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Shocking: United States Has NO PLANS to Intercept North Korea Missile – Hillary Clinton
Not really a shocker from a Secretary of State whose husband’s Secretary of State used to toast Kim Jong-il and give him autographed basketballs. Yet, the United States has deployed assets off the coast of North Korea.The United States has no plans to shoot down the North Korean rocket, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday in an interview with CNN’s Jill Dougherty, but will raise the issue with the U.N. Security Council if Pyongyang carries out a launch.
“We are doing our best to dissuade the North Koreans from going forward, because it is provocative action,†Clinton said. “It raises questions about their compliance with the Security Council Resolution 1718. And if they persist and go forward, we will take it up in appropriate channels.â€
Flap’s bet: Japan WILL shoot down the missile while Obama and Hillary try to talk it out of the sky with the United Nations.
Technorati Tags: North Korea, Hillary Clinton, Kim Jong-il, Missile Defense
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United States Deploys USS McCain and USS Chafee With Aegis Anti-Missile Technology Off North Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il (C) visits to the construction place for the Heechon power plant at an undisclosed place in North Korea, in this picture released by North Korea’s official news agency KCNA March 26, 2009. North Korea has put a long-range missile in place for a launch the United States warned would violate U.N. sanctions already imposed on the reclusive state for past weapons tests
The United States Navy has stated that two destroyers (USS McCain and USS Chafee) which are fitted with Aegis anti-missile technology have left port in Japan to patrol the waters off of North Korea in the event of a missile launch.The US Navy spokesman said the two destroyers – the USS McCain and USS Chafee – equipped with Aegis technology capable of tracking and destroying missiles had left Sasebo port in southwestern Japan. “I would say we are ready for any contingencies,” he added.
And, Japan has previously stated that they would shoot down the Taepodong-2 missile should North Korea launch it (Target dates: April 4 – 8).
Stay tuned…….
Technorati Tags: North Korea, USS McCain, USS Chafee, Kim Jong-il, Missile Defense, Aegis
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North Korea Readies Taepodong-2 Missile for Launch – Obama Begins the End of Missile Defense?
Satellite image of Musudan Ri, North Korea, taken on February 17, 2009. North Korea has positioned what is believed to be a Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile on its launch pad at a facility in Musudanri, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported on Wednesday, citing “sources close to Japan-U.S. relations.”
North Korea is preparing a Taepodong-2 ICBM missile which could threaten Alaska, Hawaii and the Western United States for testing within a few weeks.North Korea has positioned a Taepodong-2 missile on the launchpad at its facility in Musudan in the east of the country, U.S. officials told NBC News on Wednesday.
Pyongyang has said it intends to use the missile to launch a satellite into space. The North Koreans issued an international notice that the launch may occur sometime between April 4 through the 8th.
According to the U.S. officials, while two stages of the missile can be seen, the top is covered with a shroud supported by a crane.
But now that the missile is on the pad, the launch itself could come within a matter of days, a likelihood that has sparked a flurry of diplomatic activity as the event would be in violation of a U.N. ban prohibiting the country from ballistic activity. Some fear the launch is a cover for the test-fire of long-range missile technology.
North Korea has described the pending launch a “peaceful space launch,” but U.S. officials and experts say it would employ the very same technology used to launch ballistic missiles, and if successful it would be the first proof that North Korea would have the ability to launch a ballistic missile against at least Alaska or Hawaii.
Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair testified before Congress that a successful test of a three-stage rocket would demonstrate North Korea’s ability to reach the continental United States with a ballistic missile.
Japan has threatened to shoot down the North Korean missile but the United States does have Aegis missile defense assets in the region.
As for US intercept plans, the Navy left two Aegis missile defense ships behind from the armada sent to the Sea of Japan for war games. Could the US shooter be the USS John S. McCain?
And, what was the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff saying the other day:“Ballistic missiles are about as passé as sea mail. Nobody does it anymore.â€
The Democrats, including President Obama have never been big fans of the missile defense agency or the concept of national missile defense that accelerated its work under President Bush. But, why now, with an imminent threat would the United States begin to scale back its program and eliminate deployments of interceptors.How stupid……
Technorati Tags: North Korea, Missile Defense, Taepodong-2
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Japan Threatens to Shoot Down North Korean Missile
Japan today threatened to shoot down a North Korean missile or “SATELLITE LAUNCHER.”
