Obama Should Shoot Down North Korea’s Missile
Vice President Biden once warned that the world would “test” Barack Obama. According to a multitude of reports, that slimy toad Kim Jong Il will be the first to take up the challenge. North Korea is preparing a launch of its Taepodong-2 long-range missile, which would constitute an unjustified provocation from North Korea, although it would be entirely consistent with Kim’s previous patterns of behavior.
Victor D. Cha, the former director for Asian affairs in Bush’s White House, describes these North Korean escalations as “coercive bargaining” in his 2003 book Nuclear North Korea: A Debate on Engagement Strategies. Cha explains:
These provocations are deliberate pinpricks — i.e., they fall short of all-out war but are serious enough to rattle the allies and raise concerns about escalation. Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo are thus manipulated into the awkward position of wanting to respond punitively to DPRK misbehavior, but are constrained by fears of provoking an unnecessary and costly larger conflict. As a result, the allies usually issue a denouncement of the DPRK act, but still come to the negotiating table to reduce tensions. From Pyongyang’s perspective, the purpose of these provocations is not to win some military advantage but to create a crisis, disrupting the status quo and initiating a coercive bargaining process that eventuates in a new status quo on current or new negotiations more favorable to the North.
It is high time we stop playing Kim’s game. There is no better person than a new president — and no better time than an economic crisis — to take serious and swift action against such a tyrannical despot hell bent on nuclear proliferation.
In short, we should blow the North Korean missile out of the sky. Here’s why:
Struggling through an economic downturn, Americans are more worried and anxious about domestic issues. The world’s tyrants sense this and look on advantageously. Additionally, President Obama is perceived around the world as a borderline pacifist. His is not only a new, untested administration, but he himself is a new, inexperienced face on the international scene. (In case you’re wondering, the tyrants like that, too.)
Kim Jong Il no doubt feels more comfortable provoking Obama than he would have, say, John McCain. It should be President Obama’s mission, then, to force Kim out of his comfort zone by taking a hard line against Pyongyang. Standing up to North Korea in a brazen fashion would be unexpected at this time and would be unexpected from this administration. It would come as a surprise to Kim’s inner circle — and to dictators all over the globe — which is all the more reason why Obama should consider doing it.
Mr. Obama has made it known that he wants to champion diplomacy during his presidency. He can do that cause a great long-term service if he draws a line in the sand now. Future diplomacy with the North Koreans, with the Iranians, with the Palestinians — with whomever — will carry a lot more credibility in 2010, 2011, and 2012 should Obama prove himself to be no pushover in 2009.
This is a perfect opportunity. Obama should seize it.
Secretary of Defense Gates has said, “I would say we’re not prepared to do anything about it.”
And this is most likely what the mullah obamaham will do, nothing. He and his collective dorks will wring their hands, say all the “correct” things and make a complaint to that powerhouse of impotence, the United nations of islamofacism. That will really show them how tough Obambi will be!
By all and whatever means we have, this missle should be shot down. Duh, the wack job nutcase iranians are there. They are not their for a holiday, that we can be sure of. But being a socialist at heart and action, BHO will make sure he talks nice and pretty to North Korea, and will toss in an apology to make sure our position will be as non threatening as possible.
Obama can always open said dialogue with a warm and red, “welcome comrade!”
This is a joke right? To think a marxist surrender monkey is going to take action against North Korea is a pipe dream.
Bush didnt do squat about N Korea or its previous missile launches, but now we are supposed to shoot their missile down to prove the new president is not weak, Ridiculous.
This is flimsy foreign policy at best, shortsighted brinkmanship at worst. Its nonsense like this that makes the USA appear foolish. If you want to shoot their missile down be prepared to invade and take large losses of life on both sides including nuclear exchange.
Please think the proposed action through to the end. Wars are won or lost long before the first shot is fired, it takes thoughful strategy, research and logistics.
Obama is WEAK, and indecisive.
There is no need to shoot down North Korea’s missile and it might be impossible to do.
Their last missile was only up in the air for 40 seconds. Soap bubbles stay in the air longer than that.
If North Korea ever proves that their missiles are more deadly than soap bubbles we can re-examine this question, but for now expect another failure.
