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War with North Korea on Independence Day?
A missile fired from North Korea would have to travel 4,500 miles before it reached the U.S. state of Hawaii
Japan is warning the United States that North Korea will fire a long-range missile at Hawaii on the 4th of July.North Korea may launch a long-range ballistic missile towards Hawaii on American Independence Day, according to Japanese intelligence officials.
The missile, believed to be a Taepodong-2 with a range of up to 4,000 miles, would be launched in early July from the Dongchang-ni site on the north-western coast of the secretive country.
Intelligence analysts do not believe the device would be capable of hitting Hawaii’s main islands, which are 4,500 miles from North Korea.
Details of the launch came from the Japan’s best-selling newspaper, Yomiuri Shimbun.
Both Japanese intelligence and U.S. reconnaissance satellites have collated information pointing to the launch, according to the report.
So, will the United States rely on the national missile defense system to protect Hawaii (shoot down the missile) or will Obama order a pre-emptive strike before the Taepodong-2 leaves the launch site?
Either way it will mean war with North Korea.
In the meantime, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has ordered the deployment of additional “protections” for Hawaii – probably Aegis missile defense ships and THAAD, The Terminal Altitude Area Defense System.
Gates told reporters at the Pentagon he has sent the military’s ground-based mobile missile system to Hawaii, and positioned a radar system nearby. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system is designed to shoot down ballistic missiles in their last stage of flight.
Joe Biden was correct. President Obama will be tested in his first six months in office by an international crisis and it looks like by North Korea. And, he really has only two choices and both lead to war.
Or, Obama can back down and accept a North Korea with nuclear armed ICBMS.
Stay tuned.
A Unha-2 rocket (Taepadong-2), supposedly carrying an experimental communication satellite Kwangmyongsong-2, as it is launched from Hwadae-gun in North Korea on April 5
Technorati Tags: North Korea, Barack Obama, Robert Gates
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North Korea Prepares to Launch Long-Range Missile Towards Hawaii
A Unha-2 rocket (Taepadong-2), supposedly carrying an experimental communication satellite Kwangmyongsong-2, as it is launched from Hwadae-gun in North Korea on April 5
Kim Jong-Il will probably show up President Obama again on Independence Day. Anyone want to bet?North Korea may fire a long-range ballistic missile toward Hawaii in early July, a Japanese news report said Thursday, as Russia and China urged the regime to return to international disarmament talks on its rogue nuclear program.
The missile, believed to be a Taepodong-2 with a range of up to 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers), would be launched from North Korea’s Dongchang-ni site on the northwestern coast, said the Yomiuri daily, Japan’s top-selling newspaper. It cited an analysis by the Japanese Defense Ministry and intelligence gathered by U.S. reconnaissance satellites.
The missile launch could come between July 4 and 8, the paper said.
While the newspaper speculated the Taepodong-2 could fly over Japan and toward Hawaii, it said the missile would not be able to hit Hawaii’s main islands, which are about 4,500 miles (7,200 kilometers) from the Korean peninsula.
So, what will be the latest “WEAK” response from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates?
This time will the United States position Aegis anti-missile ships in the region to ACTUALLY intercept the Taepodong-2?
Or will Obama allow Kim Jong-Il to have all of the 4th of July fireworks?
Technorati Tags: Kim Jong-Il, North Korea, Barack Obama, Robert Gates
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North Korea Places Long-Range Missile on Launch Pad – Test Firing Within Weeks
North Korea is continuing its tests of long-range missiles which potentially might target the United States.North Korea has positioned its most sophisticated long-range ballistic missile at a launch site for a test firing that could come within weeks, a newspaper here reported Monday.
Pyongyang, which last month raised tensions worldwide by conducting a nuclear test, could even fire its missile when South Korean President Lee Myung-bak meets President Obama in Washington on June 16, according to the report.
The Dong-a Ilbo newspaper in Seoul reported that the newest missile set for launch from the Dongchang-ni launch site on North Korea’s west coast may be a version of the Taepodong-2 rocket that Pyongyang fired in April.
The report, citing unnamed sources, said the missile has a range of up to 4,000 miles and could reach Alaska. Both South Korea and Japan acknowledged today that a new North Korean long-range missile test could come within weeks.
