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Picketers protest cost of Vandenberg missile launch

June 23, 2014

vandenberg air forceA group of people upset about the high cost of the United States’ ground-based missile defense program protested this weekend at Vandenberg Air Force Base. [KSBY]

Launched in 2004 by the George W Bush administration, the program has already cost more than $40 billion. Sunday’s launch cost approximately $200 million.

In five of eight previous tests, the missiles failed to intercept targets.

On Sunday, for the first time, the missile intercepted a simulated incoming missile over the Pacific Ocean. The missile was the first to include a second-generation intercept booster.

Nevertheless, opponents of the program say the money would be better spent on education, veteran services and sustainability projects.

Proponents of the program, say it is vital in protecting the United States from future attacks.


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It’s always too expensive and too inept. No “bang for the buck” (sometimes literally); yet, the first missile to be fired from a modified cargo ship towards the U.S. will have people quickly changing their minds. That test-fire back in November of 2011(?) or so – the one off the coast of L.A. that they tried to tell us was contrails – that is a healthy reminder that we are completely vulnerable to that kind of attack.


Then again, the military has a long history of misusing taxpayer money all the time, so why should this be any different?


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You have some valid points and questions.


Fact is, this is the technology and archaic thinking of the Cold War. A missile won’t be fired from a modified cargo ship…not when it would be much easier for an enemy to have WMD’s in containers that stroll right into port.


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or walk into texas from mexico


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I agree Slowerfaster, but I’m curious about the Dislike votes to your comment. Perhaps a sign of cognitive dissonance?


“There is no consensus on the exact number of cargo containers arriving in U.S. seaports each year. In a study for the conservative Heritage Foundation, which also support shifting the cost of container security to the private sector, Jena Baker McNeill and Jessica Zuckerman write that there are 11.6 million containers arriving in U.S. ports every year (32,000 each day). ref. http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/incentives-private-industry-risk-based-inspection-cargo-containers


They’re not all being checked – http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/port-security-us-fails-to-meet-deadline-for-scanning-of-cargo-containers/2012/07/15/gJQAmgW8mW_story.html


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