US flexing their muscle

[Gregrios]

After I had heard about the US planning to shoot down a satelite, the first thing that came to mind was that they were trying to match what China did a few months ago. It's all politics that is until China takes offence to it.

I havn't heard a whole lot about it yet but I'm hearing that China seems to be quite upset about them matching their satelite shooting down power.

My question is: Is the whole politics of technology really worth it?

[Dekloren]

Weapons test.

[comic boy]

Yep

[strike wolf]

After I had heard about the US planning to shoot down a satelite, the first thing that came to mind was that they were trying to match what China did a few months ago. It's all politics that is until China takes offence to it.

I havn't heard a whole lot about it yet but I'm hearing that China seems to be quite upset about them matching their satelite shooting down power.

My question is: Is the whole politics of technology really worth it?

They say they're shooting it down because the fuel in the satelite is extremely toxic and could kill a large number of people if it landed in a populated area.

[Gregrios]

After I had heard about the US planning to shoot down a satelite, the first thing that came to mind was that they were trying to match what China did a few months ago. It's all politics that is until China takes offence to it.

I havn't heard a whole lot about it yet but I'm hearing that China seems to be quite upset about them matching their satelite shooting down power.

My question is: Is the whole politics of technology really worth it?

They say they're shooting it down because the fuel in the satelite is extremely toxic and could kill a large number of people if it landed in a populated area.

The thing is, they expect us to take their word for it. I know about the excuse the US are using but I can't help but think that it's nothing more than a creative story inorder to make it look nonchalont to the other powers of the world.

I mean it's not like the US hasn't lied to the world before. Damn man, they've been lying for 4 years now. What makes you think that they've turned over a honest leaf?

[DeCaptain]

After I had heard about the US planning to shoot down a satelite, the first thing that came to mind was that they were trying to match what China did a few months ago. It's all politics that is until China takes offence to it.

I havn't heard a whole lot about it yet but I'm hearing that China seems to be quite upset about them matching their satelite shooting down power.

My question is: Is the whole politics of technology really worth it?

They say they're shooting it down because the fuel in the satelite is extremely toxic and could kill a large number of people if it landed in a populated area.

Exactly, the way it is now if the satelite were to enter the atmosphere it is not believed that it would burn up. By blowing it up the smaller pieces would burn in the atmosphere, eliminating the toxic substance

edit: in response to your recent post Gregrios, although the thought did run through my head, I personally believe that this story is not being fabricated, but thats just my opinion.

[Gregrios]

The way I look at it that it's 1 of 2 things.

Either their flexing their political muscle or their making it look like they give a crap about the American people. Which they don't.

Basiclly I think there's a hidden agenda either way.

[strike wolf]

After I had heard about the US planning to shoot down a satelite, the first thing that came to mind was that they were trying to match what China did a few months ago. It's all politics that is until China takes offence to it.

I havn't heard a whole lot about it yet but I'm hearing that China seems to be quite upset about them matching their satelite shooting down power.

My question is: Is the whole politics of technology really worth it?

They say they're shooting it down because the fuel in the satelite is extremely toxic and could kill a large number of people if it landed in a populated area.

The thing is, they expect us to take their word for it. I know about the excuse the US are using but I can't help but think that it's nothing more than a creative story inorder to make it look nonchalont to the other powers of the world.

I mean it's not like the US hasn't lied to the world before. Damn man, they've been lying for 4 years now. What makes you think that they've turned over a honest leaf?

One, I never said it was the truth I was just saying it is what they said.

Secondly, like Decaptain, I'm inclined to take their word for it.

[Snowpepsi]

If I'm correct, the U.S. is shooting down a U.S. satellite?

[Neoteny]

Doesn't the fall line go over southern Canada? How do ya'll feel about that?

[riggable]

After I had heard about the US planning to shoot down a satelite, the first thing that came to mind was that they were trying to match what China did a few months ago. It's all politics that is until China takes offence to it.

I havn't heard a whole lot about it yet but I'm hearing that China seems to be quite upset about them matching their satelite shooting down power.

