You want a cite for the proposition that an American aircraft can be brought down by a missile intentionally fired at the aircraft but without radar guidance? Is this the rhetorical equivalent of a drool test?
My first cite is to physics. There is only a finite amount of space out there for the plane and missile to exist in. If the plane and missile exist in the same space at the same time, the missile and plane will collide. (I would have thought that was self-evident, but considering the argument I’m responding to, I’m not taking anything for granted.)
My second cite is to handguns. You know, the bullets fired by handguns are rarely (if ever) radar guided. Yet they seem to hit their targets quite often. (Do I need a cite for this?)
So you refute contortions “attributed” to you with goalline nudging and semantic acrobatics. Interesting. I’d have more respect if you just started using the Chewbacca defense instead.
The threat to Americans, to the extent it even existed, was traded for the reality of 1300+ dead, roughly 6000 permanently maimed. The SA’s and AQA’s of the world claim that’s good. But they’re not the contortionists, no.
Well, hell, while we’re quibling, you wouldn’t happen to have the actual number of US aircraft that Iraqi forces shot down during the actual invasion, would ya? I mean, I figure’s gotta be a lot, what with fighting an invading force and all. I bet they turned on their radar guidence systems and F-16s were just falling down er…left and right all over Baghdag, correct?
BTW, forget the drones of death for a sec – if that’s even possible, I know I’m scarred for life just contemplating the thought – what about the mighty Iraqi Air Force? Mustta given the USAF some nasty dogfights, huh? Dropped tons of ordinance on the advancing hordes did they? And don’t even get me started on the WMDs display they put on! Holy crap! Amazing there’s an American soldier left to tell about it! Yep, no doubt, these are all the “proofs” any sane person needs to realize just what a HUGE THREAT a Third World Nation, devastated by over a decade of sanctions, chaparoned and inspected down to their soiled shorts and with a minute military budget could pose to the greatest military force ever asembled in the history of mankind.
Look! THAT way! Isn’t that Andorra that just bought a model-airplane building kit! Rummmmy! Assemble the troops! Carrier groups to the Atlantic and Mediterranean now!
Wadda you mean we already have them there? Freedom’s on the march, Rummy! Always! Those Commie Swedes without an Army should be eternally grateful to me! What?! No, not Swiss, I said Swedes, the ones that live right next to Argentina! Now get cracking! Making our own reality is hard work as you well know!
They could *see * the frackin’ thing, Brutus. It was broad daylight, it had come over their position every day at the same time, the same (low) altitude, the same (low) airspeed, and even the same direction, making a very audible racket at that, for a week. Who needs radar?
No such situation existed in Iraq. But you know that too.
Aside from being totally beside the point, what good do you suppose it does to respond to one single example in a list of 6? This is terribly shoddy work, even by the standard set in your OP.
I don’t see how that refutes anything I said, and I am rather suspect of the ‘optical tracking’ angle some articles take. Black aircraft + sundown + crappy russian optic system = I dunno about that. Another take on the matter.
The point, however, is that purportedly outdated systems can be threats to even our most advanced aircraft, given the right circumstances.
I am sure the Allied pilots enforcing the no-fly zone didn’t flash a happy smile when missles were fired at them, no matter if some people don’t seem to think those missles were a threat to the pilots.
Then again, if you were a poet you could refer to a destiny beyond the stars as humanity reaching its full potential and becoming cosmic travelers.
Bush, however, isn’t a poet.