What is the United States response?
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates who has submitted a budget that cuts national missile defense programs said, “at this point, it’s not clear what they’re going to do.”
And, then downplays the entire affair.
Gates spoke in Manila before boarding a U.S. military jet for Alaska, where he was scheduled to view a key part of the missile defense system, the ground based interceptor silos.
In the 2010 budget, Gates proposed cutting more than a billion dollars from missile defense, halting the planned expansion of the interceptors from 30 to 44. In the wake of the North Korea test some experts, including former Defense Secretary William Cohen, have suggested rethinking those cuts.
But in an earlier roundtable with reporters, Gates said his budget will robustly fund missile defense, cutting only parts of the program, like the airborne laser, that had little chance of success. Gates said the interceptor program will get $750 million to continue its development and $200 million to sustain the existing 30 missiles.
“The 30 interceptors we have are adequate for years to come to deal with the North Korean threat as we see it developing,” Gates said.
Gates said North Korea will not be able to deploy a significant number of long range missiles in a short period of time. If they were to expand their capabilities, the U.S. would have “ample time” to build additional interceptors.
Yet, Bill Clinton’s former Secretary of Defense, William Cohen advises Gates to NOT cut the missile defense budget.
With the increasing billigerence of North Korea and Iran, why would the Obama Administration considering placing the United States at risk while it is wasting $ Billions in bailing out failed automobile companies.
Mr President, how about some priorities here.
By the way, do you think Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will give Secretary Gates an earful today about Alaska job losses as a result of Obama cuts in missile defense?
Technorati Tags: North Korea, Robert Gates, Missile Defense, Barack Obama
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Video: Does President Obama Know Who His Secretary of Defense is?
Barack Obama Flubs the name of his Secretary of Defense, Robert (Bob)Gates -
Folly of the Day: Obama Cuts Missile Defense
Political Cartoon by Michael Ramirez
It was bound to happen. President Barack Obama through his Secretary of Defense has begun reducing the defense budget, including national missile defense.We will restructure the program to focus on the rogue state and theater missile threat.
We will not increase the number of current ground-based interceptors in Alaska as had been planned. But we will continue to robustly fund continued research and development to improve the capability we already have to defend against long-range rogue missile threats – a threat North Korea’s missile launch this past weekend reminds us is real.
We will cancel the second airborne laser (ABL) prototype aircraft. We will keep the existing aircraft and shift the program to an R&D effort. The ABL program has significant affordability and technology problems and the program’s proposed operational role is highly questionable.
We will terminate the Multiple Kill Vehicle (MKV) program because of its significant technical challenges and the need to take a fresh look at the requirement.
Overall, the Missile Defense Agency program will be reduced by $1.4 billion.
In other words, no new ground-based missiles for Alaska where there are already empty silos to base them. The ABL laser program has been almost killed (is on its way out the door) and the MKV program has been killed.
All this after North Korea tests a new ICBM missile which could threaten the Western United States.
Certainly, it could be said that I feel more unsafe today with Obama as my President.
Technorati Tags: Missile Defense, Barack Obama, Robert Gates
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Will the United States Do Anything About North Korea Missile Launch? Secretary of Defense Gates – “NOPE”
Secreatry of Defense Robert Gates on Fox News Sunday yesterdayThe Secretary of Defense has made the Obama Administration’s position on the looming North Korea Taepodong-2 missile test later this week quite clear. They plan to watch and do nothing.
The United States can do nothing to stop North Korea from breaking international law in the next 10 days by firing a missile that is unlikely to be shot down by the U.S. or its allies, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday.
Appearing on “FOX News Sunday,” Gates said North Korea “probably will” fire the missile, prompting host Chris Wallace to ask: “And there’s nothing we can do about it?”
“No,” Gates answered, adding, “I would say we’re not prepared to do anything about it.”
Last week, Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, said the U.S. is “fully prepared” to shoot down the missile. But Gates said such a response is unlikely.
“I think if we had an aberrant missile, one that was headed for Hawaii, that looked like it was headed for Hawaii or something like that, we might consider it,” Gates said. “But I don’t think we have any plans to do anything like that at this point.”
