Kim - I disagree. The SM-3 HAS been tested, and performed admirably in shooting down a satellite last year. I've got little difficulty in accepting this change - IF it actually goes off, and I've got some pretty damn significant doubts that's going to actually happen. (Hell, all you've got to do is look at NASA and what THEY keep promising.)

If it DOESN'T come off, then Obama's essentially screwed Poland and the Czech Republic in favor of Russia. But then again, since they aren't dictatorships he probably figures they don't deserve to exist independently in the first place.

Thanks, JLawson. I added your comment above.

The "Washington Examiner" is one of the latest Faux news sources created by right wing media mavens to trick the American populace into thinking they are reading "news." It's isn't "news" - it's right wing propaganda.

In late May 2008, it was announced that Townhall.com managing editor, FOX News contributor, and national columnist Mary Katharine Ham will be made online editor of the all new "dcexaminer.com."

It's a right wing blog pretending to be a newspaper - and it's a free newspaper, funded by right wing interests. It's a sham.

I guess Vic is for the Huff Post being in the press pool? OH! That's different.

Vic, are you that lazy that you cannot check out stuff for yourself? You are so immature coming out on such a serious topic spewing childish rants. Go play now. Leave the grown ups be.

I think Putin wants Russia to become a superpower again. He will ally with Iran, Venz and N. Korea. When this happens, our allies will be defenseless. Obama did it to pay his backer GE off. Obama sold us out. ww

Wow, again with the 'attack the messenger' trolling. It's like the trolls have become content-free parodies of themselves.

Actually, someone researched the stockholders of Halliburton and found quite a few dems (even MA dems)heavily invested in the company. Why else do you think their name was mentioned but no real action to block them?

The "Washington Examiner" is owned by oil baron Philip Anscutz.

Philip Frederick Anschutz (born 28 December 1939 in Russell, Kansas) is an American businessman. With an estimated current[update] net worth of around $7.8 billion, he is ranked by Forbes as the 31st richest person in the USA.

Anschutz benefited smartly from his support of Repubican causes and specifically George W. Bush.

In May 2001, the Bush administration upheld Anschutz's right to drill an exploratory oil well at Weatherman Draw, in south-central Montana where Native American tribes wanted to preserve sacred rock drawings. Environmental groups, preservationists, and 10 Indian tribes had appealed the decision without success.

Anschutz has his fingers deep into the Republican propaganda machine.

Anschutz, a Republican donor and supporter of George W. Bush's administration, has been an active patron of a number of religious and conservative causes:

* Helped fund Colorado's 1992 Amendment 2, a ballot initiative designed to overturn local and state laws that prohibit discrimination against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation.[13]
* Helped fund the Discovery Institute, a think tank based in Seattle, Washington that promotes intelligent design and criticizes evolution. [14]
* Supported the Parents Television Council, a group that protests against what they believe to be television indecency.[14]
* Financed and distributed Christian films, such as Amazing Grace and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, for mass audiences through his two film production companies and ownership of much of the Regal, Edwards and United Artists theater chains. In addition, as a producer Anschutz reportedly required the removal of certain material related to drug use and sex in the 2004 film Ray because he found it objectionable.[14][15]
* Financed The Foundation for a Better Life.
* In June, 2009, reports circulated that Anschutz was on the verge of purchasing the conservative American opinion magazine The Weekly Standard from Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. The reports reasoned that, having purchased The Wall Street Journal in 2007, Murdoch's interest in the smaller publication had been less forceful.[16][17] For Anschutz' part, the magazine's editorial line would appear consonant with his political views.

THAT's the news source that is reporting that GE is in Obama's pockets (or vice versa).

It's right wing propaganda posing as legitimate news.

First of all, if Obamalala was so concerned about a system tested and proved before it is commissioned and installed. And, it was as important as defense against a potential attack. What in the hell is he doing with every other policy he is pushing? None of them have ever worked anywhere, anyway, anyhow. To treat our allies that have stood with us to their own peril in such a disrespectful and insulting manner there can be only one answer to his arrogant behavior. America is wrong and has been wrong at every point in our history. And, he is going to change that. Jack W. hand picked the CEO and COB successor after he took GE to it's zenith. To watch the share holders tolerate the nose dive it has taken is puzzling. Thanks Jack. The only good I see in any of this is that Obamalala is becoming so obvious the American people seem to have awakened from their sleep or trance that allowed him to be elected. And that's the only good thing in all of this.

