U.S. Set to Down Korean Missile

Washington Times ^ | 06/23/06 | Stephen Dinan

[mojito]

Senior Bush administration officials said publicly for the first time yesterday that the United States is set to shoot down any North Korean missile launch that threatens the United States. National Security Adviser Stephen J. Hadley, briefing reporters during President Bush's brief visit here, said the United States has a missile defense system with "limited operational capability" that could be used to try to shoot down an incoming North Korean missile, but he added that U.S. officials were vigorously pursuing a diplomatic push to head off a test launch by Pyongyang. "The purpose, of course, of that missile defense system is to defend the territory of the United States from attack," Mr. Hadley said when asked if the United States would deploy the system should North Korea attack. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told reporters in Washington that Mr. Bush has the power to order a shootdown, using one of 11 ground-based interceptors now located in Alaska and California. "And the president would make a decision with respect to the nature of the launch, whether it was threatening to the territory of the United States or not, and the likely threat that it would pose," Mr. Rumsfeld told reporters at the Pentagon.

[mojito]

A guess we're taking a shot at anything that goes up. Personally, I think a cruise missile on the launch pad is a much better idea.

[BigFinn]

Thanks Mr. Clinton.

[oolatec]

Yup.... the political ramifications of a missed attempt to down an airborn missile are just too great I think.

[MJY1288]

A Missile intercept immediately after launch would be more effective. Make sure the N. Korean people see Kim Jong-Ill's expression on his face when his Prized Missile is neutralized shortly after it's launch

[M1911A1]

Time to take a chance and shoot it down.

If we miss, then use that as a basis for more funding for missile defense.

If we bag it, then give Kim the diplomatic equivalent of what my six year old would call a "Neener, neener, neener".

[HiTech RedNeck]

It's possible to tell early in its flight where one of these is headed, because they are about as dumb as cannonballs. If it's headed to US territory we would shoot, but I think Bush would not bother it if it's headed to open ocean.

[sourcery]

the political ramifications of a missed attempt to down an airborn missile are just too great I think.

Showing committment and courage may be more important than possibly being seen as fallibile. Making the attempt sends a clear message. Being too timid to try sends another clear message.

[NormsRevenge]

I think a cruise missile on the launch pad is a much better idea.

sub delivered from the sea of japan

[Kakaze]

I say take the shot.

If we hit it on the pad, kim gets his "international incident". We catch all kinds of hell for violating nk's soveriegnty.( not that I give a fig what international opinion is )

Surgically remove this missle from international airspace and you will have everyone's attention.

[ClaudiusI]

I believe Daniel Jackson said it best:

"Proportional response only makes sense when the playing field is even. We have a distinct advantage here. Problem is the other side just doesn't realise how wide the gap is. What they really need is a visual aid."

We must make it very clear just how far more advanced we are than either of these piss-ant countries. We do that by plucking their precious missle out of the sky like an old man swatting a fly.

[musicman]

"It's possible to tell early in its flight where one of these is headed, because they are about as dumb as cannonballs. If it's headed to US territory we would shoot, but I think Bush would not bother it if it's headed to open ocean.",

I'm kinda hoping for a guidance malfunction, a little off-target landing, say maybe dead center of the Three Gorges Dam???

[Stallone]

I personally would like to see us send a few missiles into North Korea proactively to prevent possible terrorist action. Bush is wrong not to attack.

That way, we would unite both Right and Left in America.

After all, even the Jersey Sows said we should have attacked Afghanistan proactively to prevent 9/11. Bush was wrong not to attack.

Iraq was a mistake to attack, however, according to the Left, because we actually did it. Bush was wrong to attack.

Simple.

Bush doesn't attack - wrong.

Bush does attack - wrong.

Got it.

[spokeshave]

" but I think Bush would not bother it if it's headed to open ocean."

Unless it is expected to splash down in the vicinity of the three carrier task force.

[HiTech RedNeck]

ooh, hadn't thought of that one.

[Minutemen]

It's all ocean between N.Korea and the west coast USA.

[HiTech RedNeck]

We can tell where it is going to go down, not long after it leaves the pad.

[Cobra64]

but I think Bush would not bother it if it's headed to open ocean.

He should take the shot. It'd prove to the world that we're not as weak as most think we are. Actually we are weak, because of all the PC crap that we put up with.

[orinoco]

' China, the North's principal economic and military ally, appealed to both Pyongyang and Washington for restraint.
"We hope that the related parties will resolve this problem through negotiations and dialogue," Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei said in an interview with South Korea's Maeil Business Newspaper. '

---

China may be using North Korea to test and confront the U.S.. How the U.S. reacts will send a message to the Chinese. North Korea depends on China militarily and economically. The Chinese could stop North Korea if they applied pressure.

[BIGLOOK]

It's all ocean between N.Korea and the west coast USA.

Not exactly. There's Guam, Pearl Harbor and Alaska. The missile trajectory and distance could pass over any one of these. Or land on one.

[rogue yam]

If it's headed to US territory we would shoot, but I think Bush would not bother it if it's headed to open ocean.

Tests are a necessary part of a development program. The North Koreans are testing their missile in order to make missiles. We should do whatever we must to stop them. Shoot it down regardless of its trajectory, I say.

Further, I disagree with those that say a miss is "embarassing", and worse than not attempting an intercept. Reasonable people understand that SDI is in the early stages. The evil ones will howl and taunt as always, but we can just calmly say "The Koreans had their test and so did we. We will continue to develop our defenses and be ready to meet future threats."