Posted on 06/20/2006 4:53:29 PM PDT by Momaw Nadon
WASHINGTON — Those in charge of the nation’s missile defense system have often said the interceptors based at Fort Greely could be used in a pinch. Today, amid reports that North Korea is about to launch a missile capable of reaching the United States, officials wouldn’t say whether that pinch has arrived.
“There are many options available, and we are simply not going to tip our hand as to what the possible response would be,” White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters on a flight to Vienna with President Bush earlier today. Snow’s comments were made to pool reporters traveling with the president and made available by the White House.
North Korea is reportedly in the process of fueling one of its Taepodong-2 missiles, which experts say have a range that put Alaska and the western U.S. within their reach.
Military spokesmen also declined to speculate about media reports quoting unnamed officials who say the missile defense system has been placed in “operational” status in response to North Korea’s threatened missile launch.
“The Department of Defense does not comment on the operational status of any weapons system,” said Pentagon spokesman Brian Maka.
Missile Defense Agency spokesman Rick Lehner said his agency is in charge of developing the system, not operating it, so he had no comment on whether it is now operational. Not that he could say anything anyway, he added.
“Anytime it’s ever been brought to operational status, it’s been classified,” he said.
If the interceptors are in an “operational” mode, as opposed to a “test” mode, it would mean several things, according to those who have studied and debated the system from outside the government.
Sensor systems such as radars and satellites will “essentially focus on the fairly well-known launch point of this missile,” said Baker Spring, a defense expert at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.
Also, he said, “it means having the interceptor missiles in a position where they can be launched in accordance with what the sensors are telling them would be some kind of substantial threat to the United States.”
John Isaacs, executive director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, said the most noticeable difference would be that military personnel would start covering essential posts around the clock.
When the system is not in operational status, “they don’t have soldiers staffing it at all times, especially at the interceptor sites in Alaska and California,” Isaacs said.
Leslie Ozawa, public affairs officer at Fort Greely, said today that “we’re not doing anything different.” He said he could not discuss the status of the interceptors, nine of which, at last report, rest in silos at the post 100 miles southeast of Fairbanks. Two more interceptors are located at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
They can. What counts is how many missiles get through. Some will, some won't. That is what should prevent an enemy from even trying: he won't know which missiles will get through, so his military plans will be useless and what comes back will make his military plans irrelevant anyway. A further complication is that the missile defense would have to be neutralized before the main attack and that will provide enough time to make the necessary response and put an end to the threat. There will be some successful strikes; that is impossible to stop completely.
I wasn't aware that NK is prepared to launch more than one.
I've got a dumb question.
If this is just a test launch -- why shoot it down?
If we are going to shoot it down -- is it really aimed at us?
If they wish to jump the shark they need launch only one. They have several if they wish to go for it, and they have 30,000 artillery tubes a day's drive from Seoul.
There is something else going on related to the conditions of ceasefire obtained in the early fifties. Nobody is worried about the missile itself but the fact of its launch in violation of the ceasefire.
When civilized countries are going to test they notify the world as to trajectory and target. NK is not telling anyone anything. We are well within our rights to practice due diligence.
Splash one incoming kimchee crockpot duct-taped onto the nose of a Hooflungdong II.
Those answers help. Thanks!
N Kor can launch multiple missiles against S Kor and Japan. The N Kor ICBM capability is limited to some kind of automatic suicide-by-cop system.
Remember the post from a day or so ago, showing the 3 aircraft carriers?
A poster asked, "Aren't they suppossed to have submarines with the fleet? Where are the submarines?"
Now you know! :)
Mrs. Submareener says:"We should be very diplomatic and meet them half way! .... Somewhere over the Pacific!"
-ccm
N.Korea will either implode or explode within the next 10 years unless they are bailed out by S.Korea or China. The hope is they will implode rather than strike out at the US or its allies.
Perhaps we can help with its demolition.
Perhaps we can help with its demolition.
nope....he dont know.....very few do......they were prolly already there laying on the ocean floor in silence....
A moment of thanks for the great Ronaldo Maximus and his refusal to submit that all we could do in the face of a rogue launch was "ride it out." President Reagan, I miss you so much.
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