Are they 100% sure they can shoot it down? Wouldn’t this be an act of war if they did? Might it be even worse if they attempted this and missed? The surest way would be to hit the launch site, it seems to me but President Obama’s not going there, I’d wager.
OK, here’s how we frame it: “Thank you, Mr. Kim, for allowing us to partake in Joint Exercise Magic Pebbles with you. You fire a missile, and we try to shoot it down– Target practice.”
I’m sure that would be much more politic than just rudely shooting it down.
The North Koreans claim they’re going to launch a satellite. Under the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, all nations have that right. A rocket carrying a satellite flies a different trajectory than a ballistic missile so it wouldn’t be hard to know whether or not it’s a space shot. If it’s a satellite shot, let it go. If it’s a missile shot, shoot it down.
It comes down to the interesting question of which is more likely to fail, N. Korean missles or US SDI.
I say they’d both fail. If the US was smart they won’t expose their missle defence weaknesses.
I still bet on North Korean failure. It might be a failed sattelite, it might be a ballistic missle failure, but if I could find a bookie stupid enough to bet against me I could make a tidy packet by consistently betting that Kim’s grand dreams won’t work.
Leftists have no enemies to their left.
Fat Boy (Kim Jong Il’s nickname when his daddy was alive) is manageable. In reality he serves little to no threat to anyone but his own people. He does this type of thing every couple of years so he feels important and gets the chance to renegotiate. If he didn’t do that the world would ignore him completely. And that doesn’t bode well for an egomaniac with bad hair.
What will we do? We’ll throw up some mild finger wagging, renegotiate their free rice deal and go on to more pressing issues, like middle east terrorism.
what should we do? Drop a missile on the launch site before it gets off the ground. When he threatens retaliation give him the GPS coordinates of his home and the serial number of the next Tomahawk. We won’t do it though. It’d make our creditors (China) mad.
I agree with what Newt Gingrich said last night: we should take the missile out on the launch pad. Use the B-2 Stealth Bomber, or a cruise missile or a Special Forces Team. Then simply deny everything. Taking the missile out in flight gives the N. Koreans valuable information about their rocket. It would give them valuable information on how to defeat our missile defense. And finally it would be a disaster if the missile got through — the anti-strategic defense nuts would have a field day.
And if N. Korea declares war and invades, then so much the better. Let’s get it over with. Let S. Korea enact regime change in N. Korea, unify Korea, and liberate the millions of N. Koreas who literally live in Hell on Earth.
The missle/rocket will fire without a hitch and be a huge success.
Obama will send an envoy to N. Korea and offer to sell them guidance technology to avoid possible re-entry accidents of future launches.
What a cool president. Ain’t he great?>
What a mush!
If we don’t destroy the launchpad before the test, there are a few options left:
1. The missiles destroys itself, as any experimental vehicle can without any particular provocation. Minor humiliation for Kim, more time to prepare the response to the next one.
2. The missile works, and we don’t even try to shoot it down. Big plus for Kim, big minus for us.
3. The missile works, and the Japanese Navy tries to shoot it and misses. Almost as bad as #2.
4. The missile works, and the Japanese Navy destroys it in flight. Anybody wants to share ideas about this one?
5. We shoot and fail. Probably the worst of all possibilities.
6. We shoot and succeed. Kim would be left with the option to get into the heavy duty complaining mode with the hypothetical world community, whatever that means. Another possibility is he attacks South Korea. Major tragedy, probably the biggest deterrent. If Kim is as crazy as often claimed, he could try it.
This makes the Gingrich proposal the most attractive, because it is a clear proof that Kim is impotent. All the other options except #6 and #4 makes US look impotent.
The Gingrich proposal is preemptive, which is what scares the occupants of foggy bottom. Could Obama, the grandiloquent advocate of “soft power”, whatever that means, do something preemptive? That would certainly give him the advantage of surprise!
It would almost redeem him from my perch.
Great thoughts #14.
In terms of all 6….
