U.S. Fortifies Hawaii to Meet Threat From Korea

Wall Street Journal ^

[Sub-Driver]

U.S. Fortifies Hawaii to Meet Threat From Korea

By YOCHI J. DREAZEN

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. is moving ground-to-air missile defenses to Hawaii as tensions escalate between Washington and Pyongyang over North Korea's recent moves to restart its nuclear-weapon program and resume test-firing long-range missiles.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday that the U.S. is concerned that Pyongyang might soon fire a missile toward Hawaii. Some senior U.S. officials expect a North Korean test by midsummer, even though most don't believe the missile would be capable of crossing the Pacific and reaching Hawaii.

Mr. Gates told reporters that the U.S. is positioning a sophisticated floating radar array in the ocean around Hawaii to track an incoming missile. The U.S. is also deploying missile-defense weapons to Hawaii that would theoretically be capable of shooting down a North Korean missile, should such an order be given, he said.

"We do have some concerns if they were to launch a missile to the west, in the direction of Hawaii," Mr. Gates said. "We are in a good position, should it become necessary, to protect American territory."

[TBall]

I'm sorry, but I think they have shot quite a few missiles over the last month or so. KJI is very worried that BHO will be the one to bring down America. KJI has got to strike before health care gets approved.

[Dan(9698)]

I wonder what the locals there are saying?

"We voted for him. He won."

[coconutt2000]

Cool, although I heard Obama was planning on cutting the missile defense budget and selling the hardware at a used parts auction. He’s probably invited our enemies to open the bidding.

Okay, snide comments aside, the missile defense system is derided by our enemies as an escalation, meanwhile they are busy developing and building offensive weapons. Obama thinks they’re right about our defensive platform pushing them to develop more offensive weapons capability... As if they needed an incentive to try and fulfill their dream of immolating our nation and all of our citizens in a pillar of fire.

[Aquinasfan]

"We do have some concerns if they were to launch a missile to the west, in the direction of Hawaii," Mr. Gates said. "We are in a good position, should it become necessary, to protect American territory."

There's a fine line between self-defense and cowering. When there's no talk of retaliation, I'd say we're cowering.

[muawiyah]

Although Overseas Chinese have been of great financial importance to Big China in recent decades they've also been a political thorn in the side.

The oligarchs in Big China would like nothing better than to SEND A MESSAGE to all the several hundreds of million Overseas Chinese by letting North Korea lob a missile into Hawaii, the home of the RICHEST Overseas Chinese.

A missile lobbed into Alaska will do nothing but increase the price of China's oil and coal imports.

[HereInTheHeartland]

A vaporized Pearl Harbor, will earn a strongly worded rebuke from the White House and the UN.

[Aquinasfan]

Then they come storming out of their tunnels and march on Seoul.

Just throw a few steaks on the ground and they'll be too busy fighting over them to offer any resistance.

[MikefromOhio]

I'm sorry, but I think they have shot quite a few missiles over the last month or so. KJI is very worried that BHO will be the one to bring down America. KJI has got to strike before health care gets approved.

I'd respond, except I don't see how the first part of the post relates to the last part of the post.

[rawcatslyentist]

Are they planning to "building 7" the hospital?

That would CHA with his BC problem.

[Quix]

Indeed.

[MikefromOhio]

It works that way if it’s designed to work that way. Everyone thinks it’s headed out 4,000+ miles, but instead it is detonated over the Sea of Japan, and the resulting EMP wreaks havoc with everyone who has anything that works with electronics. That means everyone but the Norks, who don’t have any.

Except I there doesn't seem to be any evidence that has been put out there to show us that NoKo has that capability. It's not as easy as you or I would think otherwise someone would have done it already.

[Quix]

What an emphatic way to dispense

with . . .

the hospitals in question

the birth records office in question.

LOL.

[Deo volente]

Obama says, “Go ahead. I dare you to hit that vault with my birth certificate in it! In fact, I double-dare you!!”

I wonder if he's already provided the North Koreans with the GPS coordinates.

[BIGLOOK]

We already have systems in place, although I don't mind a little redundancy. This is reported to be a test of a solid fuel missile system (the last one wasn't and fizzled out past Japan) and Hawaii is the mile marker (or maybe it'll be somewhere near Alaska, another missile early warning site).

Looking forward to the 4th of July three day weekend fire works.

[MikefromOhio]

Actually the known capabilities of the TD-2 barely reach Midway Island.

Unless they are pulling a big fast one on the entire world, including the Chinese and Russians, they are just blowing a bunch of smoke at us, which is the MO of the NoKos....

[az_gila]

Hawaii he cares about.

Palin is going to be on her own if they point their ding dong at Alaska.

----------------------

Not exactly... These EKV units...

http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/rtnwcm/groups/rms/documents/content/rtn_rms_ps_ekv_datasheet.pdf

...are based in Ft. Greeley, Alaska...

http://www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org/web/page/558/sectionid/557/pagelevel/2/interior.aspx

EKV = Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle

[wxgesr]

“should it become necessary, to protect American territory.”

I believe that is is always necessary to protect American territory. Don’t these people read their oaths of office?
I mean, come on dude. If you don’t have that as your prime objective, get the eff out of the way and let the rest of us do your job.

[SunkenCiv]

The U.S. is moving ground-to-air missile defenses to Hawaii as tensions escalate

Best defense is a good offense.

[TBall]

My post was two sentences the first of which was directed to you. The second sentence was a jab at Obama’s insane health care plan. Sorry if I confused you.

[IM2MAD]

Wonder if Hussein would consider a ballistic missile fired at Hawaii as an act of war?

He’d probably send a thank you note if the BC were destroyed.