Obama is no leader but he sure does know how to pay off his political debts. (unions, Black Panthers, Gov, Richardson, acorn until the expose, etc).

I've got a bad feeling that what we are seeing here is the most incompetent, most corrupt presidency in modern times.

"The "Washington Examiner" is owned by oil baron Philip Anscutz."

That's just brilliant logic there, JFO, er, I mean Vic.

The Washington Post is substantially owned by Obama benefactor Warren Buffett, who also owns massive stakes in GE.

This guy is making Jimmy (peanut brain) Carter look like a smart man. What will be the next thing stupid thing that Barry will do? Sell out Japan and South Korea to the Norks or maybe Taiwan to Red China? He has been doing everything that Carter wanted to do, but after the Iran Hostage debacle, he (Carter) was scared to

"I've got a bad feeling that what we are seeing here is the most incompetent, most corrupt presidency in modern times."

Or any other time.

So the criteria for what is an effective missile defense system hinges on whether Kim Priestap has heard of it before.

Obama told us yesterday that this was all about a faster and better missile defense system. It was a missile system we have never heard of before yesterday.

I haven't heard of it therefore it doesn't exist?

A missile system that has never been tested thoroughly from ships (JLawson commented below that the SM-3 missile has been tested once when it shot down satellite. How it will perform against a weapon is an entirely different matter).

I wait with baited breath for Kim Priestap's next analysis. Hopefully it will be on a subject she's heard of before.

"It's right wing propaganda posing as legitimate news."

And ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN are fully independent and unbiased in their reporting. Right?

No Vic, Barry's just paying back his friends. With a "future system" not yet built, not yet tested and will be "on-line" in 2015. Yep. That'll happen. Government development programs always come in, on time and on budget.
And what, Vic, did we GET from the Russians, seeing as they were the one's complaining about the missile system in the first place?

Oh, and speaking of Haliburton. Can any of you libs tell me why the Democrats NEVER had a problem with their no-bid contracts during Clinton's little excursion into the Balkans?

NBC and its divisions are a wholly owned subsidiary of General Electric as is the movie giant Universal Pictures. This outfit will definitely get preferential treatment. This relationship with the Obama crowd will make Haliburton look like small timers.

Speaking of Haliburton, this company was once owned by Lyndon Baines Johnson and the construction part --Brown and Root -- was wholly owned by Lady Bird Johnson. So don't hand me that crap about Haliburton being a Republican shill.

And regarding the comment about "attacking the messengers" - the messenger is the message.

The "reporting" that Kim linked to isn't a report or news story, it's an opinion column.

Kim's article is totally devoid of "facts' (except for the one fact interjected by a commenter). She even clearly indicates that she herself knows nothing about the subject of missile defense systems.

It's all "opinion" - it's all "the messenger's message".

Addressing who the messengers are and what there agenda is - and how much they know about the subject at hand - is not an attack.

"NBC and its divisions are a wholly owned subsidiary of General Electric as is the movie giant Universal Pictures. This outfit will definitely get preferential treatment."

It'll be interesting to see if NBC editorializes in favor of Obama's missiple plan the same way the right wing propaganda system is editorializing against it.

What's the axe the right wing is grinding against GE? Why is big oil interested in slamming GE?

GE -- a member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, which advocates cap and trade -- leads the push for greenhouse gas restrictions.

GE is a thorn in the oil industry's side - and according to the report above the owner of the Washington Examiner is an oil giant?

It's all "opinion"

Isn't that what blogs are all about. An "opinion" backed by facts?

Barry gave up a missile shield program, promising to replace it with one yet to be developed. The Russians were the one's complaining about the missile shield. Barry gave it up. Political move. What did we get in return from Russia? Next day, friends of Barry suddenly get invited to Russia to "discuss things".

Ok, ASSHOLE....WHAT DID WE GET IN RETURN?
ANSWER THE FUCKING QUESTION OR FUCK OFF!

