Bush administration considering shooting down NKorean missile, officials say

Associated Press by way of Canada.com ^ | 20JUN06 | Robert Burns

[familyop]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is weighing responses to a possible North Korean missile test that include attempting to shoot it down in flight over the Pacific, defence officials said Tuesday.

Because North Korea has made it a practice not to announce its missile tests in advance, U.S. officials say they cannot be sure of the government's intentions. Under that circumstance, the Pentagon is considering the possibility that it might need to attempt an interception, two defence officials told the Associated Press.

The officials agreed to discuss the matter only on condition of anonymity because of its political sensitivity.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said he could not say whether the multibillion-dollar U.S. anti-missile defence system might be used in the event of a North Korean test. That system, which includes a handful of missiles that could be fired from Alaska and California, has had a spotty record in tests.

Although shooting down a North Korean missile is a possibility, the Pentagon also must consider factors that would argue against such a response, including the risk of shooting and missing and of escalating tensions further with Pyongyang.

Signs of North Korean preparations to launch a long-range, ballistic missile, possibly with sufficient range to reach U.S. territory, have grown in recent weeks, although it is unclear whether the missile has been fully fuelled. U.S. officials said Monday the missile was apparently fully assembled and fuelled, but others have since expressed some uncertainty.

Also unknown is whether the missile would be launched for a flight-test or to place a satellite in orbit.

Bush administration officials have publicly and privately urged the North Koreans not to conduct the missile test, which would end a moratorium in place since 1999. That ban was adopted after Japan and other countries expressed outrage over an August 1998 launch in which a North Korean missile overflew northern Japan.

At the time of the 1998 launch, the United States had no means of shooting down a long-range missile in flight. Since then, with the investment of tens of billions of dollars, the Pentagon has developed a rudimentary system that it says is capable of defending against a limited number of missiles in an emergency.

[familyop]

Maybe the ABM defense move will scare the North Korean leaders and prompt them to chicken out--an Avian flee, of sorts.

[RightWhale]

If the missile is fired without formal announcement through the usual channels and if the missile approaches American territory it must be assumed hostile.

A single nuke would be jumping the shark as far as N Kor is concerned.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Man a sucessful interecept would be the ultimate smackdown. Not to mention discrediting the damn dems that have fought this program so much over the years.

[samadams2000]

Stop the game playing. If they fire it, and its a threat of course knock it down. Then level the place. I dont want to hear about that country again. No money, no bargaining, no nation building!(psst..clear out our troops at the DMZ..TONIGHT!!!)

[pissant]

Shoot it down as it leaves the silo.

[madison10]

Regarding headline: So what would we do otherwise, let it hit NY? or Washington, D.C.?

[garbageseeker]

Bump

[Julliardsux]

A miss would be devastating. Better to not shoot at it maybe, or not have announced that we are going to shoot at it.

[garbageseeker]

If they are using Kerosene as the fuel and LOX(Liquid Oxygen) as the oxidizer it may blow up on the pad.

[airborne]

Base to test laser-shooting planes: Modified aircraft to track, destroy missiles


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1652245/posts

[garbageseeker]

Ping

[Paleo Conservative]

It would be better if we preempted it.

[familyop]

"A miss would be devastating. Better to not shoot at it maybe, or not have announced that we are going to shoot at it."

At least four layers of our ABM defense system are operational for the "test." It's very doubtful that all of our anti-ballistic missiles would miss.

It's more likely, IMO, that Kim Il Jong and company will be too afraid to launch now.

[MNJohnnie]

YES! Thank you President's Reagan and Bush. President Reagan for pushing it, President Bush for funding and doing it. Real live action demonstration of a program virtually even Democrat Party Leader fought tooth and nail to kill. An unignorable message to terrorists and thugs everywhere.

[garbageseeker]

The fuel is gasoline/kerosene mixture. The oxidizer is red fuming nitric acid. Its still nasty stuff and volatile.

This missile still has a high rate of failure at any point of powered flight.Thanks FReeper stboz for the info

[stboz]

No prob. We made the stuff for DoD in Mississippi a few years back. IRFNA (Inhibited Red Fuming Nitric Acid) is the oxidizer in several missiles including the Phoenix, late of Tomcat fame....IRCC.

[Names Ash Housewares]

If that NK missiles trajectory indicates it is headed our way. I think the intercept decision will be easy to make.

I dont want that thing splashing in the ocean ten miles from my home. I would rather they shoot everything we have at it and take the chance of missing.

[garbageseeker]

I did not know that fuel was used in the Phoenix.

[rbg81]

Of course, a successful NK launch and an interceptor miss would be the ultimate "I told you so" for Dems. Personally, I don't think they've tested it enough to be confident of an intercept. Even the Pentagon's OT&E office says that.

