Posted on 06/18/2009 8:50:28 PM PDT by Steelfish
U.S. boosts missile defense amid reports of planned N. Korea test
Defense chief Robert M. Gates' remarks about shoring up Hawaii's defense may be aimed at deterring a test launch and signals that the U.S. is willing to act to prevent a successful test.
By Julian E. Barnes June 18, 2009
Reporting from Washington -- Reacting to reports that North Korea may be preparing to test-fire a missile toward Hawaii, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Thursday that he had ordered additional assets deployed to shore up defense of the islands.
Gates ordered the deployment of a powerful sea-based radar system that can help closely track the path of intercontinental ballistic missiles and also sent terminal-phase missile interceptors to Hawaii.
The comments may be intended to deter North Korea from attempting another long-range missile launch and to reassure allies that the United States is willing to act to prevent a successful test by the government in Pyongyang.
According to reports in Japanese media, the North Koreans appear to be preparing for their next long-range test around July 4. Experts believe that because the last long-range missile test failed, Pyongyang has more to prove and may see as another test as necessary.
Although Gates did not explicitly say that the U.S. would try to shoot down a test missile aimed in the direction of Hawaii, he noted that interceptor missiles in California and Alaska were ready.
"The ground-based interceptors are clearly in a position to take action," Gates said. "So without telegraphing what we will do, I would just say, I think we are in a good position, should it become necessary to protect American territory."
Victor D. Cha, a scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Gates' comments could be intended as a deterrent.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Counter battery! Fire for effect!
I thought Hussein 0bama was going to cut our missle defense systems.
U.S. Boosts Missile Defense?
I could swear Barama promised to CUT the NMD budget by 1.2 billion.
He did however find 1 billion to buy clunker autos from the people,to save the planet.
...but I thought that missile defense was “unproven”, to quote an alien president.
...and I thought it was a pipe dream of Reagan.
Hmmm...if we do take out an inbound to Honolulu, let’s just see how many DEMOCRATS thank Reagan for getting this capability developed.
And billons for ACORN.
And once again, Sarah Palin is proven right.
We certainaly appreciae that our government is getting around to taking some kind of action in protecting us. It would be nice if they put in place protection for all of the US.
Am I the only one who sees more than just a little effort by the current administration to build up a big bad foe outside our borders to take a little heat off the chosen?
I guess ya got to have priority’s.
Thank you President Reagan
he is
he wants to de fang america and render her defenseless. He also wants to disarm the people for his autocracy, where we too bow down to the east.
“Am I the only one who sees more than just a little effort by the current administration to build up a big bad foe outside our borders to take a little heat off the chosen?”
That might have worked with any other president...but not this one. I, and many others, consider him public enemy #1. The rest of the bad guys fall in behind him.
He can kiss our a$$es, too.
That might have worked with any other president...but not this one. I, and many others, consider him public enemy #1. The rest of the bad guys fall in behind him.
_________________________________________
This evil s o b is the worst enemy the United States has ever had. None, I repeat, none, have ever been more of a threat.
Our most up to date missile defenses are about 90% effective. Comforting. Adminis. thinks it is adequate, and has postponed missile programs for several years.
Fine for you and I to sit here and say these wonderful things.
HE is the president and will be for the minimum term. Imagine the damage! There is NOTHING out there to stop this man....excepting his birth certificate issue. You would think the FBI and CIA would be up on this and enable to force the truth. Perhaps with a little more time, America will reject him.... they like him but are discovering he is way over his head in policy issues. Like the classic “seems like such a nice young man, too bad he cant do his job”
I'm with you there. The other day my two sons asked why I disliked obama and what he is doing to America. The short version (we were in the car driving) was basically "He's the worst thing to happen to this Country in a hundred years, maybe ever."
Perhaps the only saving grace here is that if America can survive obama, and then return to something less socialist/fascist, pare down the monstrous government juggernaut obama is assembling... Well, they say that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Hopefully by 2012 America will have learned her lesson and not go down this path again for a long long time.
The US has taken crucial blows to its credibility due to Gates's and Obama's impotent non-responses to a tin-pot bantam rooster threatening us.
Big deal, so he’s going to move some missiles there. But is he going to turn their radar back on??? He turned it off during their last test!
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