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INWOOD W.V.— West Virginia Republican candidate John Raese on Tuesday outlined his focus on national defense by calling for an extensive laser-based missile defense system.
A very extensive one.
"If there is a rogue missile aimed at our country, we have 33 minutes to figure out what we’re going to do," Raese said at an event sponsored by the League of American Voters. "We are sitting with the only technology in the world that works and it’s laser technology. We need 1000 laser systems put in the sky and we need it right now. That is [of] paramount importance."
Raese said the system would cost $20 billion.
Laser-based technology has been long discussed as a promising method for deterring missiles, but experts say that components of a system like the one Raese described are in the infant stages of research and development and would require the negotiation of staggeringly complex international treaties.
Riki Ellison, the chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, said that Raese appeared to be referring to DPALs (diode pumped alkali lasers), which have shown great promise in the field of missile defense but - at least at current funding levels for the development of such programs - could take two decades to develop. He said that the development of DPAL technology would be accelerated by Raese's proposed budget infusion (the Obama administration recently reduced funding for the Missile Defense Agency). But, he added, deploying that technology in space would require the negotiation of a treaty among world powers.
"That's a significant policy challenge," Ellison said.
Raese's wide-ranging conversation Monday was sponsored by the League of American Voters in association with local Tea Party group Blue Ridge Patriots. In addition to national defense, Raese touched on term limits, the war in Afghanistan, getting rid of the minimum wage and abolishing the IRS and the Department of Energy. About 100 people attended.
If elected, Raese said that on his first day as a senator, he will introduce a “termination and repeal of Obamacare.” He also said he supports making the Bush tax cuts permanent and ensuring that the “cap and trade” bill in the Senate does not become law.
A Blue Ridge Patriot representative said the town hall was advertised on local radio as well as to a list of at least 100 journalists statewide. Most of the crowd seemed to be Raese supporters.
The Patriots invited Raese's Democratic opponent, Gov. Joe Manchin, but they said he respectfully declined the invitation.
Here's the video:
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Raese must know the costs and logistics of such an air defense system. Besides, even with the current technology in our extensive arsenal, 33 minutes to 'decide what to do' is a virtual lifetime. We have several different technologies we can use to blast anything out of the sky over W. Virginia!
I'd put money on the fact that Raese has witnessed the National Press Club meeting concerning UFO's and our nuclear deterrent held on Sept. 27th of this year. It was presented by several missile control officers from missile firing officers all the way up to high ranking officers that oversee entire nuclear bases. They reported their concerns over the ability of UFO's to completely render our missiles inoperative. Their motivation was obviously concerns about our deterrent ability. Russian officers were also present to discuss similar evidence from that country.
A laser-based air defense system would be enough to stop the UFO's from rendering our deterrent (and defense) impotent... perhaps he was just really worked up over this....
http://myufo.com/?p=5501
A laser based air defense system trained on a real UFO just might convince ET to blast the hell out of the utterly ignorant earthlings who they previously dismissed as harmless depraved children.
I certainly wouldn't put it past the utterly corrupt and depraved US Military to go out of their way to spark a war with a ET and all America's end up paying a extremely high price as a consequence.
The jokes are just too easy on this one. I hate to point it out, but I doubt West VA is a high priority target for either North Korea or Iran - it would be a step down. Hey, while were waiting for that rogue missile attack, we can have really cool 4th of July laser light displays. And just maybe the technology will improve cell phone reception in West VA, which if you don't know, really sucks.
From the rest of the world:
Please, don't do this. We don't need another arms race. We don't need a nation (and no doubt soon after implementation to be many more) immune from the reality of M.A.D.
Take care,
The rest of us.
Only a Republican politician in the pocket of the enormous US Military Complex and gigantic defense department private contractors would spew such statements.
This star war's BS was a huge black hole for America's taxpayer dollars during the 1980's Reagan-Bush sr. era.
What his wing-nut doesn't realize is that for 100 dollars, highly reflective paint can be easily and simply applied to any ICBM and it takes many THOUSANDS of more Laser Joules to punch thru it, far more than is available. Russia and China certainly knows that, perhaps someone should clue in the US Military!
America is much more at risk of dwindling fresh water supplies by shrinking snow-packs across the Northwest mountains. Having adequate drinking water is a strategic need for America's city's and metro-areas, civilizations have either died or moved in mass when adequate amounts of fresh water dried up.
America is facing far more problems in the immediate future than a 'rogue nation' firing a single ICBM xenophobia.
Dwindling Strategic mineral natural resources.
Dwindling Oil field deposits
Dwindling Fresh water for drinking and irrigation
Dwindling Availability to fully embrace alternative electrical power generation.
Dwindling Infra-Structure repairs and capability's.
Dwindling levels of education.
Dwindling levels of health.
Dwindling levels of manufacturing.
Increasing levels of pollution.
