This is a trick question, right? I hear, and you can believe me because, lots of people are saying, and I know because I have a YUGE brain….they want to pave the Chesapeake to park all those new fighters. (disclaimer: The foregoing comment is SATIRE, or, if two syllables are too much, a JOKE.)
Jet fighters do not stop incoming ballistic missiles. Even cruise missiles would be a stretch because they could be launched from a sub at a relatively close 200 miles off shore, fly at low altitude and be stealthy. Possible to shoot down, but with a flight time of 20 minutes or less, more difficult. And there would be more than one missile per target , and multiple targets (Chesapeake Bay is a military-target rich environment). Since you are talking about a nuclear weapon, interception must take place more than 10 miles offshore to minimize damage.
Using a very, very rough estimate, the defensible line of the continental US (only) is more than 8000 miles. Take 2400 fighters (some will always be off-line or deployed elsewhere). That’s a coverage of 1 fighter every 3 miles, roughly. They’d have to be on duty 24/7, so most would be sitting at bases on short alert. That’s very expensive in manpower and maintenance. Oh, and some of those are supposed to be deployed on carriers, which may be a long way from home.
However, Congress and the DoD have cut lots of bases since the 1950s. So planes are pooled in relatively few locations. Chesapeake bay will be more than adequately covered, but not having to use weapons is always the best option.
Just wondering: how much has been spent on protecting Trump, his family and his properties, on transporting him, his family, his security and entourage to and from his homes, in just one month?
The contract to paint a delusional painting about Chesapeake Bay for $40m along with the corresponding $30m donation to get it displayed in the new BHO Presidential Library?
beekaay about 7 years ago
Shouldn’t have messed up Chesapeake Bay in the first place. 70 million???? give me the jet.
martens about 7 years ago
So far, Lichtentunes seems to be the only educated adult commenting on this ’toon. The tin foil hats are out in force, however.
Radish the wordsmith about 7 years ago
What is this war that the Republicans are gearing up for?
Mr. Blawt about 7 years ago
What, there was no more to cut from education and food stamps?
dogday Premium Member about 7 years ago
This is a trick question, right? I hear, and you can believe me because, lots of people are saying, and I know because I have a YUGE brain….they want to pave the Chesapeake to park all those new fighters. (disclaimer: The foregoing comment is SATIRE, or, if two syllables are too much, a JOKE.)
Baslim the Beggar Premium Member about 7 years ago
Jet fighters do not stop incoming ballistic missiles. Even cruise missiles would be a stretch because they could be launched from a sub at a relatively close 200 miles off shore, fly at low altitude and be stealthy. Possible to shoot down, but with a flight time of 20 minutes or less, more difficult. And there would be more than one missile per target , and multiple targets (Chesapeake Bay is a military-target rich environment). Since you are talking about a nuclear weapon, interception must take place more than 10 miles offshore to minimize damage.
Using a very, very rough estimate, the defensible line of the continental US (only) is more than 8000 miles. Take 2400 fighters (some will always be off-line or deployed elsewhere). That’s a coverage of 1 fighter every 3 miles, roughly. They’d have to be on duty 24/7, so most would be sitting at bases on short alert. That’s very expensive in manpower and maintenance. Oh, and some of those are supposed to be deployed on carriers, which may be a long way from home.
However, Congress and the DoD have cut lots of bases since the 1950s. So planes are pooled in relatively few locations. Chesapeake bay will be more than adequately covered, but not having to use weapons is always the best option.
Baslim the Beggar Premium Member about 7 years ago
https://www.quora.com/Is-a-fighter-jet-capable-of-shooting-down-a-cruise-missile
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/distanceresult.html?p1=23&p2=234
kurt.zwicky about 7 years ago
Nice to see someone put a perspective on things…Something is truly out of whack….
RAGs about 7 years ago
Trump and company don’t understand what war is or how to prevent it, they just want more shiny toys.
montessoriteacher about 7 years ago
And yet we spend more on our military than the next ten countries combined. Wow. If we in education could have that $. Good lord.
SClark55 Premium Member about 7 years ago
Well I don’t care to pay for somebody else’s bay. Hey I know! We all and the bay folks can pool our resources and protect ourselves! What an idea!
Dtroutma about 7 years ago
But the bay is more reliable in operation than the F-35, which has already cost over $1.3 TRILLION!
OmqR-IV.0 about 7 years ago
Just wondering: how much has been spent on protecting Trump, his family and his properties, on transporting him, his family, his security and entourage to and from his homes, in just one month?
caligula about 7 years ago
The contract to paint a delusional painting about Chesapeake Bay for $40m along with the corresponding $30m donation to get it displayed in the new BHO Presidential Library?