Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Ronald Reagan's missile defense vision is saving lives in Israel
Washington Examiner ^ | July 16, 2014

Posted on 08/12/2014 5:35:28 PM PDT by grundle

Liberals scoffed in 1983 when President Ronald Reagan first proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative missile defense system. They called it "Star Wars" and claimed the technology was fictional. Other critics took a different tack, arguing that Star Wars would be harmful if it did work because it would upset the delicate nuclear balance between the United States and Soviet Union.

The Soviets depended on the threat of mutual assured destruction in order to maintain diplomatic parity with a wealthier, more advanced adversary. To disturb that balance, some analysts argued, would destabilize the international order. Of course, the Soviets, whose entire system of government was rooted in the use of terror, opposed even a shared American-Soviet missile defense system for precisely this reason.

Three decades after Reagan's landmark proposal, the technical issue is moot. This week, the world has watched Israel's Iron Dome system -- partially funded by the U.S. and incorporating U.S. technology -- perform remarkably well against more than 1,000 Hamas rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. When rockets are launched, Iron Dome calculates almost instantly whether they are headed for populated areas, then intercepts them as needed. The Israeli military says Iron Dome has been 87 to 90 percent effective and is the key reason why there's been only one Israeli civilian fatality.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

1 posted on 08/12/2014 5:35:28 PM PDT by grundle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: grundle

God bless Ronald Reagan and God bless America.


2 posted on 08/12/2014 5:38:33 PM PDT by Hostage (ARTICLE V)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grundle

Liberals may have scoffed at the idea in 1981, but they are plenty torqued off now that Jewish lives ARE being saved.


3 posted on 08/12/2014 5:39:28 PM PDT by freeangel ( (free speech is only good until someone else doesn't like it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grundle

Quite ironic.
I’d love to ask Caliph Baraq how he feels about his “epic” early 80s discourse in the Columbia U. Magazine trashing Reagan and missile defense.


4 posted on 08/12/2014 5:43:45 PM PDT by nascarnation (Toxic Baraq Syndrome: hopefully infecting a Dem candidate near you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grundle
Ronald Reagan's missile defense vision is saving lives in Israel

Hogwash! SDI was invented by BamBam Barry. Why do you think he got the nobel peace prize?

5 posted on 08/12/2014 5:46:14 PM PDT by Veggie Todd (The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. TJ)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grundle

During the 1980s I skipped past the media (that despised and ridiculed it) and past any pathetic attempt that I could make to understand the science, and I studied the Soviet reaction to it, to decide if it was plausible.

The Russians were frantic over it, absolutely and completely frantic and raging over it, they seemed to see it as sure defeat, and so I accepted their science knowledge and their determination for it’s chances of success.


6 posted on 08/12/2014 5:50:03 PM PDT by ansel12 (LEGAL immigrants, 30 million 1980-2012, continues to remake the nation's electorate for democrats)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grundle

But the BIGGEST MISSILE DEFENSE DENIER of the 1980s is still in business.

Claims that nearly all these interceptors are actually MISSING the incoming. One problem though, why no damage in Israel?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/israel-iron-dome-research-intercepts


7 posted on 08/12/2014 5:57:53 PM PDT by BobL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grundle
"Liberals scoffed in 1983 when President Ronald Reagan first proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative missile defense system. They called it "Star Wars" and claimed the technology was fictional."

When are we going to realize that these lefties don't actually believe most of the garbage they spew. Their aim is to get the masses to believe it. Lefties want a weaken America. They don't want the technology to work.

8 posted on 08/12/2014 5:58:12 PM PDT by ETL 2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

I see the resident slanderer has shown up.


9 posted on 08/12/2014 5:58:28 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the earth for a thousand years.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: grundle

The Leftist media mockingly labeled Reagan’s idea “Star Wars” because they thought he was too stupid to know the difference between the movie and reality. The brilliant people in the media sneered that “you can’t hit a missile with a missile.”

They never admitted they were the stupid ones when the first interceptor missiles shot from Vandenberg AFB did hit other missiles in tests over the Pacific. Those old Leftists still around must think about how wrong they were, as they watch the spectacular success of Israel’s Iron Dome. But they will never admit it.


10 posted on 08/12/2014 6:00:51 PM PDT by txrefugee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Balding_Eagle; moder_ator

Don’t stalk people at FR.


11 posted on 08/12/2014 6:01:05 PM PDT by ansel12 (LEGAL immigrants, 30 million 1980-2012, continues to remake the nation's electorate for democrats)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Hostage

SDI was a deciding factor in bringing down the Russians, along with Reagan challenging them all over the globe, and rolling them back, SDI seemed to undercut their foundations at that critical point.


12 posted on 08/12/2014 6:03:50 PM PDT by ansel12 (LEGAL immigrants, 30 million 1980-2012, continues to remake the nation's electorate for democrats)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

I’m not stalking, the mods can check the click path by with I stumbled across a slanderer, you.

Gee, suddenly you’re all worried about appearances.

Where was that worry when you slandered me?

Where was that worry when I gave you chances to back up your slandering, and then you ran away?


13 posted on 08/12/2014 6:05:40 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the earth for a thousand years.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

There is no doubt about that, Russian officials acknowledged as much after the collapse of the Soviet Union. They had no way of matching American technology involved in SDI. Reagan broke the back of the Soviet economy when they tried to keep pace with his military buildup.


14 posted on 08/12/2014 6:07:17 PM PDT by Pelham (California, what happens when you won't deport illegals)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

Be a big girl, I never called the mods on you for slandering me.

Rather than call the mods, I gave you a chance to prove it wasn’t slander, instead you chose to run away.


15 posted on 08/12/2014 6:07:54 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the earth for a thousand years.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Balding_Eagle; Admin Moderator

Seriously stalking, you need to stop it.


16 posted on 08/12/2014 6:08:50 PM PDT by ansel12 (LEGAL immigrants, 30 million 1980-2012, continues to remake the nation's electorate for democrats)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Pelham
There is no doubt about that, Russian officials acknowledged as much after the collapse of the Soviet Union. They had no way of matching American technology involved in SDI.,/i>

Yep, and Reagan played it masterfully.

17 posted on 08/12/2014 6:10:24 PM PDT by ansel12 (LEGAL immigrants, 30 million 1980-2012, continues to remake the nation's electorate for democrats)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: txrefugee
Those old Leftists still around must think about how wrong they were, as they watch the spectacular success of Israel’s Iron Dome. But they will never admit it.

No, they will crack a bottle of wine from their collection while they listen to Prairie Home Companion, and not worry as they are getting a good Pension from some College that your kid can't get in now.....

18 posted on 08/12/2014 6:12:36 PM PDT by taildragger (Not my Circus, Not my Monkey ( Boy does that apply to DC...))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

All contributions are for the current quarter expenses.



FReepathon day 42.

Two percent a day keeps the 404 away.

19 posted on 08/12/2014 6:24:44 PM PDT by RedMDer (May we always be happy and may our enemies always know it. - Sarah Palin, 10-18-2010)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: grundle

There were some really cool ideas that were under development during those days. Sadly, only a very few made it to the field...due to the usual culprits, i.e., funding constraints, changing administrations, etc. Congress (both sides) think you can develop the tech and shelve it. And then turn on full scale production at a moment’s notice.


20 posted on 08/12/2014 6:32:46 PM PDT by SueRae (It isn't over. In God We Trust.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson