[STARWISE]

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered the THAAD anti-missile system to be deployed in Hawaii. The system successfully intercepted a target in a test conducted on June 25, 2008 at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai.

SBX Radar: Pop-o-matic radar is watching your back

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"I would just say I think we are in a good position should it become necessary to protect American territory," Robert Gates, the Secretary of Defence, said. He conceded: "We do have some concerns if they were to launch a missile ... in the direction of Hawaii."

Mr Gates has ordered the deployment both of a floating radar, which will be stationed near the archipelago to track any incoming missiles, as well as a sophisticated Thaad – a Theatre High Altitude Area Defence ground-to-air missile interception system.

The deployments are the most vivid indicator yet of the deepening concern in Washington about North Korea. The country seems to have set itself once more on a collision course with the West, testing a Taepodong-2 missile in April and then last month detonating an underground nuclear bomb."

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[Jeff Head]

THAADS actually stands for “Theater High Altitude Air Defense System”.

[freebilly]

If NK hits Hawaii, NK would cease to exist with lots of radiation being blown into China. Never happen....

[eclecticEel]

The likelihood of NK actually landing a missile on American soil is vanishingly small. The “impossible” SDI is now fully operational. (circuitously defined pun fully intentional)

[Shadowstrike]

Am I the only one who has a concern that we shouldn’t just be ‘looking’ to Hawaii?

Have you ever known a bad guy to say “look at my right hand” so you wouldn’t see them smack you with the left?

[Williams]

First we know that Obama and all the democrats have been dead wrong attacking missile defense.

Next, we ought to know we souldnt sit around waiting to shoot down nukes. N Kores should be eliminated as a threat to this nation.

They aren’t able to nuke us yet but imagine in 5 or 10 years the treat we will be under. Carthage must be destroyed.

[jmcenanly]

If Kim Il Jong can hit Hawaii, he can almost certainly hit Alaska. Which would be a more valuable target, the possible home state of a sympathetic leader, or the state of a governor who could become a real problem if elected?

[TaxPayer2000]

Mr Gates has ordered the deployment both of a floating radar, which will be stationed near the archipelago to track any incoming missiles, as well as a sophisticated Thaad – a Theatre High Altitude Area Defence ground-to-air missile interception system.

and why exactly are we annoucing this to the world?

[CodeMasterPhilzar]

Even though this is a generally ok article, it has several subtle slights in it.

The THAAD antimissile system has evolved in fits and starts over the years but it is probably up to the task...

Note, the emphasis is mine. But really, this is an unflattering characterization of a very good, very capable missile system.

"It seems to work," ...

Only "seems to" ??? It has had a very successful development program. Again, sort of a left-handed compliment.

...THAAD travels on the back of...

Now is that a very nice thing to say? How about "is transported by?"

...trucks that elevate the interceptors upward like an inverted garbage truck...

Is comparing a multi-million dollar weapons system to a garbage truck unbiased journalism?

The system has been tested five times successfully but never in combat.

Had to slip in that "...never in combat..." qualification.

It is supposed to be able to shoot down a ballistic missile both inside and just outside the earth's atmosphere...

"Supposed to???" Supposed to? Makes it sound like the writer doubts it. He is supposed to be impartial, right?

..according to the US Missile Defense Agency, which says it is "highly effective"...

Again, emphasis mine. The MDA does not just say it is effective, it has proven it effective in testing.

If North Korea were to launch a missile...might use the Taepodong-2...

As if North Korea has so many missile systems to choose from to threaten the US. He's making NK sound more powerful than they really are. Sure, they are a threat, and we have to take the TD-2 seriously. But the TD-2 is the only game they have for long range, IRBMs right now.

[garjog]

If the interceptors don't work, think of the good side: more Flaming Nuclear Cocktails.

[exit82]

There should be no ambigutiy.

As soon as any of Chia Pet’s missiles cross into Japanese air space, the missile is destroyed, as well as the launch pad.

[gleeaikin]

defense ping/grant forward

[El Gato]

(never been used in combat)

Since it's designed against nuclear armed ballistic missiles, that's actually a Good Thing.

Besides, I don't think they'll try for Hawaii, it's just too far. Alaska maybe, although that requires overflying Russia's Kamchatka peninsula, which is the usual impact area for Russian/Soviet ballistic missile tests. The Russians might not care for that.

But their is one inviting "Political" target that is within their range, Midway Island. Even they could probably manage to hit the lagoon, and even if they did hit one of the Islands by accident, with a dummy warhead, they probably wouldn't hurt anyone, since there is hardly anyone there. But its still US territory.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

So the LEFT suddenly embraces STARWARS

Send the thank you notes to Ronnie Ray Gun

[ArmstedFragg]

I wonder if this is one of those systems the O denounced as unproven technology? He said he was planning to shut those down, I believe.

[ican'tbelieveit]

That was there in May. We saw it when we visited Pearl Harbor.

[Kozak]

Absolutely NO THANKS to the Rat party which has been fighting missile defense tooth and nail since Reagan. I will vomit if we use this system to defend Hawaii, and then the Rats rear up and brag and claim credit.

[norwaypinesavage]

It seems to me that a conventional explosive cruise missile, aimed into Kim Jong Il’s bedroom would have more permanent effect. These have already been tested in combat. I'm sure, however, The One does not have the cojones to exploit this technology.