"The article points out serious problems, not least of which is how the hell do the nuclear-armed countries distinguish the launch of a non-nuclear missile from a nuclear one?"

Worse, what happens if the ICBM goes astray and looks to be targeting a Nuke-armed nation?

While the idea is good, I just think its too risky... Now, if we had a hypersonic space plane (something like the hypersoar concept) that was discernable from a ICBM, that could drop a payload of Guided lead-filled Rods, Thermite filled bombs or even streamlined 'buckets' of lead shot (put a small scattering charge in, detonate it a mile up... a formation of massed troops are nixed, even if they are in defilade)... That would be a good idea, and nearly as short-notice as an ICBM...

And if the military asks for it, the republicans will get behind it. And, you know, and manned LEO 'bomber' that can carry a few tonnes of bombs can carry a few tonnes of payload, or maybe even match up with the ISS... Finally we would have a republican-endorsed space project that will survive and thrive when the republicans are in power... and finally we would have our fully-reusable easy-up space truck

Davin