Do you guys not understand that it is somewhat of a concession for a Republican to admit missile defense doesn't work?

I guess you could say it works though, if getting within 20 miles of the missile you are trying to intercept is "working"? Than yes, I guess it works.

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blow each other up!

Missile defense systems do not blow any one up, despite what Tedward Kennedy says.

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The United States does not need a multi-billion-dollar national missile defense against the possibility of a nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile. What we need is a strong nonproliferation policy with other nations...

Yes, that's absolutly horrible. Someone wants us to not blow each other up! We can't have that. [sarcasam]

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Besides, they practically own the Senate. And with Bush in the Oval Office, Republicans really do have the power to overrun any complaints from the Democrats. It pains me to admit that, but it's true.

There are two chambers in Congress, the constitution explains that better than I can. In the Senate, it only takes one person to stop something via a filibuster. Republicans lack the super majority needed to end such a thing. Also, with fence sitters like McCain, who care more about being President than passing meaningful legislation, will constantly do whatever it takes to a build of collation of support to be President.

[QUOTE] Which is where the MAD bit comes in. We're allies with Japan and will retaliate against any country that attacks them. That would include North Korea. They bomb Japan, we bomb them, and North Korea is a big hole in the ground by dinnertime. [QUOTE]

MAD only makes sense when it is clear every country will uses its nukes if it has to. It is clear the US has no intention to use its nukes and would isntead invade N Korea if it nuked Japan. You can thank the hippies for that one.

Let me begin by saying that I have taken a couple of days to research the topic of missile defense because you asked for it and to prove that I am right. But it is a little bit off topic and I will bring it back around at the end of this post. Let me also say that I am not against missile defense systems or funding for missile defense programs. In our shrinking world where more and more countries are developing nuclear technology, missile defense is becoming increasingly more urgent. We need to focus in this as a nation to ensure our safety because losing 1 million Americans in exchange for destroying all North Koreans is not an acceptable trade off for me.

First, it is a widely held beleif that our current missile defense system doesn't work effectively. In this article from Slate.com (for those who are too lazy to read and do the research that I have done) Fred Kaplan points out that the American Physical Society (APS) published a report saying that Boost Phase Intercept (BPI) is much more complicated than anyone, including the US Government, has thought. BPI is the first and most reliable opportunity to shoot down a missile. Tests continually fail and it is successful only 50% of the time. It is clearly not reliable and I am not willing trust my life and the lives of my family to a 50/50 missile defense system but maybe you are. Again I point out that I am not against missile defense, but clearly the one that we have at this point in time is not working. It takes time and money to develop and we need to give it that time and that money, but it is not now effective.

Second, clearly Republicans are not able to do whatever they want. Democrats are able to block judges, and bills. Read the US Constitution and you will find out how. It is really pretty shoking, I know, but it is true. You will also be happy to know that your precious democrats wouldn't even pursue a missle defense system. Nancy Pelosi, the house minority leader (and the Speaker of the House if Democrats take back the House), has this to say about missile defense:

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The United States does not need a multi-billion-dollar national missile defense against the possibility of a nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile. What we need is a strong nonproliferation policy with other nations...

I can only assume that because you are all soooo happy with our current system, you would disagree with this. Also, non-proliferation has worked so great over the years.

Back on the topic of North Korea. If you do not find them to be a threat to the US and her allies then there is nothing I can do for you except maybe a strong slap in the face. That is a really foolish thing to beleive, and quite frightening in fact.

I look forward to seeing you put your evidence where your mouth is

BS, the key word in that sentence you quoted was "Republicans."

Besides, they practically own the Senate. And with Bush in the Oval Office, Republicans really do have the power to overrun any complaints from the Democrats. It pains me to admit that, but it's true.

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Not if they shoot it at Japan.

Which is where the MAD bit comes in. We're allies with Japan and will retaliate against any country that attacks them. That would include North Korea. They bomb Japan, we bomb them, and North Korea is a big hole in the ground by dinnertime.

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republicans have been needlessly throwing away billions of dollars to a missile defense system that doesn't work?

Yes.

And I will find your proof.

the missle defense system we have now works rather well as far as I have heard, please show me some evidence of it not being up to taking out ballistic missles

my precious dems? well I suppose I have some close friends that are indeed democrats but they (for the most part) can't even vote yet much less dictate funding policy

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Originally posted by Bushsupporter:

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I suppose that it's too bad that the system has already been tested and developed

I really shouldn't have to repeat my self since you quoted me but I said GOOD missle defense, the one we have barely works. It is not one that I am really confortable with dfending my life, or the lives of others for that matter.

So your telling me that the republicans have been needlessly throwing away billions of dollars to a missile defense system that doesn't work?

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I suppose that it's too bad that the system has already been tested and developed

I really shouldn't have to repeat my self since you quoted me but I said GOOD missle defense, the one we have barely works. It is not one that I am really confortable with dfending my life, or the lives of others for that matter.

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Originally posted by Bushsupporter:

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knock them out of the sky

Not if they shoot it at Japan. And your precious democrats won't pay for good missle defense.

Hmm too bad that we already agreed to protect Japan... also I suppose that it's too bad that the system has already been tested and developed... Wait a second... does this make you... ignorant?

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knock them out of the sky

Not if they shoot it at Japan. And your precious democrats won't pay for good missle defense.

and again we have the ability to knock them out of the sky and turn NK in to a freakin radioactive parking lot with out so much as a twitch of the eye

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why are so many people quick to label him as mad?

Well, he starves his people (intelectually, informationaly, nutritionaly, and starves them of freedom). He locks up dissenters in prison, tortures them, and kills them. He continually speaks about the destruction of the United States, South Korea, Japan, and western democracies and ideals in general. That may not be that bad to you, but I don't consider him a "chavez type".

He does have missles that can reach Japan and certainly South Korea. This is not acceptable to me.

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They were smart people not mindless maniacs. Let's say mindless maniacs rather than just maniacs.

well if you look at stalin in particular, you will see he had extreme paranoia and constant delusions, he defintley was afflicted in someway mentally. The same is true for Hitler, the story goes he would get so angry at hearing bad news, the bad news just stopped coming...

anyway sorry for going off topic, kim jong il is not a character i know well, he appears to fit into the chavez group of open outward opponents of the current US government. But why are so many people quick to label him as mad? i'd love to know, perhaps somebody could enlighten me with facts other than 'he opposes the US and is building a bomb', which does not make you a maniac.

It matters not to me what we decide to do from here. However nK still does not have a legtimate means to send the nuclear weapon anywhere at this point in time.

They were smart people not mindless maniacs. Let's say mindless maniacs rather than just maniacs.

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We are not talking about Hitler, or Stalin, or Kruschev here, we are talking about Kim Jong Il. He is a maniac

does anyone else spot the mistake in this sentance lol, unless you are trying to insinutae hitler and stalin were not maniacs...

It doesn't take a genius to run a totalitarian state. It takes an extremly paraniod man. We are not talking about Hitler, or Stalin, or Kruschev here, we are talking about Kim Jong Il. He is a maniac and I don't accept the premise that he wouldn't do anything. I don't accept that we should wait until L.A., San Diego, Hawaii, Tokyo, Hong Kong, or countless other cities have been anhialated to deal with the threat. That is foolish thinking, and thinking that allowed Hitler and Stalin both to gain power. Appeasment has been tryed, and "gasp", it has failed (like always). It is now time to deal with thre threat at hand. We should bomb their Nuclear research labs and all other Nuclear sites. This is the very case in which preemption is and should be an option.