U.S. Says Missile Shield Intercept Successful

[Bluezoo]

U.S. Says Missile Shield Intercept Successful
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE


A U.S. Navy missile over the Pacific intercepted a target missile, which the military said Feb. 24 was the fifth successful test of a system to shield North America.

The Navy said the Standard Missile 3 interceptor is designed to destroy medium- to long-range missiles on the fly.

The Navy launched the target missile from the Hawaiian island of Kauai and launched the Standard Missile 3 from the guided missile cruiser Lake Erie about 100 miles (160 kilometers) away, according to a statement.



The Aegis missiles collided, using the same technology as a ground-based system designed to destroy long-range missiles and used by Army’s Patriot system.

Also on Feb. 24, Canada announced it would not participate in the U.S. system because of broad domestic opposition.

Ottawa had been mulling its stand on the U.S. missile defense program for more than a year, and political analysts expected the decision.

The Pentagon is seeking a 20 percent boost in funding for the program, from $7.7 billion this year to $9.2 billion in 2005.

Plans calls for deploying 20 ground-based interceptor missiles and up to 10 sea-based missiles by the end of fiscal 2005.

http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=685478&C=america

[Bluezoo]

Canada Says U.S. Must Consult Before Missile Launch
By *******, OTTAWA


Canada, which this week refused to join a U.S. missile system designed to protect North America, nevertheless insisted Feb. 25 that Washington must consult it before firing rockets into Canadian airspace.

“This is our space, our airspace. We’re a sovereign nation and you don’t intrude on a sovereign nation’s airspace without seeking permission,” Prime Minister Paul Martin told reporters.

Martin, under heavy political pressure, said on Feb. 24 that Canada would not be signing up for the missile defense system, despite urging by U.S. President George W. Bush.



The U.S. ambassador to Canada said he was perplexed by the decision, which he described as an abdication of Canadian sovereignty.

The system is designed to protect against attacks by U.S. adversaries such as North Korea. The first interceptor missiles have been installed in special bases in Alaska.

“I don’t think that anybody expected that there would be any other finger on a button than the Americans but in terms of Canadian airspace, yes, we would expect to be consulted,” Martin said.

The opposition Conservatives mocked Martin’s comments, saying they were totally unrealistic.

“This is delusional. There are only minutes available for a decision. How can the prime minister realistically believe the U.S. will consult him before firing their interceptor missiles?” party defense spokesman Gordon O’Connor asked Parliament.

Canada agreed last year that information from the two nations’ joint NORAD aerospace defense command could be transmitted to the missile defense network. Defense experts say this means Ottawa is already playing a role in the system.

Martin came to power in December 2003 saying he backed the idea of signing on to missile defense. But he lost his parliamentary majority in the June 2004 election and the survival of his government depends on a minority party opposed to the system.

http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=685841&C=america

[ZaakM433]

the canadian martin changed his mind because he has been smoking too much weed as of late...

[EvanL]

the canadian martin changed his mind because he has been smoking too much weed as of late...
save your retarded comments for the off/topic. We dont like the guy too much up here, but saying because he smokes weed is childish.

[ZaakM433]

the canadian martin changed his mind because he has been smoking too much weed as of late...
save your retarded comments for the off/topic. We dont like the guy too much up here, but saying because he smokes weed is childish.

It wouldnt have been for the humor part, but your reply to what i said was also childish. Sometimes i forget im not on off/topic ;)

[EvanL]

the canadian martin changed his mind because he has been smoking too much weed as of late...
save your retarded comments for the off/topic. We dont like the guy too much up here, but saying because he smokes weed is childish.

It wouldnt have been for the humor part, but your reply to what i said was also childish. Sometimes i forget im not on off/topic ;)
If your referring to my use of the word retarded as being childish. Its not as much childish as it is ignorant. Ive been trying to use the word less and less lately, but when people say things like you said, it comes out as truly retarded and i just cannot help myself but to use the word.