I'm sorry, the AEGIS/SM-3 system has been developed, fully tested and fully deployed by the US. Whenever the Democrats whine about missile defense not working, this system is held up as the absolute proof they're wrong. The Japanese are buying it for defense against North Korea and the Israelis want it for defense against Iran. Neither country is easy to fool on this sort of thing.

The Poles do have a right to be upset over the switch, since it's clear they weren't consulted while Obama negotiated with the Russians. So much for "smart diplomacy". The Poles are less right to be upset at what they're being offered, since it's probably the right system to deploy if all you're worried about is protecting Eastern Europe.

Western Europe or the US? That's fair to criticize. SM-3s are useless there.

Sorry, Kim, Obama is still a putz, but he didn't cancel missile defense for the Poles, he just right sized it. You should probably stick to posting about things you know about.

(BTW, the rumor is that this deal was a way to protect Eastern Europe and allow Russian politicians who argued against missile defense to save face at home. What did we get besides what we wanted in the first place? According to the rumor, a commitment from the Russians not to sell their latest anti-aircraft system to Iran. Don't know if it's true, but that might be a fair trade. If Obama had let the Poles in on what we were doing, of course.)

And, of course, that last comment is on the wrong post. Need new bifocals, sorry.

"What did we get besides what we wanted in the first place? According to the rumor, a commitment from the Russians not to sell their latest anti-aircraft system to Iran."

Don't you think Barry would be crowing about that right about now?

This makes me wonder how many secret offshore bank accounts are being padded now for certain folks retirement years.

The corruption is overflowing D.C.

Stan25

"...Brown and Root -- was wholly owned by Lady Bird Johnson."

Haven't heard B&R's name since Vietnam. Seeing as they were the prime contractor over there. Coincidence?

Uh - if you check GE's annual reports, you'll see that they've been building operations in Russia for the last 10 years which puts the bulk of the groundwork under Bushski. Nothing to see here - move along kiddies.

"f you check GE's annual reports, you'll see that they've been building operations in Russia for the last 10 years which puts the bulk of the groundwork under Bushski. Nothing to see here - move along kiddies."

Yeah, and Putin put a stop to any more business.

Until now.

If it was a political move, WHAT DID WE GET FROM THE RUSSIANS?

I am all for It I bought 15,000 shares of GE at 6-7 dollar range.

invesotr:
That's too bad. You could have picked it up for only $5.87 on March 4th.

HEY STEVIE!

Here's your answer in case you couldn't find it. From a source you can 'trust'. The NYT's:

"The Obama decision on Thursday replaced the Bush administration antimissile plan with a reconfigured system focused on short- and medium-range missiles. Mr. Putin and other Russian officials who spoke to reporters on Friday did not say whether Russia would respond with concessions to the United States."

Got that Stevie? NO CONCESSIONS!
Is this some of that Obama "Smart Diplomacy"?

I am loving the left winger whacko's today. The comments are oozing desperation of trying to make sense of the unsensible.

To sum up: Obama is an inexperienced empty suit with NO leadership experience. What we see is what conservatives always knew. Palin was more experienced then this fool. Obama is so unable and incapable of fullfilling his duties, except he hold many tv interviews because he thinks he can charm america to go against what they know is right. Well, that only worked on the democrats and independents last election. Now the independents have awakened and realize they been had. Fast forward to today and the left wing whacko's can't handle the news. ww

The ties with Halliburton were past tense in Cheney's case. These folks in Obama's team have concurrent ties with GE. In other words, Cheney did not benefit from Halliburton's gains while he was VP. Obama's team will gain from GE's gains.

Is Obama right for the wrong reason?

1.I mean, should we really be setting up defenses for these countries anyway?

2.With our economy tanking do we need to spend the money on another country?

3.If the left is correct, then the rest of the world doesn't like us because they see us as bullies. So this move would partly show the kinder, gentler US that Obama promised them.

I HATE that we are leaving allies possibly open to attack for another 3-10 years, we SHOULD keep our word even from one administration to another.

But look, either we fight a war to win or we bring our forces home. We do not need to station people overseas and we should not be running defense for other countries (unless it is Iraq where the lack of defense is our/saddam's fault).

If we are not going to fight a war on terror to win, then stop fighting and bring them home. Lets get out of Europe and the Middle east and let them work it out themselves.