North Korea has moved a missile onto a launch pad and says it will be fired by April 8. Pyonyang insists the missile is designed for carrying a communications satellite, not a nuclear warhead that the secretive nation appears bent on developing.
Gates said while he doesn’t think North Korea has the capability yet to shoot off a long-range nuclear-tipped missile, “I don’t know anyone at a senior level in the American government who does not believe this technology is intended as a mask for the development of an intercontinental ballistic missile.”
Flap looks forward to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s trip to see Kim Jong-Il to bring him some autographed basketballs like her husband’s Secretary of State did. Maybe Kim will stop his ICBM nuclear weapons program to put them in his trophy case.
How unbelievably WEAK is this crazy Obama policy toward North Korea. The Iranians who are in North Korea taking notes must be laughing their asses off.
Watch the Fox News Sunday panel discuss North Korea’s long range missile capabilities here.
Technorati Tags: Robert Gates, North Korea, Kim Jong-Il
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Missile Defense Watch: Gates – Missile Defense in Eastern Europe Continues
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks with the media after a meeting with the Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, not shown, at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Friday June 15, 2007. Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ assertion that the Bush administration will not replace its plan for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe with Russia’s counterproposal for a radar site in Azerbaijan was met with silence from the Russians Friday.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the Bush administration is not willing to replace its plan for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe with Russia’s counterproposal for a radar site in Azerbaijan.
And NATO is drawing up plans for an additional short range missile defense plan for Southern Europe:
Meanwhile, NATO ordered its military experts to draw up plans for a possible short-range missile defense system to protect nations on the alliance’s southern flank that would be left exposed by proposed U.S. anti-missile units in central Europe.
According to U.S. and NATO officials, the addition of the European bases to anti-missile installations in North America would protect most of Europe from the threat of long-range attack from Iran or elsewhere in the Middle East. But it would leave Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and parts of Romania exposed.
To fill that gap, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said NATO experts would produce a report by February on short-range anti-missile defenses “that can be bolted on to the overall missile defense system as it would be installed by the United States.”
Now, will Putin cancel his meeting with President Bush in July?
Stay tuned……
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, right, shakes hands with Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Friday June 15, 2007.
Previous:
Cox & Forkum: G-8 Party Crasher
Missile Defense Watch: Bush Talks Tough on Missile Defense
Missile Defense Watch: Russia’s Putin Blames America for New Arms Race
Missile Defense Watch: Russia Tests New ICBM – RS-24
Missile Defense Watch: Ground-based Midcourse Defense System Test – Postponed Until Summer
Missile Defense Watch: Ground-based Midcourse Defense System To Be Tested Thursday
Missile Defense Watch: USA and Israel in $205 Million Missile Defense Deal
Missile Defense Watch: Russia and USA Clash Over European Missile Shield
Missile Defense Watch: THAAD Missile Defense Test is Successful
Missile Defense Watch: United States Missile Defense Operational Within a Year
Technorati Tags: Missile Defense Agency, Missile Defense
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Missile Defense Watch: Russia and USA Clash Over European Missile Shield
Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L) smiles during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow’s Kremlin April 23, 2007.
US, Russia clash over missile shield for Europe
Russia rebuffed Monday an attempt by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates to soften opposition to Washington’s plan for a missile defence shield in Europe, saying it threatens global security.
Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov told Gates in Moscow that the planned system “is a seriously destabilizing factor that can have a significant influence on regional and global security.”
Gates, who also met with President Vladimir Putin, came to Moscow reiterating Pentagon reassurances that the anti-missile shield would not be aimed at Russia and also holding out offers of cooperation.
“In my talks with the Russian leaders we’ll reiterate that the United States is willing to explore cooperation with Russia across the full spectrum of missile defence activities,” he said.
Gates told Serdyukov that he wanted “to see how we can more positively develop our military-to-military relationship.”
However, there was little sign of progress in easing Moscow’s opposition.
“I would like to underline the point that the Russian position with respect to this issue remains unchanged,” Serdyukov said.
This will be the beginning of years of negotiations between the United States and Russia – Cold War style.
TRUST BUT VERIFY.
But, didn’t President Reagan say that America would share the missile defense technology with the Soviets so that nuclear stockpiles could be MUTUALLY reduced?
