by Kung-Fu Jesus May 08, 2004
Get the the op mug.The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) is a system proposed by President Ronald Reagan on March 23, 1983 to use space-based systems to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear missiles. It was dubbed "Star Wars" by opponents, implying it is an impractical science fiction fantasy, but supporters have adopted the usage as well on the grounds that yesterday's science fiction is often tomorrow's engineering. While Gorbachev's reforms deserve a vast majority of the blame, or credit, for the collapse of the Soviet Union, SDI may have contributed to the fall by successfully applying the strategy of technology, which was a prevalent doctrine at the time.
Project and proposals
The proposal was sharply criticized for its potential costs, doubts that it would be technologically feasible and afford complete protection against all delivery systems, concerns that it would violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty and the Outer Space Treaty and destabilize the nuclear balance of power.
The research was controlled by the Strategic Defense Initiative Office, an agency of the Department of Defense until 1993, when it was renamed the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization. Department of Defense cost estimates for SDI-related spending during fiscal years 1984-1994 amounted to US$32.6 billion. An independent report by the Congressional Research Service arrived at a much higher figure of US$70.7 billion 1.
The project was repeatedly scaled back, renamed Global Protection Against Limited Strikes (GPALS, dubbed "Son of Star Wars") in 1991, and refocused on protection from smaller attacks. GPALS was based on a ground system of rocket-launched interceptors aimed at preventing small scale launches by "rogue states" (apparently North Korea, Libya, Iraq or Iran) from impacting on the US.
Missile Defense
President Bill Clinton almost halted the program, but it has regained momentum under President George W. Bush, whose version is called the National Missile Defense (NMD).
Project and proposals
The proposal was sharply criticized for its potential costs, doubts that it would be technologically feasible and afford complete protection against all delivery systems, concerns that it would violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty and the Outer Space Treaty and destabilize the nuclear balance of power.
The research was controlled by the Strategic Defense Initiative Office, an agency of the Department of Defense until 1993, when it was renamed the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization. Department of Defense cost estimates for SDI-related spending during fiscal years 1984-1994 amounted to US$32.6 billion. An independent report by the Congressional Research Service arrived at a much higher figure of US$70.7 billion 1.
The project was repeatedly scaled back, renamed Global Protection Against Limited Strikes (GPALS, dubbed "Son of Star Wars") in 1991, and refocused on protection from smaller attacks. GPALS was based on a ground system of rocket-launched interceptors aimed at preventing small scale launches by "rogue states" (apparently North Korea, Libya, Iraq or Iran) from impacting on the US.
Missile Defense
President Bill Clinton almost halted the program, but it has regained momentum under President George W. Bush, whose version is called the National Missile Defense (NMD).
by Kung-Fu Jesus May 08, 2004
Get the Star wars defense mug."Before Christ"
All that happened more that 2004 years ago, at time of writing, is considered BC. The date system comes from the spread of christianity and the desire to use the birth of Christ as the standard starting point for years. Anything happening after 1BC is refered to as AD (Anno Domini).
However, the monks that tried to work when the birth of christ was did so over 1000 years ago, and were missing some documents. These documents were discovered in the 20th century, and 'twas found the birth of christ to be four years before the dating system.
All that happened more that 2004 years ago, at time of writing, is considered BC. The date system comes from the spread of christianity and the desire to use the birth of Christ as the standard starting point for years. Anything happening after 1BC is refered to as AD (Anno Domini).
However, the monks that tried to work when the birth of christ was did so over 1000 years ago, and were missing some documents. These documents were discovered in the 20th century, and 'twas found the birth of christ to be four years before the dating system.
by Kung-Fu Jesus June 08, 2004
Get the BC mug.by Kung-Fu Jesus April 15, 2004
Get the come get some mug.In a movie or videogame, a gratuitous sex scene is one there simply for the sake of being there, in a vain attempt to make the rest of the movie or game look cooler.
The "gratuitous sex scene" in wayne's world never actually contained any sex. It just said gratuitous sex scene at the bottom and Mike Myers giving a thumbs up (her vagina)
by Kung-Fu Jesus April 17, 2004
Get the gratuitous sex scene mug.What is said upon finding your target has been marked out. Derived from an X on pirate treasure maps. The phrase was put into common usage by the British army, who performed executions by marking a piece of paper with a black x and positioning it on the heart of someone sentenced to death.
The acting officer would say "X marks the spot" and the firing squad would shoot the x.
The acting officer would say "X marks the spot" and the firing squad would shoot the x.
by Kung-Fu Jesus April 30, 2004
Get the x marks the spot mug.by Kung-Fu Jesus June 15, 2004
Get the great wall of China mug.