US test-launches unarmed intercontinental missile

[sabra]

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1153291959244&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

US test-launches unarmed intercontinental missile
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, California


The US 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 (6,758 kilometers) before hitting a water target in the Marshall Islands.

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. The purpose is to test the defense system's reliability and accuracy.

Earlier this month, North Korea shook up the world by firing several missiles into the Sea of Japan, including a failed long-range missile.

[afrosia]

1. That's just lazy

If you're gonna kick someone's ass, don't do it from your armchair!

[ixion]

2. a couple points of interest here

a) How reliable is it if it won't work if the power grid goes down?

and more importantly:

b) The US gave a raft of shit to NK for doing this exact same thing. Why is it okay for the US, but not okay for others? :shrug:

(that's a rhetorical question, by the way. ;-) )

[jayfish]

13. On Point A), I'm Sure They...

were interested in the safety of commercial air traffic. Many flights had to be diverted from their flight-plan and that would have made a launch very risky.

Jay

[The2ndWheel]

3. I think North Korea should take out the missle

[Newsjock]

4. Global reaction was swift, of course

The United Nations Security Council met in emergency session Friday to respond to the United States' test-firing of an intercontinental missile, as Saudi Arabia and China imposed economic penalties and nations around the world denounced the launchings.

The Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, Wang Guangya, said as he arrived for the meeting that he hoped for "a strong and unanimous signal from the council that this kind of behavior is unacceptable."

The White House spokesman, Tony Snow, said today that the United States may fire a few more short- or medium-range missiles in the coming days.

The launching that began before dawn today came in defiance of warnings from Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and the governments of Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Italy.

OK, OK, the story is fake ... but it's based on this story about what happened when North Korea launched its own missiles. We, of course, play by different rules.

[saigon68]

5. As long as you plan to kill black or brown people

Its OK

[MrPrax]

8. LOL...

Your a thought criminal... ;-)

We're the good guys...everything we do is based on reason, international law, sound diplomacy, concensus...um...Jesus.

[Roland99]

12. The ol' US double standard. Ok for US, bad for EVERYONE else.

[iconoclastic cat]

6. Bush: "Hey, Kim--look! My missile is bigger! And stays up longer!"

Too bad it didn't have a payload, if you know what I mean.

[High Plains]

7. Ooh, missile test! Is there an international crisis over this?

Or is it only when someone we don't like does it?

[sinkingfeeling]

9. What? Did they get the king's blessing for that?

[daleo]

10. You mean the U.S. can launch test missiles

But North Korea can't? It sounds hypocritical.

[MGKrebs]

11. And I'm sure with our dedication to transparency,

we had international observers there to confirm the claim that this was a "dummy", and that it was pointed at a safe target, and that it was a "defense" system, not an offensive system, so to speak.

[VegasWolf]

14. but, the Roman empire, err the U.S. are the good guys. nt