The incident drops from the news when it’s announced that Britney Spears and her ex-husband are reconciling. On the same day Paris Hilton is arrested for her 2nd DUI and Pam Anderson is hosptalized for hepatitus. O.J. Simpson is released from jail after a Nevada Appeals Court throws out his conviction on a technicality.
Obama visits Pope Benedict and gives him a CD set of Joel Olsteen sermons. The president fails to mention the missle incident at a joint press conference.
1. The missiles destroys itself, as any experimental vehicle can without any particular provocation. Minor humiliation for Kim, more time to prepare the response to the next one.
More likely, the missile fails and Kim claims we or the Japanese shot it down.
Shooting down the missile is symbolic. Cutting off all food and aid would be meaningful. It would mean an end tot Kim’s successful manipulation of the US. Clinton failed with Kim, Bush failed with Kim and Obama will also fail.
It amazes me, yet again beyond belief, that so-called conservatives will advance an action of war, which greatly expands our government, but cry foul when the liberal president expands our government in other ways. I am against both expansions of our government, and will voice my opinion on both fronts.
And since possesion of these “rockets” is such a horrible thing, I am sure that The United States has dismantled 100% of our rockets that could reach North Korea.
Obama will repeat Clinton’s mistakes. Clinton chose to ignore the terrorist threats and bombings under his watch and Obama will follow suit. Well, unless there’s an opportunity for him and his sidekick teleprompter to give one kick ass speech about it. Then he’s all in. Obama has yet to show one iota of care for American safety or security. Did he mention the floods in N. Dakota? Did he mention the massive ice damage in the South? Noppers. Not one peep. Says a lot about his true intent.
16. Larry Jay:
Ah! Now, we are really talking about contingencies
I am sure President Obama will call for the lightning to strike any missle Iran launches; he will smote out the dangerous phallic symbol among the Greek temples in Obama’s name. Obama will gain the will to weave magnetism & blow it out of the sky. Crowds will come & ask to baptized by Obama’s hand. He will abort all unwanted babies. He will look for ACORN for the answers. He will say nothing in as many words as possible.
In reality, Obama will be hiding under his desk searching for his Telepromter for the answers. This will be after North Korea hits a target…
Obama will then ask North Korea to stop it.
Everyone else will laugh at him.
Um, actually there might be an upside to all of this–or, I’m taking the position that there’s got to be a horse in here somewhere.
But for years the free nations of the world have essentially forgone any kind of defense buildup because the US was always there. Now, it’s pretty clear that the US isn’t going to be there for at least four years. But what a four years! Two rogue nations could go nuclear with the intent on using the weapons.
So Europe, the NATO nations, Japan, India, Australia, Canada, etc. Now find themselves woefully behind in defense technology, behind being defined as having the capability to deal with the present world threats of both external and internal terrorism.
They have spent their taxes on social programs–but now they have a very real need for functional militaries. So–they’ve got to figure out exactly what they stand for, and whether they will stand up for what they stand for.
This is not a bad thing, facing reality. It has a way of shifting Leftwards politics in ways that convincing of which arguments are not capable.
in ways in which convincing arguments are not capable.
I’m firing my proofreader.
That headline was surely intended for yesterday, April Fool’s Day: “obama should shoot down North Korea’s missile”?????????
He wouldn’t take action if he saw Chavez’s ships escorting Russian gun boats into the mouth of the Mississippi River at New Orleans. He would just figure his friends were stopping in for a visit.
I truly can’t identify a single nation or military entity in the world that he has indicated he would actually consider a target for military action. His apparent perspective is that if they really hate us that much, they must have their reasons and who is he to quible. And of course, that’s a good question: who is he?
Like I said, this must be leftover headline from yesterday.
Doesn’t the US have a coupld of 747s outfitted with chemical lasers (ATL – Advanced Tactical Laser) for which we taxpayers spent a bazillion dollars? It sounds like we could save a few dollars on testing by letting NK provide a live test drone.
3. Alex: I’m with you!
8. Larry J: Yeah. What if we do down it and it turns out to be a communications sat?
9. Northern Light: Hear, hear!
12. J. Rockford: I hope you’re ready to sign up for the army! What has been proposed by you, Newt G., and the author is an act of war.