My question is: Is the whole politics of technology really worth it?

They say they're shooting it down because the fuel in the satelite is extremely toxic and could kill a large number of people if it landed in a populated area.

The thing is, they expect us to take their word for it. I know about the excuse the US are using but I can't help but think that it's nothing more than a creative story inorder to make it look nonchalont to the other powers of the world.

I mean it's not like the US hasn't lied to the world before. Damn man, they've been lying for 4 years now. What makes you think that they've turned over a honest leaf?

...you're really dumb...i actually cannot believe you actually think that. Even for you, gregrios, i'm really disspointed.

[Gregrios]

After I had heard about the US planning to shoot down a satelite, the first thing that came to mind was that they were trying to match what China did a few months ago. It's all politics that is until China takes offence to it.

I havn't heard a whole lot about it yet but I'm hearing that China seems to be quite upset about them matching their satelite shooting down power.

My question is: Is the whole politics of technology really worth it?

They say they're shooting it down because the fuel in the satelite is extremely toxic and could kill a large number of people if it landed in a populated area.

The thing is, they expect us to take their word for it. I know about the excuse the US are using but I can't help but think that it's nothing more than a creative story inorder to make it look nonchalont to the other powers of the world.

I mean it's not like the US hasn't lied to the world before. Damn man, they've been lying for 4 years now. What makes you think that they've turned over a honest leaf?

One, I never said it was the truth I was just saying it is what they said.

Secondly, like Decaptain, I'm inclined to take their word for it.

Fair enough. I just thought you were defending the story to a certain degree. That's all. So you do agree it's entirely possible.

[Gregrios]

After I had heard about the US planning to shoot down a satelite, the first thing that came to mind was that they were trying to match what China did a few months ago. It's all politics that is until China takes offence to it.

I havn't heard a whole lot about it yet but I'm hearing that China seems to be quite upset about them matching their satelite shooting down power.

My question is: Is the whole politics of technology really worth it?

They say they're shooting it down because the fuel in the satelite is extremely toxic and could kill a large number of people if it landed in a populated area.

The thing is, they expect us to take their word for it. I know about the excuse the US are using but I can't help but think that it's nothing more than a creative story inorder to make it look nonchalont to the other powers of the world.

I mean it's not like the US hasn't lied to the world before. Damn man, they've been lying for 4 years now. What makes you think that they've turned over a honest leaf?

...you're really dumb...i actually cannot believe you actually think that. Even for you, gregrios, i'm really disspointed.

Sorry to disappoint but did you know that the Chinese government thinks the same thing to a certain extent?

[Evil Pope]

Damn man, they've been lying for 4 years now. What makes you think that they've turned over a honest leaf?

Are you sure?
That doesn't sound right.
I was thinking maybe 40 or 50, at the very least.
But I wouldn't be surprised if it was more in the 200 year range.

I'm not really sure about the idea that it is the U.S. flexing its muscly arms, but I guess its possible. Either way, i'm sold on the idea that it contains poisonous fuel, and thus they're shooting it down for that reason. Maybe both, they get to potentially save lives, act like they care, and show everyone how tough we are?

[strike wolf]

I think Evil Pope's has a good point there.

[Gregrios]

Damn man, they've been lying for 4 years now. What makes you think that they've turned over a honest leaf?

Are you sure?
That doesn't sound right.
I was thinking maybe 40 or 50, at the very least.
But I wouldn't be surprised if it was more in the 200 year range.

I'm not really sure about the idea that it is the U.S. flexing its muscly arms, but I guess its possible. Either way, i'm sold on the idea that it contains poisonous fuel, and thus they're shooting it down for that reason. Maybe both, they get to potentially save lives, act like they care, and show everyone how tough we are?

The thing that gets me is when China did their shoot down, it was supposedly the 1st satelite shoot down in history. Then a few months later the US have a situation where they have to do the same. I'm not the type to believe in such a coinicidence.

