WASHINGTON — The United States will deploy additional ballistic missile interceptors along the Pacific Coast to increase the Pentagon’s ability to blunt a potential attack from North Korea, in a clear response to recent tests of nuclear weapons technology and long-range missiles by the North.
The new deployment will increase the number of ground-based interceptors based in California and Alaska from 30 to 44.
Comments
NK threatens us, and we respond with: (a) a promise or intention to install more defensive missiles 4 years from now; (b) a promise to deploy such missiles, while acknowledgeing that they may not work; (c) a promise NOT to deploy them until "they" prove that they will work?
And all of this is supposed to do what? Scare the North Koreans? Unlikely. Reassure the residents of California that they are protected? Not truthful. Then what?
Another billion dollars, pulled from the pockets of workers, by a government that seems absolutely oblivious to the ridiculousness of its own behavior.
Gotta admit that 6x6x6x offers a valid point or two. This sudden shift from Eastern Europe to Alaska and California of an anti-missile missile system seems more a pontificating policy move by a legacy-minded President and his brand new, inexperienced Defense Secretary than a well thought-out defensive strategy. Yet there is little mention in this coverage about the sudden move to drop defense in Europe against feared Iranian threats that raised the hackles in Moscow and caused all sorts of debate in Poland and Czech Republic. And what about Hawaii, which is a state in case Chuck and Barry happened to ignore it by design or forgettery. It would surely be easier for North Korea to send a missile to Honolulu than to Fairbanks or San Francisco. Why does this entire sudden shift by Hagel strike one as more an impulse than actual plan? Barry the O playing at commander-in-chief yet again?
Glad opponents of missle defense like Obama and Kerry did not have impact on development and deployment.
Hypocrites
this is insane. north korea feeds its starving populatiion with aid from the usa and united nations (us) so they can build a huge army and missiles that threaten the world for over 50yrs...and we spend more billions getting ready for next war by borrowing from china and futher putting us into bankruptcy... north korea would fall in two days if the isolation were really imposed instead of just talk and nonsense. a starving army and population cant win any wars
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For a bankrupt country, losing a war to the U.S. can be a good thing, even if the "war" lasts about a week.