One bizarre aspect of the debate--reference to Reagan's SDI program

[jpgray]

How was this plan positive in any sense of the word? Wasn't it widely ridiculed as "star wars" by the press, hemorrhaging money to no purpose? Is McCain trying to connect it to current "missile defense shield" efforts?

[blogslut]

1. Moreover, McSame's claim that SDI helped to bring about the end of Communist Russia

I thought the main reason the old regime fell was because Russia bankrupted itself - their war in Afghanistan being the final nail in the coffin. Did the Russians spend a bunch of money trying to compete with Ronnie's big rayguns?

[jpgray]

4. True, military spending was thought by some to play a role, but SDI?

Or is this a sort of revisionist history all-for-one grab, linking himself to Reagan, promoting missile-defense fantasy, and justifying outrageous military spending?

[abumbyanyothername]

9. Falling commodity prices, brought about by

US conservation efforts did in the USSR our last "big enemy."

There is a lesson here "national security" folks, and we don't have to wait for our government to lead.

/s/ A former driver, living the carfree life.

[lumpy]

10. I caught McCain's reference to SDI and his ridiculous claim

that it caused the USSR decline. That jerk will say anything to keep Reagan's balls rolling.

[grannie4peace]

2. to stop others from bombing us????

[Vincardog]

3. SDI = "star wars" = to current "missile defense shield" They have been pissing way our money for

decades on this military fantasy.

[TheKentuckian]

5. Some believe that the threat of SDI made the Russians

fold because it was too far for them to go to reach parity.

[yardwork]

20. The Soviets folded because of their own mismanagement.

Some people give the U.S. much too much credit for the Soviet's demise. In any case, the Russians are still around.

[kenny blankenship]

6. We spent billions and billions on it

it must have stimulated somebody's economy.

Anyone?

[yardwork]

19. We never did. It was never funded - that we know of, anyway.

We spend billions every year in "black" (off the books) defense, but as far as they told us, SDI was never funded and never initiated.

[insanity]

7. I think the SDI theroy is bogus

The USSR was going bankrupt and the satellite states were falling apart.

[SoxFan]

8. All we needed was A Flock of Seagulls playing in the background

SDI, evil Ruskies, Reagan references...cripes, I felt like I was back in high school.

[FatDave]

11. Tell you anything baout where McCain's heart and mind are?

Fucker's probably got the Footloose soundtrack in the Straight Talk Express.

[SoxFan]

12. No, Kevin Bacon's a Democrat

Probably a videotape of "Conan the Barbarian".

[FatDave]

15. Maybe one of those cheesy cold war comedies with the comically inept russians?

[smoochpooch]

13. I have heard the rationale that missile defense will force China to spend money on defense

instead of investing it in their economy, although I don't see how their increased spending on defense is a good thing.

The system itself had long been considered a gigantic failure, with poor test results in even the simplest simulations. It was first dreamed up in the '50s, but really became associated with Reagan. I believe even the Clinton administration continued to fund the program. I seem to recall that they had 1 test a couple years ago that wasn't a complete failure, but often the test is rigged to make the system look better.

It seems like a good idea to destroy ICBMs before they hit our cities. Unfortunately, we've been spending billions on it it for 30-plus years.

The other consideration is how a shield would affect our relations with other nations, especially Russia. We are asking for access to their fissile material and old nukes to prevent them from being stolen or sold to terrorists. Now, we turn around and tell them, "We're withdrawing from anti-ballistic missile treaty, and we're going to build a shield where you will be not be able to retaliate if we decide to attack you. Please allow us access to your military sites." Would you allow it if you were Russia?

[FatDave]

14. Reading this jogged my memory about something else.

McCain brought up the KGB. I think it was supposed to be super-scary. The man really is stuck in the 80's.

[jpgray]

16. Good point--I think the negatives of having spent 25 years in the Senate are showing

Along with being really horribly old, of course. :D

[Gold Metal Flake]

17. Further on the KGB reference.

McCain stole his reference to Putin from Powell.

One gem which the audience enjoyed was the retelling of Powell and President Bush's first encounters with Russian President Vladimir Putin. As Powell recalled it after the meeting he and Bush were reviewing events and comparing notes and seemingly they disagreed. At one point Bush looked at his Secretary of State and said (with a suitable Texas twang) "Powell, I looked into Putin's eyes and I saw his soul" to which Powell replied: "Mr. President, I looked into President Putin's eyes and I saw the KGB".

[FatDave]

18. HE'S A PLAGIARIST!!! (nt)