Missile defense: "I wouldn't call it a failure, I'd call it a non-test"

[Cocoa]

A shot in the dark, since I don't know what channel it was on, but did anyone catch that quote from a missile-defense defender? I saw it on some cable channel yesterday.

For me, the quote kind of summed up the Bush administration's attitude toward accountability.

[Beetwasher]

1. Orwell Would be Proud! I Urge All College Students To Try This!

On your next exam, simply don't even attempt to answer any questions, just hand the test paper in blank and tell your professor that he can't fail you since it's a non-test.

[jeff30997]

2. I wouldn't call Bush stupid...

I would call him non-intelligent.

[AllegroRondo]

3. And this non-test only cost us $83 million

[fryguy]

4. crimety! they'll spin ANYTHING

i thought it was bad enough when, on previous tests, they would talk about how successful it went even though the interceptor failed to hit the target missile (remembering a great exchange from the West Wing about that), now THIS - :freak: - maybe we'll start seeing that for all sorts of other failures, er non-sucesses.....

[JohnyCanuck]

5. SmirkingChimp.com has a thread on this

From SmirkingChimp member, superdem:

On NPR last night they were discussing this test failure, and the question was asked why is this the first test in nearly two years ? The answer was - testing schedules were delayed and testing budgets were redirected so the SYSTEM COULD BE DEPLOYED IN ALASKA. This was done at the PRESIDENT'S DIRECTION. That's George W. Bush, the wise and steady leader, ordering an untested and nonfunctional missle system into the field JUST SO HE CAN SAY HE DID IT. He was counting on this test succeeding, so he could make a major speech to the nation crowing about his accomplishment on behalf of the nation's safety.

So apparently the Anti-missile missiles are already deployed, armed and "ready", and these tests are being conducted as an afterthought, as remedial, troubleshooting exercises for a hot system already in place. Meanwhile, the six figure salaried top executives at the nations' defense contractors in their fancy wood paneled offices in tall glassy buildings draw up their next defense contract proposals to be delivered to their military buddies in the Defense Department.

This deployment of an untested, unproven weapons system costing (wasting ?) billions of tax dollars surely contravened established Defense Department procedures - it should be an indefensible criminal and impeachable offense. This should be the biggest scandal of the Bush Administration, although it competes amongst many. And yet, the media talks like it's nothing, amusing at best - isn't it funny, the rockets don't work, ha ha.

www.smirkingchimp.com/article.php?sid=19118&mode=&order=0

The link above is to SmirkingChimp.com's repost of an article from LA Times, "Missile defense system fails test." Comments from Smirking Chimp members are posted at the bottom of the article.

[Cocoa]

8. the fool I saw had a good line about deployment

he said, answering the question of whether the completely useless thing should be deployed, "it's better than nothing."

:mad:

[Gunit_Sangh]

6. Well, it was a partial success

They did succeed in launching the target missile :o

[Cocoa]

9. lol

bonuses and promotions for everyone! :toast:

[Menshevik]

7. can I use that excuse

the next time I fail a test?

SORRY, PROFESSOR, IT WAS A NON-TEST

[slutticus]

10. "Sorry sweetie, I wouldn't call it a failure of my manhood...

....I'd call it a 'non-test'"


LOL

I may have to use this some day.

[elehhhhna]

11. how 'bout "A Catastrophic attemp"t?