has found favour with one of my jokes.
:fluffle:

Just so I don't look to be deliberately sabotaging the thread, I'll sign off with this:

Testing ONE missile, with preparation of several days, provides no useful information as to the reliability of the Minuteman fleet, let alone their warheads. And the Marshall Islands may be (I could google it, but I'll risk my arm, because it's close and I really don't care that much) the nearest bit of US territory to North Korea. It's not a state, obviously, but I think it was a "protectorate."

It's a dick-waving excercise. It proves nothing useful, and taking it seriously is to descend to the dick-waving level of Kim Jong Il.

Deep Kimchi has gone offline, which I guess means that this thread failed on launch.
Though, my last thread took me so long to compose, I was totally sick of it by the time I'd got it up.

Come on. Calling George Bush a "dummy warhead" has got to be worth at least one 'lol.' Gimme!

Ok, lol.

Tritium has a halflife of what? 12 years if I recall correctly. I don't see why they feel the need to even use the stuff. I'm aware it gives a major boost to explosive potential, but frankly we don't really need to use massive nukes anymore. A somewhat bulkier single stage device would do the same job without having to muck with Tritium.
It also makes the warhead a lot cleaner than single stage bombs.

The self appointed sniffer of farts has found favour with one of my jokes.
:fluffle:

Just so I don't look to be deliberately sabotaging the thread, I'll sign off with this:

Testing ONE missile, with preparation of several days, provides no useful information as to the reliability of the Minuteman fleet, let alone their warheads. And the Marshall Islands may be (I could google it, but I'll risk my arm, because it's close and I really don't care that much) the nearest bit of US territory to North Korea. It's not a state, obviously, but I think it was a "protectorate."

It's a dick-waving excercise. It proves nothing useful, and taking it seriously is to descend to the dick-waving level of Kim Jong Il.

Well we ALL know that Asians have very very small penises :eek: , so I would say that we have won this round of dick waving!

and what everyone is upset about is that North Korea signed a treaty to not fire missiles, and they went and fired them.
Er... no they didn't. North Korea had a self-imposed memorandum on the testing of missiles. It ended it and tested, but it didn't break any treaties. It also had previously withdrawn from the NNPT.