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.
I just heard an EAM go out on 8992 khz. Of course, I have no idea what it meant since it was 46 numbers and letters
Wow, what do you think it means?
A who knows...they send out fake ones all the time.....but usually they are shorter. I didnt get the sending station, but I suspect West Coast since it was pretty audible in Los Angeles.
I hope that China is not using N Korea to test our defenses for their gain...
I just heard an EAM go out on 8992 khz. Of course, I have no idea what it meant since it was 46 numbers and letters.
Instruction to arm. Defcon change?
Before Gulf War I, almost no one knew about the stealth bombers and their capabilities. No one in the public really knows what the U.S. Military currently has operational in an up-stream sense. Perhaps the KorComms are about to aid in a demonstration of the future. Bring it on Kim Jong Weenie.
We could do that with a single conventional cruise missile right now before it even launches.
"FYI and discussion"
I hope you don't mean MEANINGFUL discussion.
My discussion is ka-BOOM!
Pinch is achieved.
I would love to see the missile and the whole facility destroyed BEFORE any "test launch" takes place. Just think what would happen if terrorists paid the NK for a launching? I would also like to see the NK fearless leader bombed while sleeping. My real ecstasy would be for us to take out the leaders of NK, Venequela, and Iran all at the same time. Sort of like the hits in "The Godfather".
Actually, I wouldn't mind it too much if Syria became a glass-paved parking lot. Isn't that what happens when sand is heated to some very high temperature?
As long as I'm on a cranky roll, I'd like to see ignore all politics and conduct the war in Iraq the way it should be done. Turn the military loose and let them do the job!
Take out on boost works best and I think there a US naval warships capable of doing that. If so they are no doubt already on station.
Bush just tells Kim Jung Il "Ok, you test your missile and WE'LL use that to TEST OURS TOO, OK?"
I assume that EAMs are encrypted. I'm surprised it is easy to listen in for them. Assuming it is, however, how often do EAMs go out? Is this a very unusual event?
"I would like to think we have several cruise missles locked on to the launch site prepared to take the thing out BEFORE it lauches. A ounce of prevention and all that..."
Amen to that
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