[cogitator]

This is a somewhat sobering article. Imagine not getting hit by a big asteroid but still getting a nuclear war out of the near-miss.

The article doesn't mention that President Reagan was once roused from a sound sleep because satellites detected a detonation over the Indian Ocean that also turned out to be due to an incoming asteroid or comet.

[OldFriend]

Ohhhh, asteroids......maybe that splains the stoopids in FloriDUH.....

[Diddle E. Squat]

So perhaps that meteorite that ended the dinosaurs actually only triggered the dinosaurs to nuke each other?

[r9etb]

Brig. Gen. Simon P. Worden

It's very important to understand one thing about this article: Pete Worden is a crank who is fascinated by gee-whiz stuff, and whose dedication to career advancement is matched only by his legendary bad manners, odd mannerisms, and knack for over-stepping his bounds.

His scenario sounds bad, but if you really think about it he's had to make a whole lot of assumptions about who would do what and why.

Given Pete's history, the key to the whole article is this: Worden suggested that a NEO warning center be established that can assess and release this data as soon as possible to all interested parties while ensuring sensitive data is safeguarded.

One can guess that Gen. Worden would be jockeying to head just such a center, as a stepping stone to his ultimate goal of heading up "planetary defense."

[Lokibob]

Already posted here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/752087/posts
but go to the link to see a great animated gif of the meteor hitting greenland.

[Dark Wing]

ping

[Mr. K]

We need a multi-national effor to build and deploy in space a HUGE tube of Preperation A (for a$$teroids)

[genefromjersey]

Good thing they never heard my sainted Granny break wind !

[dyed_in_the_wool]

He recommended to the commission that a natural impact warning clearinghouse could be formed by adding no more than 10 people to current U.S. Space Command early warning centers.

Buy it. It's worth it. Definitely falls under 'National Defense'. And keeps those imbeciles who think they're world powers from flexing muscles.

[aSkeptic]

this is a fantastic possiblity
:(

[RightWhale]

This is a somewhat sobering article

Modality zero. Neither India nor Pakistan is so unsophisticated as to confuse an asteroid with a nuke strike. The explosion over the Indian Ocean actually was a nuke test as it turns out.

[spodefly]

Asteroids are a problem, but lets not forget about the Klingons on Uranus ...

[johnny7]

"The resulting tidal wave could inundate shorelines for hundreds of miles and potentially kill millions,"

Kool! Most of the liberals live nearby a seaport.

They drive slow-moving economy cars.

I'll honk the horn when I put the hammer down.

The air-bags should keep me afloat for a while.

[SunkenCiv]