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| Science & Technology |
| ARGH! |
| 2007-03-31 |
| "A significant portion of the U.S. missile defense capability was wiped out during the summer of 2006 because torrential rains caused ground-based interceptor silos to be damaged by flood waters," POGO said in a statement. "Boeing, the contractor that is at least partly responsible for failing to protect the silos, will most likely still receive an estimated $38 million to repair the silos and a $100 million no-bid contract to build more silos. Boeing would also receive a $7 million award fee added to the contract," the group said. POGO noted that "the flooding occurred during a three-week period between the end of June and early July 2006 when Ft. Greely received several inches of rain. Ft. Greely and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California house the nation's only Missile Defense Agency interceptor missiles." "The flooding damaged 25 percent of the U.S. interceptor missiles' launch capability. These silos house the interceptor missiles that would be used to attempt to intercept a missile aimed at the United States. No interceptors were in the flooded silos," the group's report said. POGO also reported that the flooding debacle had set off a fierce row between the U.S. military and Boeing, the prime contractor for building the Fort Greely interceptor fields. |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #9 Does this mean Harry Reid can buy them up cheap and sell them as condos? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-03-31 13:10 |
| #8 I would think that this kind of information would be something worth keeping secret. |
| Posted by: Danking70 2007-03-31 12:54 |
| #7 Also note that that this was an ASAP contract, not a normal project. President Bush wanted our ABM system up "yesterday", and that limits quality control. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-03-31 10:02 |
| #6 Was DiFi's husband's company involved? |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2007-03-31 09:28 |
| #5 The Dallas transit tunnels flooded during construction, too, because the drainage system wasn't finished and there were no pumps yet at the low point. Unfortunately, the contractor had stored the ventilation fans near the low point.... |
| Posted by: Bobby 2007-03-31 08:06 |
| #4 I went to the link and read a lot more. They've gone off half-cocked on this one. There was some damage but it was to silos under construction. There was no damage to missiles already sited so there was no degradation of capacity. Sounded like someone on the left just trying to hang something else on Bush and the FEARED MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX... |
| Posted by: Mac 2007-03-31 04:31 |
| #3 Ima thinking Byng. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2007-03-31 03:27 |
| #2 I seem to recall that these sorts of silos are supposed to withstand near-direct hits with nuclear tipped cruise missiles. You're telling me that rain somehow got in and damaged the silos? Not the interceptors mind you, the effing SILOS?!? |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-03-31 03:18 |
| #1 I'm thinking "pathetic". |
| Posted by: gorb 2007-03-31 02:38 |