The system, known as GMD, has cost taxpayers more than $40 billion since it was declared operational in 2004. It is being expanded at a rapid pace despite stubborn technical problems that have undermined its reliability.
Nothing like a $40 billion albatross to keep those defense contracting companies fat and happy. But let those "fiscal conservatives" bitch about how feeding the poor is government waste. Sheesh.
Missile defense is a terrible boondoggle and, in a strategic sense, highly destabilizing. A nation that can defend itself against an attack by nuclear-armed missiles has no disincentive to launch such an attack itself.
The upside? Right here: Look at that climbing stock price (tripled in five years!) and nice regular dividends.
Nothing like a $40 billion albatross to keep those defense contracting companies fat and happy. But let those "fiscal conservatives" bitch about how feeding the poor is government waste. Sheesh.
Missile defense is a terrible boondoggle and, in a strategic sense, highly destabilizing. A nation that can defend itself against an attack by nuclear-armed missiles has no disincentive to launch such an attack itself.
The upside? Right here: Look at that climbing stock price (tripled in five years!) and nice regular dividends.
https://www.google.com/finance?q=RAYTHEON MISSILE…
Hey! They paid my brother's salary for 5 years! It was a success!
I had my snout in the DoD trough for many years and don't look down it at anyone else in a similar situation,.
This is an excellent reason for not funding zika virus research!
Interesting case: the North Korean missiles don't work, and the US missile defenses don't work.
Boondoggles like this are the very reason we can't have nice Death Stars.