U.S. Test-Fires ICBMs To Stress Its Power To Russia, North Korea

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

By David Alexander
7 hours ago

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (Reuters) - The U.S. military test-fired its second intercontinental ballistic missile in a week on Thursday night, seeking to demonstrate its nuclear arms capacity at a time of rising strategic tensions with Russia and North Korea.

The unarmed Minuteman III missile roared out of a silo at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California late at night, raced across the sky at speeds of up to 15,000 mph (24,000 kph) and landed a half hour later in a target area 4,200 miles (6,500 km) away near Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands of the South Pacific.

Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work, who witnessed the launch, said the U.S. tests, conducted at least 15 times since January 2011, send a message to strategic rivals like Russia, China and North Korea that Washington has an effective nuclear arsenal.

"That’s exactly why we do this," Work told reporters before the launch.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/u-test-fire-icbm-amid-strategic-tensions-russia-004953374.html

[jberryhill]

1. Threat displays of the Sandhill Crane

This bird-watching blog captures the fascinating sequence of ritualistic displays which occur between male Sandhill Cranes:

http://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2014/04/01/sandhill-crane-threat-displays/





More at the link, with commentary by the photographer.

Fascinating stuff.

[Purveyor]

4. A couple of years ago, we had a pair of sandhills that frequented my back acreage and they hatched a

little one.

I walked up on them by surprise, both them and me, and talk about aggressive. You haven't lived until you have daddy sandhill come running at you with his wings full-spread.

I'm just glad the was a shed nearby that I could retreat to.

They are a delight to watch but the fucking coyotes are doing a number on them.

[lsewpershad]

2. But

no one else should do this.... only exceptional America the right to.

[Cassiopeia]

3. Wonder how much this costs us.

According to Wikipedia this cost $7,000,000 just for the missile. Boeing must be so very happy with the contract.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGM-30_Minuteman

All for a public display that no country in the world denies we have the ability to do.

$105 million in missile costs alone since 2011.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

5. Thats some expensive dick-waving

But no money for social services or infrastructure at home; because that'd be the dreaded 'spectre of socialism'

[warrprayer]

9. ...

[awoke_in_2003]

6. Big money in war. nt

[Cassiopeia]

7. This isn't even war.

This is just a demonstration of capability. Firing off a missile for the sake of firing one off.

[awoke_in_2003]

8. Oh, it is war...

it is war against us. We can't have nice things because we have the war pig to feed.

[Reter]

10. Can't blame Bush for this one

Obama has some 'splaning to do.