Can We Launch Things into Space from an Underground Tube?

Jules Verne had discussed briefly a system that would allow one to shoot something into space by using a tube in the earth. And recently a think tank member in an online think tank re-introduced this concept but added a mag levitation system to accelerate it in a long tube in a vacuum and then shoot it into space?

Think tank member Joe calls this a Tubes Launch System and states; What about a possible new type of launch system for a ground launch of a space vehicle, built a mag level rail system in side of a vacuum tube long enough to gain high ground speed with the exit set at the proper angle to get craft into flight orbit, here again there are many questions, one would be what would happen to the craft when it exits the vacuum at a very high speed. One benefit would be the craft could carry fuel for reentry only no more free flights with the heat shield as only protection, another would be the reduction of fuel needs.

This is an interesting topic indeed and here is a partial set of discussions on something I suppose similar to your thoughts;

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?showtopic=1233

Of course in my idea in the link above I took some argumentative statements for it, as you can see. But nevertheless; The Germans, Russians and now the North Koreans have all had underground designs to catapult weapons from underground tubes. Why not modify this technology like in science fiction movies and use an accelerator like they do a SLAC or one of the other particle accelerators to launch into space. In fact an MIT kid had a neat figure eight track which would be able to do this, interesting article perhaps you can find it online. I think it was written up in Popular Mechanics or Popular Science in the 1980’s as well and the rough concept appeared in a Hollywood James Bond Movie too. Launching a Space Shuttle may not work however, as the astronauts could not survive it but perhaps it is perfect for certain types of cargo. Of course even electronics unravel at 18-28 G's. So that is a consideration, but if you have enough kinetic energy and inertia for escape velocity you could shoot it to the moon base or up high enough for the Rendevous with satellites, ISS, or to calculate perfectly perhaps as a defense weapon or offence if that is your choice? Fun stuff to think about indeed. So, consider this in 2006.