Will the Golden Dome really work?

  

"I remember what Reagan said about Star Wars. He told the world he would share the technology for Star Wars once ours was complete. Why? It would make a nuclear war obsolete. Too bad it was just a ruse. If it was for real, and we had it, the Golden Dome would already be in place. But in the 1980's, the technology was not there. But it is today. But will it work?"

Most of us graybeards remember the days of Ronald Wilson Reagan with fondness. He did a great many good things when he was president. Taking down the Soviet Union (without firing a shot) was his greatest accomplishment. Plus - he did it with some subterfuge. What do you mean subterfuge? Star Wars. The "Golden Dome" of the 1980's. It was going to be space based and put an end to the threat of nuclear war. We would have it, and the Soviets would not. It was a grand plan, except for one minor flaw - it was all smoke and mirrors. There was no SDI or Star Wars system. But it spooked the Soviets enough to cry "Uncle" and then dissolve.

Now flash forward to today. Donald Trump has long been a fan of Israel's Iron Dome system. Although it does not work 100% of the time, it works enough of the time to spare Israel death and destruction from missiles and drones coming in from Iran and/or Iran's proxies. Trump, who always thinks big, started to wonder if Israel, the size of New Jersey, can have the Iron Dome to protect itself, why can't America have one much bigger? Thus, as soon as Trump was sworn in as POTUS 47, he instructed his Secretary of Defense (Hegseth) to come up with a plan for a Golden Dome to protect America. And he did.

Wait - what? Is this Golden Dome another canard just like Reagan's Star Wars? Or is the Golden Dome truly going to be the big brother to the Iron Dome? Hegseth has already picked a four-star general from the Space Force to be the project manager of this behemoth. It will cost somewhere between $175B and $500B over twenty years. The goal is to have the first part of the Golden Dome operational by the time Trump's term is up. But will it work? Even against the new hypersonic missiles? That is the $64,000 question.

The Chinese are already starting to complain about this Golden Dome. If we build it, and if China does not, it might tip the results should we ever go to war with each other. My response? Go ahead China - build your own (if you can). Or better yet, ensure that your country never goes to war with us. 

I remember what Reagan said about Star Wars. He told the world he would share the technology for Star Wars once ours was complete. Why? It would make a nuclear war obsolete. Too bad it was just a ruse. If it was for real, and we had it, the Golden Dome would already be in place. But in the 1980's, the technology was not there. But it is today. But will it work?

Maybe. Is sure is worth the gamble to build it. For the sake of our kids and grandies, we should build it. Let's take the entire nightmare of a nuclear war off the table.