Wasn't it Robert Gates' idea to cut missile defense and not Obama's?

[SamCooke]

I could be wrong, but why are idiots like Palin and Romney all of a sudden talking about missile defense? I know Palin has no clue what it is.

[Arctic Dave]

1. Interceptor missiles are stationed in Alaska.

She is only concerned aout the military pork pouring into the state.

[masuki bance]

2. Obama's against it?

[Recursion]

3. Obama and Lugar both lean against it (it's part of non-proliferation)

Unless you can achieve a full zero-option (ie, absolutely any incoming missile will be intercepted and destroyed), missile defense is generally counterproductive since it just leads to your potential enemies building more nuclear weapons to get through your shield.

Even in the SALT days we only had one ABM shield, I think over Cheyenne Mountain, and the USSR only had one, over Moscow (we agreed with the USSR to either shield a launch complex or the political capital but not both).

[boppers]

4. Long and short:

We've had active missile defense since the 60's.

Obama's cutting plans to develop additional new systems.

This impacts states that would host new land-based systems (Palin), space-based systems (everywhere), and blowhards still stuck on 1980's paranoia (red states).

Basically, this issue is about SDI/"Star Wars" crap from the 80's, and trying to reclaim a defense mantle, replay that great game of their youth, relive their glory days.