Tokyo’s warning that it would deploy its multibillion-dollar missile defence system raised tensions in the region after North Korea said that it had identified a potential “danger area” near Japanese territory along the rocket’s flight path.
The regime told the International Maritime Organisation that the missile would be launched during daylight between 4 and 8 April, and that its boosters would fall into the Sea of Japan – about 75 miles (120km) from Japan’s north-west coast – and the Pacific Ocean.
Officials in Tokyo said they reserved the right to destroy any threatening object in mid-flight, despite North Korean warnings that it would consider such a move an act of war.
“Under our law, we can intercept any object if it is falling towards Japan, including any attacks on Japan, for our security,” Takeo Kawamura, the chief cabinet secretary, told reporters.
This North Korean satellite launcher is widely suspected to be a test of a Taepodong-2 ballistic missile with a range that threatens Alaska and Hawaii.
The Taepodong-2 long-range missile is estimated to have a range of between 5,000 and 6,000 km, putting Alaska, Hawaii and parts of the west coast of the US within range.
But the first launch of the missile, in July 2006, appeared to be a failure after it crashed within seconds of launch – according to US sources.
If the missile was successfully launched, it is not thought to be particularly accurate or to be able to carry a large warhead.
Like the Taepodong-1, it requires a fixed launch site.
The Taepodong-2 test took place from the Musudan-ri complex on the East coast of the Korean peninsula. Analysis of satellite images of the area appear to show a range of missile fabrication, fuelling, testing and control facilities.
Japan’s threat is not surprising but the United States has their missile defense Aegis fleet in position and they have been conducting joint-training exercises.In a move to strengthen its missile defense against North Korean missile threats, the U.S. Navy has deployed more warships equipped with the Aegis Combat System for this year’s Key Resolve/Foal Eagle joint military exercises with South Korean forces than it did before, according to a news report.
According to the report, the U.S. Navy dispatched seven of its Aegis warships to the eastern coast of Korea to conduct exercises with South Korea’s 7,600-ton Sejong the Great Aegis destroyer during the annual combined command-post/joint field training exercises March 9-20.
Officials of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) declined to comment on the report, citing the issue’s sensitivity.
The Aegis warships, used in intercepting high-flying ballistic missiles with advanced SM-2 or SM-3 ship-to-air missiles, are part of the U.S. multi-layered missile defense shield. The Aegis system built by Lockheed Martin is the world’s premier surface-to-air/fire-control system, capable of simultaneous operations against aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles, ships and submarines.
Should North Korea proceed with the test either Japan or the United States WILL attempt to shoot down the missile.
North Korea’s last test failed or so it is reported. Flap always suspected espionage or successful deployment of a stealth missile defense as the reason for failure.
Exit question: Will North Korea which has certainly received the attention of the new American President push the envelope?
Technorati Tags: North Korea, Missile Defense
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North Korea Warns United States About Counterstrike And War Over Missile/Satellite Test
North Korea has issued the warning and will this be the first foreign policy test of President Barack Obama?North Korea warned Monday that any move to intercept what it calls a satellite launch and what other countries suspect may be a missile test-firing would result in a counterstrike against the countries trying to stop it.
“We will retaliate (over) any act of intercepting our satellite for peaceful purposes with prompt counterstrikes by the most powerful military means,” the official Korean Central News Agency quoted a spokesman of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army as saying.
If countries such as the United States, Japan or South Korea try to intercept the launch, the North Korean military will carry out “a just retaliatory strike operation not only against all the interceptor means involved but against the strongholds” of the countries, it said.
“Shooting our satellite for peaceful purposes will precisely mean a war,” it added.
North Korea earlier announced it is preparing to put a communications satellite into space, but outside observers suspect it may in fact be a test-firing of a long-range ballistic missile.
The United States with its Aegis missile defense system could be deployed against the North Korea missile test which is masquerading as a space satellite launch. But, will Obama order the confrontation that could lead to another Korean War?
Obama and his Democrat allies in the United States Senate like Kennedy, Kerry and Levin, plus vice President Joe Biden have never been fond of a national missile defense program that is now operational and protecting the Western United States from a North Korean nuclear ICBM launch. Now, will Obama use it against a legitimate threat to America?
