Posted on 06/19/2009 9:29:25 PM PDT by STARWISE
A missile defense system yet to be tested in battle could be thrust to the forefront to protect US soil amid concerns that North Korea may be preparing a missile strike that could hit Hawaii.
*snip*
As a precaution, Mr. Gates has ordered a portable missile defense system called the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System, or THAAD, to be redeployed on Hawaii. A sea-based sensor system known as SBX, which is designed to alert defense systems to an airstrike within seconds, is also part of the deployment.
The THAAD system is now positioned at what's called the Pacific Missile Range on Kauai, say military officials with US Pacific Command, which is headquartered in Hawaii.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
and why exactly are we annoucing this to the world?
Y’all are keeping me sane! LOL
The THAAD antimissile system has evolved in fits and starts over the years but it is probably up to the task...
Note, the emphasis is mine. But really, this is an unflattering characterization of a very good, very capable missile system.
"It seems to work," ...
Only "seems to" ??? It has had a very successful development program. Again, sort of a left-handed compliment.
...THAAD travels on the back of...
Now is that a very nice thing to say? How about "is transported by?"
...trucks that elevate the interceptors upward like an inverted garbage truck...
Is comparing a multi-million dollar weapons system to a garbage truck unbiased journalism?
The system has been tested five times successfully but never in combat.
Had to slip in that "...never in combat..." qualification.
It is supposed to be able to shoot down a ballistic missile both inside and just outside the earth's atmosphere...
"Supposed to???" Supposed to? Makes it sound like the writer doubts it. He is supposed to be impartial, right?
..according to the US Missile Defense Agency, which says it is "highly effective"...
Again, emphasis mine. The MDA does not just say it is effective, it has proven it effective in testing.
If North Korea were to launch a missile...might use the Taepodong-2...
As if North Korea has so many missile systems to choose from to threaten the US. He's making NK sound more powerful than they really are. Sure, they are a threat, and we have to take the TD-2 seriously. But the TD-2 is the only game they have for long range, IRBMs right now.
Gives us a real-time test once again.
North Korea supplies the drone, we shoot it down.
There should be no ambigutiy.
As soon as any of Chia Pet’s missiles cross into Japanese air space, the missile is destroyed, as well as the launch pad.
defense ping/grant forward
I am hoping what you say is true; there for a long while
no one ever, ever expected such a nitwit,pansy-a$$,*fluckcluster* to take residency in the WH in Wash, D.C.
Even if North Korea were to splash a missile down in Pearle Harbor 0bama would be so incensed that he would say "oh shucks" but take no further action.
Since it's designed against nuclear armed ballistic missiles, that's actually a Good Thing.
Besides, I don't think they'll try for Hawaii, it's just too far. Alaska maybe, although that requires overflying Russia's Kamchatka peninsula, which is the usual impact area for Russian/Soviet ballistic missile tests. The Russians might not care for that.
But their is one inviting "Political" target that is within their range, Midway Island. Even they could probably manage to hit the lagoon, and even if they did hit one of the Islands by accident, with a dummy warhead, they probably wouldn't hurt anyone, since there is hardly anyone there. But its still US territory.
Even if North Korea were to splash a missile down in Pearle Harbor 0bama would be so incensed that he would say “oh shucks” but take no further action.
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Hussein 0bama is the greatest threat the United States has ever faced. Case closed!
So the LEFT suddenly embraces STARWARS
Send the thank you notes to Ronnie Ray Gun
Well, not for most of the country. But the parts vulnerable to anything the NKs have or might get anytime soon, are pretty well covered, now that they've moved a slice of the system to the area. AF is still uncovered. I'd be sending an Aegis/Standard PAC 3, equipped ship out there, just in case.
Why would they aim at a small targer which they probably couldn’t hit anyway, and just aim at a large land mass and claim success?
I agree
You nailed it.
So the LEFT suddenly embraces STARWARS
Send the thank you notes to Ronnie Ray Gun
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That’s how these sorry bastards operate. They are against every defense system; past, present and future; and when we need those systems, they rely on them.
I wonder if this is one of those systems the O denounced as unproven technology? He said he was planning to shut those down, I believe.
Don’t believe a damn thing he says.
And even if he can't hit Hawaii, it's still possible he could hit Anchorage for example, which is about 1,000 miles closer to him. Midway is a few hundred miles closer yet, and Guam, where we have a big airbase, is less than half the distance to Oahu.
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