Posted on 04/08/2013 11:38:07 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
A rogue state with nuclear weapons has repeatedly threatened war against the US and its regional allies via missile attack. North Korea even moved its missiles to the coast, and may be accelerating another nuclear-weapons test. What could send a signal of resolve in a crisis like this?
How about a budget cut to missile defense?
The Pentagon will request $9.16 billion for missile defense programs for the 2014 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, about $550 million less than this year’s $9.71 billion, according to internal budget figures obtained by Bloomberg News.
The missile defense proposal scheduled to be released April 10 is part of a $526.6 billion defense budget President Barack Obama will propose, according to government officials familiar with the budget plan who asked not to be named discussing it in advance. …
The administration’s reduced request comes despite heightened concerns about North Korean threats to attack U.S. bases in South Korea, Japan and Guam.
Funny about that, huh? That sends a message, but not necessarily one of resolve. With the present Korean crisis being acute since at least January, the White House can’t claim to have been surprised by it so badly that concerns over North Korea’s missiles missed a budget cycle.
Bloomberg reminds readers that Congress can add more money to the effort, but don’t bet on it. Last year, the Democrat-controlled Senate canceled an increase in funding for new interceptor sites because, er, the environment may have been harmed:
The request is subject to congressional scrutiny and could be increased in areas lawmakers decide to give greater emphasis, such as the ground-based system of missile interceptors based in Alaska and California to protect the U.S. Last year, House members added money to start construction of a site on the East Coast. The Senate removed the funds, asking the Pentagon to conduct an environmental impact study instead.
Nuclear missiles can be harmful for the environment, too. Small wonder that Pyongyang didn’t take us very seriously. Fox News reports on a postponed missile test and the message that sent, while the White House insisted yesterday that they weren’t bowing to North Korea. Maybe we were just bowing to the environment.
The Hill reported that the postponement was directly related to concerns over Pyongyang’s reaction:
The Pentagon has decided to delay the test of an intercontinental ballistic missile originally planned for this week, amid rising tensions with North Korea, reports said.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel decided to postpone the test of the Minuteman 3 missile at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, over fears that the launch could worsen relations with Pyongyang, a senior defense official told the Associated Press, which first reported the delay.
It's probably not a bad idea to hold off on this, but let's not pretend a postponement is unrelated to North Korea. The issue of missile defense is very much related to North Korea, and budget cuts in the middle of this crisis make zero sense, politically, diplomatically, or militarily. Talk about bad timing.
he has already done that so I guess he is cutting it even more!!!!
If our homeland is attacked King Obama must be removed and prosecuted as a communists who destroyed America.
With North Korea and soon Iran being able to reach the US and its territories with ballistic missiles we need a missile defense more than ever.
ping
O this is going to be soo much egg on his face when and if North Korea launches a missile at us.
re: O this is going to be soo much egg on his face when and if North Korea launches a missile at us.
I wish the result would be just egg on one’s face. The reality is going to be even more tragic. PEOPLE WILL DIE !!
“With North Korea and soon Iran being able to reach the US and its territories with ballistic missiles we need a missile defense more than ever.”
Indeed the more missiles they build the more defense systems we need to defend ourselfs.
This is the problem with waiting and conceding on the North Korean and Iran issues. The longer we wait the better positioned they are to do real damage.
Agree - - BHO can kiss my white ass!!
Documentation File on the harmful impact of the Counterculture of Obamanation on America.
___________________
Barry Soetoro, aka B. Hussein Obama, 5 days before the end of GWB’s Presidential term, told ‘The Gullible’ the following: “We are five days away from FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORMING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!”
Going on 5 years now, the best friends that Obama could have had to help him achieve his above stated dastardly goal were the RINO leaderships in the US House and Senate, AND THEY ARE STILL IN POWER!
_____________________
IMHO, the Counterculture of Obamanation will continue to destroy America for as long as the US Congressional RINOs allow it to, and not one minute more!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.