15. Pops in Vienna: Kudos for posting the most cynical comment I’ve ever seen!
20. Professor Guvinoff: 16. Larry Jay: Ah! Now, we are really talking about contingencies
What has been proposed is an act of war, UN Secrity Council resolutions regarding North Korean misslies notwithstanding. WE’re already involved in two theaters of war with our military stretched pretty dang thin and greatly fatigued. Do we really want another war? Right now? On the Korean peninsula? Against a tin-pot dictator shooting fireworks to gain attention, bounce his popularity and the nationalism of the NK people?
Seoul, S. Korea-their capital-is WITHIN ARTILLERY RANGE of N Korea’s artillery. How many S. Koreans are we willing to sacrifice just to show that we can shoot down the North’s bottle rocket? How many US troops is it worth? (We have 27,000 there right now.)
Who will China side with? Not only during the launch and attempted shootdown, but afterwards. Remember that they are the North’s only friend (excepting Iran and Syria.) Would China block security council resolutions?
Why didn’t we shoot down the Iranian’s “sattelite” a couple of months ago? Isn’t Israel in much greater danger from Iran than the US is from N. Korea?
This is a bad idea! War will be declared!
The entire Korean peninsula situation has been mismanaged since Truman wouldn’t let MacArthur cross the Yalu river or bomb Manchuria in the 1950s. We didn’t finish the job then and we surely don’t want to have to fight them now.
Just give it time. We don’t need to be hasty. Another 50 years or so would do.
regards
If this missile were to get off the ground and would hit Hawaii Obama,Clinton and Gates would apologize to North Korea for having one of our 57 States in its way.
“This is a perfect opportunity. Obama should seize it.”
I am sure he will seize this opportunity to weaken America.
The international subversion has always found that America is THE obstacle between the subversives’ dreams and their realization. The domestic subversives are now in the position to take that obstacle off the scene.
They will do this carefully but without mistakes.
Could I be wrong ? Of course I could, but two months and a half of “close Gitmo, cut the defense budget, let the President (and not the Generals) decide how many Soldiers are needed in Afghanistan, let’s talk to iran and the talebans, weaken the dollar, etc. etc.” seem to be strong enough evidence for my being right.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Larry J: Yeah. What if we do down it and it turns out to be a communications sat?
I used to work at an intelligence/missile warning/space surveillance radar site (the Cobra Dane). I’ve seen firsthand the differences in trajectory between missile tests and space launches. It’ll be obvious well before burnout whether this is a missile test or satellite launch. It’s not that hard, folks.
Moral Relativism.
“And since possesion of these “rockets” is such a horrible thing, I am sure that The United States has dismantled 100% of our rockets that could reach North Korea.”
Toe-curling.
Blah….wow.
I’m going to have to do some research on the last time the United States behaved in any degree like North Korea has over the last decades. You must know something the rest of us don’t.
How you get “moral relativism” out of this is like making sausage…probably something we’d rather not have to watch.
Are you one of TOTUS’ relatives, by chance?
Looks like there are quite a few people who wouldn’t mind if we got into another war. I wonder how many of these armchair patriots would be willing to enlist?
No. Shooting at the launch would be stupid and very costly.
“If you want to shoot their missile down be prepared to invade and take large losses of life on both sides including nuclear exchange.”
Poppycock! ROK could take out the DPRK in a long weekend whenever they wanted to. The Usurper won’t order a shoot down of the ICBM because it is Socialist Dogma that “Star Wars” doesn’t and can’t work. Proving yet again that is does would upset the left, which added to how much the Usurper has already pissed the moonbats off would not be a good thang for him.
Everybody is posturing. Kim ( the Puffer Fish of world tyrants) will shoot it off because it makes him look powerful, which is important when you are as weak as the DPRK is. The Japs will watch it fly overhead and then run crying to mommy ( the UN), which will make the jap voters happy because it looks like their politicians are doing something. The Usurper ( alleged Hawaiian) will act as the Japs agent at the UN, which will satisfy his base.
So nothing will actually be done until the next time, when the whole dog and pony show will be re-ran. The Japs call it kabuki.
