USAF to scrap AGM-129 stealth cruise missile

Seattlepi.com ^ | March 7, 2007 | ROBERT BURNS

[null and void]

Nahhhhhhhh! No replacement for the SR-71 either...

[shekkian]

Don't I have a second amendment right to own one if I can afford it?

Not if this present Congress has its way.

[mcshot]

How amazingly ignorant of them to go along with a one-sided agreement with Putie's growing global forces.

[Zeroisanumber]

Under their logic, I guess I should be paying for beer long ago flushed?

Good point, but I think that they must be referring to the maintenance budget. Nukes require a lot of upkeep to keep in good working order.

[Peanut Gallery]

ping

[Red6]

No, this is because of bilateral agreements with the Russians.

[mcshot]

Lord help us as I'm afraid you're right.

[redgolum]

The "looking glass" flights are still going on. After 911 they started again.

[RinaseaofDs]

I agree. I remember the day the press announced the retirement of the SR-71 Blackbird. I kept thinking, "They must have something better."

[Rb ver. 2.0]

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[Teacher317]

What did the SR-71 do that we cannot do now? (Other than look incredibly cool and set some awesome speed records.)

I do miss that plane, but I don't think we can say that the US arsenal is lacking something without it.

[bmwcyle]

Ron, we miss you.

[darth]

Give 'em to Israel. My favorite bumper sticker from the Nuclear Freeze days, "Hey DoD, no more nuclear weapons until you use up the ones we already gave you."

[ASOC]

Better, but slower - HALE.

[Professional Engineer]

Don't I have a second amendment right to own one if I can afford it?

I'd like one of these please.

[6ppc]

Just curious...why did we scrap the MX missles? We still have Minute Man missles, so why did we get rid of the MX which is a newer design?

[prodigals son]

You're such a PC wimp, Jonathon.
Why imprison the opposition?
Just kill them.

[HardStarboard]

>>>Exactly! Stick a small tactical nuke warhead and send them into Iran. <<<

Please make it clear, for the democrats sake, that you intend them to get there under there own power!

John Kerry or Madaline Allbright may think you agree with them that spreading nuclear capability among nations would aid world peace.

[TalonDJ]

We still have Minute Man missles, so why did we get rid of the MX which is a newer design?

I am not 'in the know' on this but there are several likely reasons. One was that they MX was larger. With global threats being different the bigger missiles seem less useful than ones with fewer warheads. Also I think we were not able to keep them fully loaded with warheads due to a treaty limiting MIRVs on a single launcher (not sure, I forget where I read that). Finally I suspect a big reason was the maintenance costs of the MX's unique 'cold launch' system that used pressurized gas to shoot them missile out of the silo before engine ignition. Something like that probably took more upkeep than the normal 'light it in the silo' systems. Finally, it is nice to note that the more advanced warheads from the MXs were moved over to still active MinuteMan systems.

[Paul Ross]

So now we are pandering to Ivan, who is aiding and abetting every enemy we have?? And we choose our "top stealth CM" to scrap?? Hello Washington?? Be advised Ivan is NOT OUR FRIEND.

Correct.

The Administration is engaged in insanity...and the RATs breathing down their necks from Congress are yet more insane.

The Center cannot hold.

Russia is violating the terms of the 2002 Treaty of Moscow, keeping most all of its SS-18 first strike weapons.

Apparently none of the current crop of "adults" heard the part that Reagan orded so long ago..."Trust...BUT VERIFY!"