[C210N]

another positive of a successful missile defense test would be a boon to the continuation and perhaps acceleration of the program, as it demonstrates its capabilities to the pols that opens the wallets, and their constituents and fund those pols.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Presumably the U.S. military knows the location of this missile. Wouldn't it be easier to pulverize it while it's sitting still? Would China REALLY try to stop us? Or is the Bush administration spreading misinformation about plans to try to intercept it in flight and fear about missing it, to throw Dear Leader off guard while we move in to pulverize the sitting missile?

[RightWhale]

A test is a test. If it hits the dummy warhead so much the better.

[COBOL2Java]

After shooting it down, President Bush could come on TV and say "I would like to thank the people of North Korea for participating in our successful test of America's Strategic Defense Initiative."

[GovernmentShrinker]

Why wait? We ought to be making it clear that it is not permissible to even threaten such a thing. If we wait 'til it's fired, we're basically announcing that we'll sit by and do nothing while rogue states torment the world with credible threats, but as long as don't actually fire it they'll have nothing to worry about.

[Texas Eagle]

...it is unclear whether the missile has been fully fuelled.

And President Bush is CONSIDERING shooting it down???

Well, I guess if it tracks towards Seattle or San Francisco, it might be worth gambling to find out whether or not it is fully fueled.

[SMM48]

Well, they are testing their missile, we are testing our missile defense system. So what if we just happen to do it at the same time.

[pissant]

Don't have to convince me. But SoKo may be a little upset when Seoul is rocketed in response. ;o)

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

If it goes over international waters its fair game. By my calculations it will still be ascending and we should be able to knock it down with shipboard defenses, and by the way the last 6 tests of that BMD hit skin to skin.

[Peach]

Is there nothing the media won't publish? Is it just impossible to keep a secret anymore or does that just pertain to Republican administrations the media just can't shut up about?

[rbg81]

Of course, a good question is: how do you really know the warhead was destroyed?

[rbg81]

Of course, a good question is: how do you really know the warhead was destroyed?

[Parley Baer]

Yeah, that would be a tough call. Hehehehe. The dimocRATS as usual are silent on the subject. They can't wait for the Monday morning quarter backing to begin.

[Syncro]

I haven't read the article or the replies.

But IMO

Of course we will shoot it down!

LOL, what good practice and a blow to little Kimmie

[Syncro]

I doubt that will happen

The "ricochet" would wipe NK off the map.

[ladyinred]

Whoo Hoo! If only President Reagan were able to see this if it happens!

[pissant]

Little Kim would die? What a tragedy that would be.

[Syncro]

Ahh, I don't know

But he is so ronry...

[pissant]

Hey, at least he shot an 18 his last round of golf.

[plain talk]

doesn't matter. We need the practice to perfect the technology. If we miss - the fact that NK fired a long range missile itself will be added ammo for the need for increased funding to have SDI and therefore "fix" SDI.

[NavyCanDo]

Been waiting along time to repeat this famous line below, and with 3 Aircraft Carriers heading for the Japan sea and North Korea thumbing their nose at us, I may just be saying it very soon.


"Looks like we've got ourselves another war. A gut-busting, mother loving Navy war."

[Deo volente]

Blow it and the launch pad into a billion pieces.

And if they retaliate, go nuclear.

[Mo1]

Is there nothing the media won't publish? Is it just impossible to keep a secret anymore or does that just pertain to Republican administrations the media just can't shut up about?

Anyhing that hurts America .. the media will print it

[Mo1]

A single nuke would be jumping the shark as far as N Kor is concerned.

I don't think NK is crazy enough to send a nuke

Though I do think they are crazy enough to send a missile our way to test us and our reaction to it

[DannyTN]

"Maybe the ABM defense move will scare the North Korean leaders and prompt them to chicken out--an Avian flee, of sorts."

Nah, they'll launch, but they might give us a warning to keep the test from being interrupted. Then again, they might want to see for themselves whether we have intercept capability or not.

[Mr. Silverback]

A single nuke would be jumping the shark as far as N Kor is concerned.

If I were Prez I'm thinking I'd send a few back their way from an SSBN.

[Mr. Silverback]

We need that system in place. The sea-based missile defense needs to be built too.

[Mr. Silverback]

At least four layers of our ABM defense system are operational for the "test." It's very doubtful that all of our anti-ballistic missiles would miss.

Can you elaborate? Is it all land based, or is the AEGIS system being "tested" on this?

[Mr. Silverback]

The fuel is gasoline/kerosene mixture. The oxidizer is red fuming nitric acid. Its still nasty stuff and volatile.

Isn't that what the Soviets were using when they had that pad explosion and lost about 100 guys?

[garbageseeker]

I think so.