Stay tuned……
Technorati Tags: North Korea, Aegis, Missile Defense
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Russia To a WEAK Obama – No “HAGGLING” Over Missile Defense and Our Friend Iran
Just like in Poker, Russia has called Baracack Obama’s bluff regarding missile defense and Iran.Russian President Dmitri Medvedev on Tuesday showed willingness to discuss the US-planned missile defence system opposed by Moscow, but without “haggling” linking it to Iran. Medvedev was commenting during a visit to Spain on an alleged offer by US President Barack Obama to halt the defence system if Iran could be convinced to give up nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
The New York Times earlier reported that Obama had sent a secret letter to Medvedev.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in Madrid, Medvedev welcomed the “positive signals” coming from the Obama administration with which he hoped to reach “agreements.”
“Haggling,” however, was not “productive,” Medvedev said.
If the Obama administration showed “common sense” in proposing a “common shield against all types of threats” and reconsidered its plans of a missile defence system which could target Russia, Moscow would be prepared to negotiate, Medvedev said.
The New York Times reported earlier on its website that Obama last month offered a halt to the US-planned missile defence system opposed by Moscow if Iran could be convinced to relinquish nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
Citing US officials speaking on condition of anonymity, the Times reported that Obama sent a secret letter three weeks ago to Medvedev.
The offer was described as offering Russia an incentive to help the US and other Western powers achieve a halt to any Iranian programmes that could lead to military nuclear capabilities and long- range delivery systems for warheads.
If the Iranian threat were removed, the US could forego the missile defence system, the letter was described as saying.
Does the United States look WEAK or what?
Barack Obama is a ROOKIE and the Russians know it and are playing him like a fiddle. Now, will Hillary who will meet with the Russians on Friday be able to save some face for America?
Exit question: Wonder if Obama will NOW change his negotiations with American enemies without preconditions APPEASEMENT policy?
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Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Iran, Missile Defense, Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin
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Obama To Appease Russia on Missle Defense Plans?
Say what?President Obama is writing Russia to bargain away missile defense plans in Poland and the Czech Republic for what?
Talking to Ahmadinejad and the Iranian Mullahs?
Washington has told Moscow that Russian help in resolving Iran’s nuclear program would make its missile shield plans for Europe unnecessary, a Russian daily said on Monday, citing White House sources.
U.S. President Barack Obama made the proposal on Iran in a letter to his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, Kommersant said, referring to unidentified U.S. officials.
Iran’s controversial nuclear program was cited by the U.S. as one of the reasons behind its plans to deploy a missile base in Poland and radar in the Czech Republic. The missile shield has been strongly opposed by Russia, which views it as a threat to its national security. The dispute has strained relations between the former Cold War rivals, already tense over a host of other differences.
The leaders have exchanged letters and had a telephone conversation since Obama was sworn into office in January, Kommersant said. The first high-level Russia-U.S. meeting will take place later this week, when Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Geneva.
Moscow has not yet responded to the proposal by Obama, the paper said, adding that a decision was unlikely to be made during Lavrov and Clinton’s meeting.
Frak, the USA and Europe have been talking to the Iranians forever – to no result.
This is crazy nutsoid policy by the Obama administration. It drives a wedge between our NATO European allies and the Eastern Block nations of the former Soviet Union who want no part of Russia or missile threats from Iran.
Divide and conquer is the OBVIOUS Russian ploy here. No wonder Vladimir Putin is winking to Dmitry Medvedev above.
To think the Far LEFT actually thought President George W. Bush was stupid.
If the shoe fits Obama.
Flap certainly does not feel safer tonight.
Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Missile Defense, Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin
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The American Airborne Laser to Protect Israel from Iranian Missiles?
Boeings Airborne Laser (ABL) will locate and track missiles in the boost phase of their flight, then accurately point and fire the high-energy laser, destroying enemy missiles near their launch areas.Flap was thinking this morning about Israel’s pronouncement about the possibility of attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities and wondering what would protect Israel or other American allies in the Middle East from Iran’s missile retaliation?
The controversy regarding Poland and land-based missile defense has been discussed previously. But, this program is to protect the United States and will be limited in scope.
Then, Captain Ed pointed Flap to the Airborne Laser Program which recently accomplished another successful test.
Unlike its fixed-site cousins, the ground-based interceptors deployed in California and Alaska and (hopefully) Europe, ABL aircraft can be deployed where needed and are reusable.
