true, but then again they do that and we'll simply nuke them.

Scourge, we're already dependent on foreign oil, which could also be disrupted pretty easily. Admittedly, there are more ways around that problem -- its easy to spot giant solar collectors, not so easy to find every last oil smuggler -- but the same problem remains.

did you read the article? they want a private company to "do" it.

I concur fully. In addition our oil/natural gas/coal power plants are contributing to global warming making a possible war between the US and China even more likely. My solution would be advancing a combination of ground-based solar, nuclear power plants, and wind power plants (if the Dakotas were covered in modern wind power plants that would supply all the energy needs for the entire US). I just feel uncomfortable giving more reliance to satelite technology when the most likely major war will be between us and a nation with the technology to shoot down our satelites. I think everyone agress our dependence on foreign oil is bad, but satelite power plants, while admittedly very cool, are even more vunerable in certain, moderately likely, circumstances.



If you want to know what all that "black budget" Pentagon stuff is then wait about twenty years for the new military hardware to roll out. A lot of the most modern military technologies the US has were originally started with "black budget" research money. Probably the best example of this is stealth technology. When the US rolled out the stealth fighter and then the stealth bomber in the 1980s everyone was shocked and surprised. Those technologies have definitely proven their worth in the Persian Gulf War (both of them actually) and elsewhere. NASA is part of the military and many of its technologies have later received wide commercial usage (like memory foam mattresses or Tang). The first supersonic plane came from a military project. The US military created the precursor to the internet (which allows us to have this conversation today), the ARPANET. Nuclear power came from application of nuclear research which really only kicked off after receiving military funding for the Manhatten Project. GPS and communications satelites were first pioneered by the military.

My point is that military research very often has applications which go into the civilian realm. The military is not only important in protecting the US and US interests, but it has also greatly contributed to science and technology as a whole.

[quote] My point is that military research very often has applications which go into the civilian realm. The military is not only important in protecting the US and US interests, but it has also greatly contributed to science and technology as a whole.
[quote]

No, I'm sorry, but these trillion dollars aren't in any budget, they are unaccounted for as in they weren't ever spent on anything, but somehow they are missing.

And also the US research budget is less then those of Nintendo and Sony, soooo most of the research is done by private companies.

Schem if it was completely out of the militaries bounds it wouldn't be done by by the miltary now would it?

the same way killing people was out of saddam's bounds, but he did it anyway?

no, your statement is frankly wrong. what you mean, that might be another matter.

but it ain't what you said.

Oh thats right, I forgot who I was talking too.

Guess I have to break it down.

*cues that phat beat*



Okay, this is a redundant satement.

I didnt say that though. Quote me if i did.

I didn't say they wanted to take over the energy industry just monopolize that single aspect of it.

You need better proof. But then again, you're Schod.

Oh they are making a fuss about it. And the people that are will be removed from power soon. Thats how the government here works.