As far as a war, remember that we are at war with the DPRk RIGHT NOW. We have a truce in effect, which doesn’t END a war, it just ends the shooting part of a war. The DPRK won’t end the truce because their military is a joke. The US government won’t end the truce because the State Department is a joke. ROK (South Korea) won’t end the truce because then they would have to feed millions of starving Norks.
So everything will go on as before. Kabuki.
Meanwhile, Larry J. is correct. The problem is that by the time you determine trajectory to see if it’s an insert or a ballistic shot, it is to late to get a boost phase intercept. That means there is no point in a shoot down, since it is already coming down on it’s own. Turning one big lump into several smaller lumps doesn’t help. It just increases the oods that something important will get hit.
No nuclear exchange. The Norks cannot build a bomb small enough to mount on an ICBM, IF they could build an ICBM powerful enough to launch it. So far there is no evidence that the DPRK can build a nuke. The one time they tried to set one off, it didn’t work. You will need to look elsewhere for your nuclear exchange.
#31 – Meryl: Calm down.
I was merely quoting RV, at #18.
“And since possesion of these “rockets” is such a horrible thing, I am sure that The United States has dismantled 100% of our rockets that could reach North Korea.”
“Moral Relativism.” I find it “toe-curling.” OK?
I’m in agreement with you, dear.
#33 Typos;
You are assuming N.Korea relies on itself to build nuclear weapons. There are nuclear weapons testing in Pakistan in the late 90′s tied to N. Korea. It is also common knowledge They have been trying to purchase technology on black market for over a decade. The fact is we dont know exactly what they have in stockpile, which makes this dangerous. Most intelligence agencies agree they have somewhere in the range of 6-8 nuclear weapons ready.
They dont need to place them on missiles, they can fly them on a bomber, send in on rail, transport by truck or armored carrier, there are many delivery systems. And it does not need to be set off in S. Korea either, it can be set off in the DMZ as evidence of capability. One is all it takes to change the gameboard.
http://militaryhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=militaryhistory&cdn=education&tm=10&gps=100_173_1588_947&f=20&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/index.html
http://www.nationmaster.com/country/kn-korea-north/mil-military
The two sites listed detail armaments of N. Korea. They have over 8000 artillery systems, not guns, but systems of artillery. Bombers can reach South Korean Capital in 6 minutes, most of the air force in 18 minutes. There are over 4000 tons of chemical weapons located along artillery system sites. They have spent large amounts on hardened and redundant communication systems. Over 70% of N. Korea military is within 30 miles of the DMZ. This is a Nation prepared for war.
The second aspect that has not been brought up is mindset and philosophy of N. Korean People. They are indoctrinated to believe their lives belong to “Dear Leader”. They are completely subordinate to government, something westerners dont truly comprehend. They will invade South Korea knowing it will result in their destruction without regret, and do so to maintain National Pride.
third is the state of N. Korean affairs; they are in desperate situation. If they do nothing they will cease to exist as a Nation in the near future, they are slowly spiralling into oblivion and this is what makes them so dangerous. Having a scapegoat ( shooting down the missile) is the best way to rally national pride and create furor over “imperialist western powers.
From Kims perspective he really cannot lose as long as the launch is succesful; N korea thumbs its nose at the world once again, if the missile is shot down it is excuse for war, if the west does nothing it is National pride in their military, it will probably bring western powers with more incentives for N. Korea to stand down aggression, etc. If the launch goes badly he can blame western spys and interferance.
You are probably correct that nothing will happen, this is political posturing. However knowing your enemy and abilities is correct strategy of War. Never underestimate a Lunatic with this amount of weaponry.
Kim Jong Il just wants more free rice. how long could he field a starving army? Didn’t we have a successful shoot down of a rocket last year? yes we can. Iranians are definitely in the market for bottle rockets. that makes Israel nervous, it should make the Europeans nervous and the Russians, butthey don’t care about nuclear fallout.
A “missile” means it is for military, aggressive use with an explosive warhead. The fact anyone thinks North Korea is about to fire a missile is proof there are tons of gullible people in this world.. Ignorant people around the world need to wake up and understand North Korea can do whatever it wants, its a nation of its own. It “should” adhere to international law, and launching a rocket for scientific reasons is not against the law, no matter what the ignorant US says.. None of you that dislike North Korea have EVER been there, so you don’t know what you are talking about, you are just sheep controlled by the media..