Previous:
Missile Defense Watch: THAAD Missile Defense Test is Successful
Missile Defense Watch: United States Missile Defense Operational Within a Year
China Watch: China Uses Ballistic Missile to Destroy a Satellite in Space
Missile Defense Watch: U.S. Missile Defense Agency Rolls Out the Airborne Laser (ABL) Aircraft
Missile Defense Watch: The LEFT’S Revisionist History on Missile Defense
Missile Defense Watch: Reagan’s Vision
Missile Defense Watch: Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld Tours Alaska Missile Defense Center
Missile Defense Watch: United States and Israel Collaborating on Missile Defense
Missile Defense Watch: “Concept of Operations†To Be Done by Fall
Technorati Tags: MissileDefenseAgency, Russia, VladimirPutin
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Robert Gates Watch: Gates Confirmed as Secretary of Defense
Defense Secretary-designate Robert Gates, President Bush’s choice to replace Donald Rumsfeld, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006 at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
AP: Gates confirmed as secretary of defense
The Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to confirm Robert Gates as defense secretary, with Democrats and Republicans portraying him as the man who will help overhaul President Bush’s Iraq policies.
The 95-2 vote was a victory for Bush, who named Gates to replace Donald H. Rumsfeld at the
Pentagon on Nov. 8, a day after voters gave Democrats control of Congress for next year.Even so, much of Gates’ support stemmed from his pledges to consider new options in Iraq. The vote coincided with the release of an independent study lambasting Bush’s approach to the war, increasing pressure on the White House to change course.
“I am confident that his leadership and capabilities will help our country meet its current military challenges and prepare for emerging threats of the 21st century,” Bush said in a statement after the Senate vote.
He said Gates had shown during his confirmation hearing this week before the
Senate Armed Services Committee that he is “an experienced, qualified, and thoughtful man who is well respected by members of both parties and is committed to winning the war on terror.”But, look who voted against Gate’s confirmation.
Two Bush allies, Sens. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Jim Bunning, R-Ky., voted against Gates, citing his criticism of the war and his view that the U.S. should engage Iran as part of a solution.
“Mr. Gates has repeatedly criticized our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan without providing any viable solutions to the problems our troops currently face,” Bunning said. “We need a secretary of defense to think forward with solutions and not backward on history we cannot change.”
Santorum, who lost his re-election bid last month, said the U.S. needs to confront Iran rather than “engaging someone who is at war with us. I think he is in error.”
Hugh Hewitt has Gates and Byrd on Iran and Syria
The most important exchanges from the Gates confirmation hearings today came when Senator Robert Byrd questioned the Secretary-designate on Iran and Syria. Not only did Mr. Gates answer Senator Byrd’s hypotheticals in ways that had to encourage the mullahs of Iran and the thugs of Syria, he did so in addition to questioning the president’s authority under the AUMF to pursue any terrorists operating out of Iranian or Syria:…..
Read it all…….
The real news came from his answers on Iran, which raise serious questions about the direction of US policy.
When asked by a senator whether he thought Iranian President Ahmadinejad was “kidding” when he denied the Holocaust and called for “wiping Israel off the map,” Gates responded: “No, I don’t think he’s kidding. But I think that there are, in fact, higher powers in Iran than he, than the president. And … while they are certainly pressing, in my opinion, for a nuclear capability, I think that they would see it in the first instance as a deterrent.
“They are surrounded by powers with nuclear weapons – Pakistan to their east, the Russians to the north, the Israelis to the west, and us in the Persian Gulf.”
The senator followed up, “Can you assure the Israelis that they will not attack Israel with a nuclear weapon, if they acquire one?”
Gates responded coldly, “No, sir, I don’t think that anybody can provide that assurance.”
Read it all….
Flap would not have nominated nor voted to confirm Dr. Gates.
Is President Bush going backwards? Or is he attempting to accomodate the newly empowered Democrats?
Bush’s conduct after the November election is like a deer in the roadway startled by car headlights.
The Mullahs and Jihadists must be laughing their asses off and LICKING THEIR CHOPS to pick at the GREAT SATAN and Bush.
Technorati Tags: RobertGates, HughHewitt, RickSantorum, JimBunning