Might I add that if this is a flase story that the US is giving then they certainly wouldn't be able to use the same excuse as China did. That would be too obvious. China's reason was because their satelite was too aged and it had no further use.

[Frigidus]

Welcome to the gun show.

[Grooveman2007]

The thing that gets me is when China did their shoot down, it was supposedly the 1st satelite shoot down in history. Then a few months later the US have a situation where they have to do the same. I'm not the type to believe in such a coinicidence.

Might I add that if this is a flase story that the US is giving then they certainly wouldn't be able to use the same excuse as China did. That would be too obvious. China's reason was because their satelite was too aged and it had no further use.

That's not a very good reason to shoot one down, we let most burn up in the atmosphere. If China shoots one down because it's old they're clearly flexing their space muscle. It all harkens back to Cold War style competition.

[PhatJoey]

You are all missing out on one very telling point. When China did it, it was done in secret and nobody knew until it was already over. When the U.S. did it, they told the entire world in advance. No secrets, no need for anyone to worry. Just a little house-cleaning. The government has even offered to share whatever data they can with China.

China on the other hand tried 3 times unsuccessfully, never announcing it. They were finally successful on their 4th attempt.

Military technology intended to be a first-strike weapon is always developed in secret. Military technology intended to be a deterent is used right out in the open where everyone can see it, otherwise it is not effective in DETERRING conflict.

I'll take the way the U.S. did it anyday.

[Gregrios]

The thing that gets me is when China did their shoot down, it was supposedly the 1st satelite shoot down in history. Then a few months later the US have a situation where they have to do the same. I'm not the type to believe in such a coinicidence.

Might I add that if this is a flase story that the US is giving then they certainly wouldn't be able to use the same excuse as China did. That would be too obvious. China's reason was because their satelite was too aged and it had no further use.

That's not a very good reason to shoot one down, we let most burn up in the atmosphere. If China shoots one down because it's old they're clearly flexing their space muscle. It all harkens back to Cold War style competition.

I agree. I think China had the same intentions. They just got to it first.

[Gregrios]

You are all missing out on one very telling point. When China did it, it was done in secret and nobody knew until it was already over. When the U.S. did it, they told the entire world in advance. No secrets, no need for anyone to worry. Just a little house-cleaning. The government has even offered to share whatever data they can with China.

China on the other hand tried 3 times unsuccessfully, never announcing it. They were finally successful on their 4th attempt.

Military technology intended to be a first-strike weapon is always developed in secret. Military technology intended to be a deterent is used right out in the open where everyone can see it, otherwise it is not effective in DETERRING conflict.

I'll take the way the U.S. did it anyday.

I got to say I missed that one to. Very good point. That's actually one of the better points that can be made on this topic. Just the fact that they advertise it speaks volumes about their intentions.

[PhatJoey]

Actually, if you do your research, the U.S. was the first country to shoot down a satellite having done it back in the mid-80's. See this link: http://www.ucsusa.org/global_security/s ... grams.html

The difference is that the missle (in 1985) was fired from a plane and not ship or ground.

[Gregrios]

Actually, if you do your research, the U.S. was the first country to shoot down a satellite having done it back in the mid-80's. See this link: http://www.ucsusa.org/global_security/s ... grams.html

The difference is that the missle (in 1985) was fired from a plane and not ship or ground.

Yeah, but when China did it, it was the first of it's kind. That's what was said on the news. I'm guessing their refering to the paticular missile that was used.

Thanks for the info.

[Dekloren]

Weapons test.

[PhatJoey]

Weapons test.

Who is arguing with you? It WAS a weapons test. And they used the weapon to take care of a potential hazard while at the same time letting everyone know that we can take care of our own. In fact, by letting everyone know in advance, they even took the risk of losing face in public if it failed.

By the way . . . it's all based on the very same technology that was originally designed to knock down all those nasty ICBM's that were going to rain down on the U.S. and Canada if a nuke war broke out between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. back in the day. Shooting down a satellite is actually a lot tougher because of the speeds and trajectories involved.

I for one am really happy to see that it works.