Reply #63: Thank You, Sir

[The Magistrate]

To my view some of the economic considerations may break off in a situation like this. It is a sound enough rule of thumb not to set a million dollars to catch a thousand, but the political benefits of this could well outweigh the usual economic standard. Negotiating an end to the rockets does not seem very feasible either, and would probably involve considerable cost in bribes under some form or other. The situation does demand something be done, and money is better than blood, if one must spend something like water.

So long as the rockets remain at the 'cheap and cheerful' garage assembly level, it would seem unlikely much in the way of evasive capability could be provided. Swamping the defense would remain a possibility for getting a good number through, but that has other problems from the fire's point of view. A long build-up to the mass firing would be required, which would be vulnerable to enemy surveillance and disruption; it would also restrict the firer's flexibility to make timely gestures, and in general slow down the pace of plaguing the foe. It also alters the political aspect: military reaction against waves of hundreds of weapons looks a bit better than military reaction against sporadic handfuls. It makes it too obvious someone really is trying awfully hard....