I just left this comment over at Triple Venti yesterday:

If what I read is correct, “shooting it down” isn’t exactly accurate. They are going to try to puncture the fuel tank so that the fuel escapes into the atmosphere and presents less of a hazard to the people wherever the bulk of this satellite ends up.

You know, for a lot less than $40-60 million, I’ve got some neighbors with some potato guns and other weaponry that would certainly have a blast bringing it down. Matter of fact, I think a couple of kegs of Budweiser would probably do the trick.

Now, donning my tinfoil hat, this has little to do with the toxic fuel and much to do with an arms race with China. Remember 2020 is coming fast! Could be about a space race too.

Now how's that go? One if by land, two if by sea, three if by space...

Doug McCaughan
(link...)

From the first I wondered if the official reason were true or if the Defense Dept. was actually worried that some of any surviving parts might reveal "secrets" that might get into the wrong hands....

Or am I being too paranoid?

Of all the things you prioritize for government spending, Chinese paint has got to be the most aburd. The truth is, you do not need the government involved in that at all. The free market, working within the judicial system, happens to work perfectly (the toy manufacturers are liable for civil damages for product injuries; hence, if lead paint hurts someone, then the toy companies pay; hence, the toy companies are economically well served by having adequate quality control). As an aside, you get what you pay for. My guess is you complain about the cost of everything, demand higher wages and health benefits, and then wonder why manufacturing is outsourced to China.

As to the satellite, you no doubt enjoy all of the benefits, such as national security, gps, and television. What are you, the unabomber? Let's return to our agrarian roots, so long, of course, that you have your cable television, indoor plumbing, free speech, and all of the other things that have been provided despite your attempts to indignantly oppose them.

Now, donning my tinfoil hat, this has little to do with the toxic fuel and much to do with an arms race with China. Remember 2020 is coming fast!

Arms race with China?

I figured China would just keep resetting the rate until we can no longer afford the payments and then foreclose on the mortgage.

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Wearybottom Associates

People who did favors for Mr. Bush generally got rewarded with positions in these protective agencies as payment for a job well done. Landing George's backside in the oval office required an entirely different set of skills from those necessary to oversee a FEMA response or direct an agency charged with protecting our children from a toxin that was considered old news in American society until the last year or so.

One of the Bush administration's earliest acts was an attempt to raise the maximum allowable arsenic level in our drinking water and his EPA administrator allowed World Trade Center cleanup crews to work in dust masks.

When money, or credit, is tight it must be spent wisely. Mr. Bush is merely dancing with the one who brought him.

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The free market, working within the judicial system, happens to work perfectly (the toy manufacturers are liable for civil damages for product injuries; hence, if lead paint hurts someone, then the toy companies pay; hence, the toy companies are economically well served by having adequate quality control). As an aside, you get what you pay for.

Oh my. Except you don't bring the dead kids (pets, etc.) back to life or undo whatever other damage was done. And we can't sue Chinese companies. There's no extradition and they're communists besides. The "best" scenario is that the corporate buyer in this country will raise a ruckus and someone in China will respond by executing (= kill/murder) the plant operator(s) responsible for the lead/melamine poisoning, or whatever the problem was.

You sound like Paul O'Neil saying that the Enron meltdown proved the market works perfectly. Except for everyone who got screwed through no fault of their own and had no recourse.

Now go on back to Freerepublic, you Sprawl-Mart loving troll.

If your "average" photog can take these kinds of pics I would assume China et al. has more resources to get better/closer shots. This "space shot" is nothing more that the USA getting into a pissing contest with China and Russia.

I'm skeptical of the motive. Free target and all. What's $50 million of our taxes to the Bushies?

Maybe they've figured a way to take Cheney up in a wealthy GOPAC team leader's space SUV so Dick can shoot at it with one of his prized shotguns.