Star Wars Faces a Budget Hit

[True_Blue]

Unreliability is just one reason why funding is being cut. The other is the changing nature of potential threats to U.S. security
The Pentagon has eight missiles on the ground in Alaska and California, poised to shoot down any makeshift ballistic missile that comes our way. Trouble is, sometimes the interceptors stay on terra firma when they're launched. That's what happened in December in the latest Star Wars test, which came two years after a different snafu. A computer glitch was to blame in December, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) says.

Such woes could be part of the reason missile defense is heading toward a 10% cut in its 2006 budget, to $8.8 billion. MDA spokesman Rick Lehner, contacted before an embargo on the budget was broken, wouldn't comment on the projected spending. But outsiders have no such qualms. "It's a very complex program with a lot of technical issues," notes Steven Kosiak, a defense-budget analyst with the Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessment, a Washington think tank. "It's hard to spend all that money efficiently."

ALTERED PRIORITIES. However, there's probably more than missile mishaps behind the dollar drop for Star Wars. The war on terror and Iraq may have taken their toll on missile defense and changed the way Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld assesses potential threats. He went into office worried about space issues, the ballistic-missile threat, and transforming the military.

Then came September 11, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

more....
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/feb2005/nf2005024_2337_db038.htm

[bluestateguy]

1. Whew!

For a second I thought Lucasfilm ran into problems in the post-production phase of Episode III. That's a relief.

[neuvocat]

3. Same here.

Can you imagine how sad it would be if the Sith couldn't afford light sabres?

[MASSAFRA]

2. Bush's cuts in defense -

What are we going to defend ourselves with spit balls?

[mom cat]

4. Imperial overreach has unforseen benefit. Too bad the cost was

so high.

[tabasco]

5. The war profiteering corporations are making a bundle in Iraq ...

so the scam Star Wars gets lower priority. Useless Star Wars was Bush's #1 defense initiative coming into office because it funnels massive amounts of tax dollars to corporations and CEOs.

But the war profiteers are stealing plenty in Iraq (e.g., $9 billion missing recently) to make up for it.

[Pachamama]

6. Ahhh....the Neo-cons are crying because they can't have their Space

weaponry to deliver their "final solution" and world dominance from outer space..... :cry:


But, these people are relentless...they will figure some way to insert it into some bill and get the wepons program developed...this only bought us all a little more time... :scared:

[Solon]

7. Holy shit, they are actually cutting back a Corporate Subsidy?

Color me shocked there. Hell, I mean, it worked so well that we could actually win a nuclear war with Russia. /extremely heavy sarcasm

They actually have 8 of those things huh? I'm sure that was more than enough to shoot down all those missles that can be launched from North Korea or some other place, if they ever get off the ground and not slam back in the ocean or some such shit. What the hell is it with the Pentagon and new toys that are useless? I mean, the Osprey works so well, and our Hummers are so well armored, aren't they? /More heavy ass sarcasm

I hate this shit, the Department of Stupid Shit has been wasting money left and right for 20 plus years, why not downsize that shit, sounds like a plan to me.

[sarcasmo]

8. The Christian Taliban does not believe in space only creationism.

The Earth is still flat.

Sarcasm of course.