Iron Dome Question

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Let me preface my remarks by saying I believe science in largely value free...If scientists say the earth is 238,900 miles from the moon, it's 238,900 miles from the moon, regardless of their political bent.

I have seen reports that the Iron Dome is ninety percent effective and I have seen reports that it is ninety five percent ineffective. These propositions are mutually exclusive.

[unblock]

1. as with the distance from earth to moon, it probably depends on the day.

[rock]

2. I take it you think these reports are from scientists and that is why you are confused?

Why do you think that? (if you do)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. I should verify it myself

I saw a post that said a study by the Brookings Institution found them to be largely ineffective. I also saw a post that said they were ninety percent effective.

[rock]

5. Good advice

Incidentally, I would be extremely cautious of polls or studies found on the internet. Probably goes without saying, huh?

[oberliner]

4. Depends how one defines "effective"

Those who say it is largely ineffective base that claim on the fact that it only destroys a small percentage of rockets.

Those who say it is largely effective base that claim by saying the system is designed to only destroy a small percentage of rockets.

[tkmorris]

6. "Designed to destroy only a small percentage of rockets"

Sounds like an expensive boondoggle to me.

[oberliner]

8. A lot of folks share your point of view

I am just saying that the people who claim it's effective argue that it is designed only to intercept rockets whose trajectory would take them to a highly populated area. The 90 percent figure used by those who claim it is effective refers to 90 percent of those such rockets - not of the totality of rockets fired - thus explaining how it is possible to claim effective and others to claim not effective based on the same results.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. I'm confused

How do the operators of Iron Dome know which incoming rockets to try and intercept and which not to?

How do they know where they are heading?

[oberliner]

17. Good question

I guess the system is able to tell based on the trajectory? I'm sure there is a person or website with far more knowledge about this than I've got.

[joeglow3]

15. So, people claim it's ineffective because it doesn't intercept rockets it isn't trying to intercept?

[oberliner]

16. The claim it's ineffective because it intercepts so few rockets

The vast majority of rockets are not intercepted.

[joeglow3]

19. That argument makes zero sense

Maybe people are trying to argue if it is cost-efficient.

However, it appears to be pretty damn efficient at knocking down what it is trying to knock down.

[oberliner]

20. I'm sure someone could make the argument much better than I could

I am just going on what I have read on the subject. If anyone with more insights wants to chime in - I would encourage them to do so.

[enid602]

10. iron dome

It might be a better approach to improve relations with your neighbors; that way, you would not need the protection. BTW, I think the 'iron dome' has been largely effective only because the rockets it has intercepted are a bit crude. I don't know how it would fare against more sophisticated rockets.

[hack89]

13. If you think Israel's actions in Gaza were excessive

imagine the carnage if hundreds of Israelis were dying daily due to rocket attacks. Gaza would be leveled and reoccupied. The casualties would be astronomical. That is what Iron Dome brings to the table - by negating Hamas' rockets, it prevents the conflict to moving up to the next level.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. What good is a anti-missile system that doesn't destroy all or almost all of the incoming missiles?

It would seem that even if a fraction get through the results would be catastrophic.

[oberliner]

9. From Wikipedia

Iron Dome was declared operational and initially deployed on 27 March 2011 near Beersheba.[12] On 7 April 2011, the system successfully intercepted a Grad rocket launched from Gaza for the first time.[13] On 10 March 2012, The Jerusalem Post reported that the system shot down 90% of rockets launched from Gaza that would have landed in populated areas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Dome

[bigwillq]

11. It can be 100 percent effective

in fending off terrorist attacks or alien invasions or whatever.

I still don't support the USA paying for it.

[YarnAddict]

18. Since it is completely defensive

I have no problem the with the US paying for it. It saves lives.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

12. File under: Lies, damned lies and statistics.

[Shenonymous]

21. If Iron Dome is as full of holes as a sieve

If the Iron Dome protection system in Israel is ineffective, why is there little or no evidence of buildings and roads, etc., being destroyed?