Not only can they patrol off unfriendly nations, they would be quite useful patrolling our shores.
We have pointed out the dangers of an Iranian freighter launching a Shahab that would detonate its warhead high over the United States, unleashing an electromagnetic pulse that would send our high-tech economy back to the days of the covered wagons.
Lt. Gen. Henry Obering III, director of the Missile Defense Agency, in announcing the flight testing of the ABL system in late 2005, said he welcomed critics’ comparison to the “Star Wars” movies.
He said at the rollout ceremony, in words that will make the Democratic opponents of missile defense cringe: “I believe we are building the forces of good to beat the forces of evil. . . . We are taking a major step in giving the American people their first light saber.”
Now, does the reader see the urgency to slow down the Iranian nuclear program while accelerating the testing and early deployment of such an airborne anti-missile system?
This system would deter Iran or any other nation, like North Korea from launching a surprise or retaliatory missile attack against the United States or any friend. It buys the attacked nation time to marshall resources for an effective counter-attack and creates uncertainty as to the effectiveness of the initial attack.
How many of these ABL systems do you think Israel will purchase from the United States?
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Video: 33 Minutes – America’s Missile Defense in a New Missile Age
The HD film will be released February 2009, and will outline what immediate steps need to be taken to protect America and its citizensComing from The Heritage Foundation – 33 minutes and why it is important in this new missile age.
In the Winter of 2009, The Heritage Foundation will release a high-definition documentary that tells the story of the very real threat that hostile nations and rogue dictators now pose to every one of us. In 33 minutes or less, life as we know it in America could end. That’s the time it would take for an enemy’s ballistic missile to hit the United States.
Aptly named, “33 Minutes: Protecting America in the New Missile Age”, our documentary will be a key component in exposing our vulnerability to moms, dads and citizens across the country. The time has come to revive the strategic missile defense system that America uniquely can develop, maintain and employ for its own defense and the peace-loving world’s security. Stay tuned for a complete site launch within the next few weeks which will include much more detailed information related to the film and why 33 Minutes is so important.
It is reported that Barack Obama will continue national missile defense “if it works.” Well, it works but will Obama succumb to many members of his Democrat Party like Senators Carl Levin and John Kerry, plus vice President Joe Biden who have voted to gut the program over the years?
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Will Barack Obama Continue Missile Defense?
Technorati Tags: Missile Defense, Barack Obama
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Will Barack Obama Continue Missile Defense?
Will newly elected President Barack Obama continue with the missile defense system first proposed during the Reagan Administration but flourished under President George W. Bush?Likely says this piece in Time Magazine.
President George W. Bush promised to build a “Star Wars” missile shield, and he has kept that promise — even if there is no guarantee if the shield works or that it increases security. There has indeed been much Democratic derision focused on what has mostly been seen as a Republican program, one that has been lavished with $100 billion since Ronald Reagan called for such a shield at the height of the Cold War in 1983.
But even in a Democratic-run Pentagon the push for missile defense is going to continue. If Obama keeps Defense Secretary Robert Gates on, as some advisers are arguing he should, that would come as no surprise. “Russia has nothing to fear from a defensive missile shield,” Gates said Thursday as he argued for extending the system to Europe. The current plan is to place 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a missile-tracking radar in the Czech Republic by 2014. It’s strongly opposed by Russia, which views it as an unwelcome military threat in a region where it has always been pre-eminent. The other leading contender for the Pentagon post is Richard Danzig, a Clinton Navy secretary, who recently told reporters that the Obama team has “a strong view that national missile defense is a rewarding area and should be invested in.”
With Iran and North Korea beating the drums of a nefarious missile offense, it would be foolish for an Obama Administration to scale back a “DEFENSIVE” system which would discourage hostilities from these rogue states.
Plus, there are the issues of a resurgent, bellicose Russia with their large contingent of land based nuclear tipped missiles and an emerging China which has already demonstrated hostility towards the United States in space.
Now, whether Obama extends the misslie shield to Europe, may be one of his first national security calls. And, should Obama change direction, acquiesces to Russian demands and then Europe is blackmailed by Iran and/or Russia, the Bay of Pigs of John Kennedy may translate over to “The One.”
Flap bets he makes some pronouncements and superficial cuts to mollify some lefty Democrats and then supplements the apporpriation in his “BLACK” (Secret) budget.
Stay tuned…..
Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Missile Defense