In the meantime we arm ourselves to the teeth and protect our own borders. If the rest of the world thinks we are imperialist for staying after the fight then lets leave them to sort it out on their own. We have our own problems to deal with at the moment.

Of course, I predict that Taiwan will be going under the bus any moment but we should give them fair warning and get out of the way. Let China try to take Asia over, let them slug it out with Russia, lets bring everyone home and protect ourselves here while we fix our broken systems (health, economy, and who is in charge of the government).

In answer to my questions above:

1. Ideally? No we should not set up defenses for other countries, let them buy the tech from us or let their neighbors do it. We need to abandon the UN and stop being the worlds Police.

2. We need to keep what highly inflated money we have left in this country. What are we getting from the Pols and Cheks other than democratic governments in Eastern Europe?

3. We fix our own problems and when the rest of the world falls flat on its face they will call to us for help. Of course at the same time they will say how evil we are for abandoning the rest of the world. They don't hate us because we are bullies, or because we are imperialists. They hate us because they are jealous of the richest and best country in the world. If we pull completely out of the Middle East and the terrorists don't stop harrassing us then it will shut the left up about playing nice and show that Bin Laden is a hypocrite.

I'm torn.

If the new system is better I'm all for it, but it is hard to believe anything that Obama says any more. He denies even things that are on tape, in order to make sure you understand what he REALLY means and not what he said in the past he makes certain to preface every statement with "Let me be perfectly clear..."

Of course that statement really means "You are a moron and don't know what is good for you, so I'm going to dance around with words to appease you rather than stating exactly what I mean."

/rant

JustRuss - I share your frustration. Unfortunately, the world is a complicated place with very unpredictable people.

As for isolation. Well, we learned the hard way about "letting others do their own thing" in 1939.

Don't have the answers your seeking. If I did, maybe I'd run for Barry's job. At least when I said something, I'd mean it.

Move along, nothing to see here....

Except GE's CEO being on obama's financial team.

Except GE stands to gain as much, or more than any other company if and when the cap and trade bill gets signed.

Except NBC & MSNBC, wholly owned by GE, went on an orgy of "Green" to the point of nausea by changing network colors to green, airing 24 straight hours of "green" propaganda etc.

Yeah, move along right?

Psssst... what changed obama's mind since Sept. 2008?

Now he tossed the Poles and the Czechs to the wolves.

Last year he specifically said he wouldn't do what he has done, when asked specifically if he would pull out Bush missile def system he replied "not if it works."

Well, it works, at least as well in the testing phase as obama's SM-3 system. Not to mention Bush's system is much further along and can be deployed earlier.

Number one, I'm a Rep. and the more crap I hear from people like you makes me just want to support our President more. Two, lets start getting behind our government and if you want to have tunnel vison then just come up with something solid rather than putting this administration down. Example: Instead of using three ships, complain that a minium of X number would be needed. This is a more versitile plan and can be moved or removed to a hotter spot in the event Iran ever joins the civilized world. People like you are too short sided.

Mike Alan - "...the more crap I hear from people like you makes me just want to support our President more."

Who are "people like you?"

"Two, lets start getting behind our government and if you want to have tunnel vison then just come up with something solid rather than putting this administration down."

There are several alternatives suggested in this thread, what's that matter, tunnel vision on your part?

"Example: Instead of using three ships, complain that a minium [sic] of X number would be needed. This is a more versitile [sic] plan and can be moved or removed to a hotter spot in the event Iran ever joins the civilized world."

Military strategy and capabilities is not you strong suit.

I've asked before here it is again because you either didn't read it or have a comprehension problem.

Bush's plan requires several land based platforms with the major cost being the deployment and after that only periodic maintenance plus military pay that must be paid regardless of were men and women are located.

Obama's plan REQUIRES AT MINIMUM 2-3 AEGIS cruisers. For each one it requires one Carrier, one Ohio class sub, at least one fueling ship, at least one dry stores ship and 2 Destroyer class ship.

In order to be effective they MUST be on station 24/7 365 days each year at a cost of several hundred million dollars per year.

mike allen, not to put too fine a point on it but... you're clueless about military capabilities, I suggest you move along now.

Well Mike Allen, I do agree with one thing. Getting behind Obama and the people in his administration.

IF WE'RE BEHIND THEM, THEY CAN'T STAB US IN THE BACK!