I personally wish North Korea sucess with their satellite launch, its nice to see a country with a troubled past try to do positive things.
9. Northern Light wrote:
I say they’d both fail. If the US was smart they won’t expose their missle defence weaknesses.
Peter asks: What in the word makes you think US anti-missile technology would fail? In every recent test, some as recent as last month, the target missile was sucessfully detonated. A dangerous satellite in orbit was successfully destroyed in February 2008. ( http://dodvclips.mil/index.jsp?auto_band=x&rf=sv&fr_story=FRdamp250959&rf/) Why would a N. Korean missile, basically the equivalent of 1950′s US technology, be any more difficult?
37. JasonNYC wrote:
A “missile” means it is for military, aggressive use with an explosive warhead.
Peter writes: Not necessarily true. Some of the first manned US spaceflights in the 1950′s were launched aboard converted Atlas ballistic missiles.
Newt is wrong on this one.
Do you believe that the American founders would endorse a pre-emptive strike, especially on a puny nation such as N. Korea? For that matter, would they support all the costly worldwide foreign entanglements that our federal government seems to embrace so easily today? I think not. Any eventual aggression from N. Korea can be squelched easily by the forces that already surround Kims paradise.
I say we just ignore the little dweeble for now.
The stakes are pretty high this time for America. I’m anxious to see if Obama bought a set while he was in Paris and dares to actually use them. Surely one of his liberal cabinet members might tip him off to the enormity of the situation.
Well, North Korea launched their missle without a hitch. There was no attempt to shoot it down.
Meanwhile Farrah Fawcett has been hospitalized. Madonna’s adoption of an African child is thwarted. The Europeans love Obama.
Next up: Russians move into parts of the Ukraine. Iran test another long range rocket/missle.
Lee Majors appears on Larry King Live for an hour to talk about his life with Farrah.
Alex, the DPRK is a paper Tiger. This is a police state we are talking about. It doesn’t matter how many tubes you have in tunnels within range of Soul when the ammo is locked up. Police states keep the ammo under lock and key in case some General gets ideas. Even if they get up off the keys and start handing out ammo, there is still the problem of the guns being in tunnels. Kinda hard to hide a tunnel. They have doors on them that stand out on radar like a hollywood hooker in a baptist church. We know where they are. The upside of the norks ‘hiding’ their guns in tunnels is that a 1 ton bomb will block the entrance, which means the gun cannot get out of the tunnel to shoot. We have more bombs then they have tubes. We have more bombs then they have tunnels.
Besides, this is the 21st century, Koreans have cars, just like the rest of the world ( except the Norks). About 30 seconds after the first shell lands, people will be jumpin in their Kia’s and Toyotas and Mercedes and heading south.
The Nork Air Force has about a dozen Mig-29′s that can still fly, maybe, on a good day. The Mig-29 has LOST every dog fight it has been in against an F-16. That is only 2, but 2-0 is still better then 1-1 or 0-2. The ROK pilots are very good, the Nork pilots don’t get much flight time.
No, the DPRK is a paper tiger. They do have a LOT of starving troops, which means human wave attacks as far as the first supermarket. Then the attack stops for a little looting.
Eventually, the north and the south will reunite. The longer it takes, the more it will cost.
In realiity this missile launch was just for show to feed kims ego, China is secretly raging at them because it could well force the japanese to spend more on military technology, or even go nuclear which china certainly doesnt want and it will continue strong american navy presence in the region. Kim is just a pure self indulged nutcase just looking to get more attention, sure he thinks he is the best golfer in the world!!!
A real war is what we need to jump start our economy, just like the great depression. I say we don’t stop with just the shooting of one missile. We should carpet bomb their entire country from the boarders of s korea all the way to china. I’m sure if we went full scale, china would back off. After we take out all military obsticles and come in with food, we will capture jim and present his severed head on a platter to the world. Then we will go on to the middle east issue. Mabey OPEC first.