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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices
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To: combjelly who wrote (376405)4/5/2008 4:00:36 PM
From: i-node  Read Replies (2) of 1576593
 
Based on progress to date, we are probably at least 30 years from something that is minimally operational.

More ignorance and foolishness. There are thousands of Patriot systems--a direct outgrowth of SDI, in use today, and they are NOT "minimally operational".

But more importantly, the progress you mention is nonlinear -- and neither has been the funding. There was a huge up-front investment and a lot of maturing of technology that had to occur from the inception.

SDI has paid off if they shut the program down today. But the ultimate goal of securing the nation against missile attack is achievable and will be done in the next decade or two and could happen more quickly with appropriate funding (and as Iran continues down its current path, such funding will likely happen).

But the point is that Sagan said it COULD NOT BE DONE. We now see that not only CAN it be done, it WILL be done a substantial parts of it HAVE BEEN.

Carl Sagan was well-educated, but lacked the creativity to understand what is and is not possible. Furthermore, he allowed his liberalism to cloud his perspective on the "laws of physics", leading to incorrect conclusions. He was truly outclassed taking on the likes of Teller in these discussions.
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