Originally posted by JamesBlonde
Originally posted by dev_add
Good question, the best I can come up with...here goes:
If the gov't lets us know, then obviously our enemies will know what
capabilities we (the US) possess.
[edit on 23-3-2005 by dev_add]
Ok, suppose you were thinking of coming into my house at night time with just a knife to kill me. Would you do it if you knew I was sitting in the
dark with an MP5 trained on the door watching you with IR goggles and waiting for you to come in? There are no windows for you to sneak through and
there is only one door. You have to use that door because there is no other way in.
Perhaps the big secret about Area 51 is that what is developed there might not be so cutting edge after all.
In the first Part of your message, you Gave the example of someone trying to kill you being kept away by a threat. That is the whole idea behind
deterrence, keeping peace by using the threat of force. That is the whole point to Nuclear weapons, someone would have to be insane to want to use
them!
Now for your question! Why the secret? It's called surprise. Let's go back to your senarieo: You're coming with that knife again. But this time all
you know is that I have a weapon of some kind (you have no clue what it is!). You also know that I'm watching your every move with IR Goggles.
Remember, one of us is going to die if you open the door! Do you want to open the door, knowing that you are most likly the one who will die?
Remember, I'm watching you, so I know what's in your hand, but you have no idea what I might have waiting for you on the other side of the door!
Surprise is the best weapon anyone has ever come up with.
Tim
ATS Director of Counter-Ignorance