Increasing levels of carbon saturation.
Increasing levels of famine.
But oh, let's spend 1 Trillion dollars (actual cost) on another run at Ronald Reagan's Star War's anti-ICBM laser weapon and prompt Russia into another massive arm's war for a Win-Win for the money gulping US Military Complex and it's huge private defense legion of contractors. Been there, done that, NO THANK-YOU.
America is already number one in exporting Military weapons and Death around the entire world, enough is enough. This guy is just fanning the Republican xenophobia fear flag, how original.
That will cut the budget for sure???
You need to look at the ones that have placed so much money into the election that a vote cost over $1,000 dollars, or have flooded the media and landscape with so much promotional advertisement that it has become obscene to the point of not helping their cause anymore. Come on if these candidates think they have better ideas of how to run things and help the country’s debt etc, why do you think they need to spend this much money. But do they really have the best interest of America and it people in mind or are they on a power trip and after getting there don’t really want to be there, they are there just to prove they could do it. Born with money does not tell me a person knows what it is like going into a supermarket each week and deciding on how much can be spend to ensure there is enough left for the other monthly expenses, like heat, electric, rent.
Each candidate that has placed millions into a campaign whether self made or inherit, should have to spend 6 months living on minimum wage salaries and try to live as we do, from paycheck to paycheck.
Call me a conspiracy theorist but I believe the system is already up there and in place over the USA and over Israel and that it has already been tested twice. Once against a single target and once against multiple targets. 20 billion was a small amount to take from the monies allocated to the Iraq war. Now we have to start the cover up because none of those treaties mentioned were even considered when the system was implemented. Ronald Reagan's Star Wars Exists, we have the technology. Did we really send a missile up to destroy a rogue satellite that was of no threat or did we test our defence system against multiple targets? Had to keep it all secret from the rest of the world.
When are americans going to Wake Up. You see, here we go again , back to the same things the republicans did when they were in power. Spend big time on war @!$%# , and forget about the struggles of the working class of america.$ 20 billion my butt , This kind of technology is way out there . They are going to brainwash the gullable people of this country into something like , well , we have to invade Iran before there's a mushroom cloud or something , and you know whats sick, that half of the people in this country will buy into it. So gho ahead you gullable people , put them back in power. Let me say this, you talk about losing your rights and taking back your country, you'll take it back allright and give all of it to war nongers and big corporations. When they cut the crap out of ,or totally eliminate the dept. of education . The school system will go totally in the tank. You see , tht's one way that Hitler took over , by limiting the education of his people . This crap that people are buying into is bizare , The corporations are the ones that wan't to control this country, and they will , and then it will be to late. These republicans, like Jim, Demented, Demint, want to admend the voting rights act, civil rights act, social security, american disabilities act , abolish the minimum wage , even child labor laws. He said all of these things while on the Senate floor. You tea baggers talk about socialists, communists, all the time . This guy is crazy . Wake Up America , they will strip the bill of rights and manipulate the constitution and then it will be to late ,because they will screw with the voting rights act in such a way, that it would be hard ,if not impossible for a lot of people to vote. Watch and see . You puut these people in power and this country's finished.
To quote Barney Fife "He's a NUT".....
These comments are too homogenous in writing style and content. Not taking sides here, but i think one person or a few people with an agenda are leaving multiple comments with multiple pseudonyms.
WOW! So much racial profiling about West Virginians going on here, I decided to put my $.02 in. We do love to hunt, fish and enjoy many other outdoor activities that our beautiful state provides us access to. Our homes and personal safety are protected by Colt, Smith & Wesson and a vast array of other firearm manufacturers. We shoot our guns at targets, deer, bear, boar, squirrels, and anything else you can eat or take to the taxidermist, not to mention you will be staring at the end of a 1911 if you attempt come into our homes unwelcome. We proudly provide about 50% of coal to the United States and as the slogan goes, "We keep the lights on". Some of us work in the coal industry because we have nowhere else to turn, others do it for the cause they believe in or to carry on a family tradition. I say we need to respect all cases and thank them for risking their life daily to supply our country with a lot of the electricity that we have grown to love so much. How would your life differ if we had, say, nuclear energy and every time the power went out, it lasted for days, such as our President's home state? We have the most reliable power grid on the planet. The majority of our economy is based on the coal industry and has fueled us through the Bush administration's royal screwing of our Great Country. We have seen cutbacks, but nothing like the rest of the country. Coal keeps millions of people working, directly and indirectly, and billions of dollars into the economy. So before you go spouting off about our "hillbilly" ways and our "redneck" attitudes, think about where the power is coming from that turned your computer on. We are mocked, teased, and always at the butt of a joke. In general, we keep to ourselves, take care of our families, serve our Lord and Savior and treat everyone with respect no matter where you are from. I am proud to be a West Virginian and the son of a coal miner. The don't call it "Almost Heaven" for no reason.