Projected Path of North Korean Missile - Hawaii Target image: Daily Mail
From the Daily Mail Japanese Intelligence is fairly certain that North Korea will launch a long-range missile in the direction of the U.S. State of Hawaii on this 4th of July. The article notes that the North Korean missile has a range of approximately 4,000 miles, 500 short of the main Hawaiian islands. Although concerns regarding nuclear weaponry are valid, a greater concern may be the stockpile of chemical weapons held by North Korea, which said missile could be employed to deliver to the U.S.
The North Korean Government has ignored all “strongly worded” condemnations from the United Nations and the U.S. administration, which is, frankly, nothing new. That said, Secretary Gates, has ordered missile interceptors to Hawaii in the hopes of stopping any missile should there be a launch.
On might suggest that Gates also deploy those interceptors to the State of Alaska, which is well within range of the North Korean missile . Further, in March of 2003, a piece of a North Korean missile was found in Alaska:
NEWS BRIEF: "`North Korea Missile Warhead Found in Alaska’, The Korea Times, [Seoul, South Korea] March 4, 2003, By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter, http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200303/kt2003030417272311970.htm
"The warhead of a long-range missile test-fired by North Korea was found in the U.S. state of Alaska, a report to the National Assembly revealed yesterday. 'According to a U.S. document, the last piece of a missile warhead fired by North Korea was found in Alaska,’ former Japanese foreign minister Taro Nakayama was quoted as saying in the report. `Washington, as well as Tokyo, has so far underrated Pyongyang’s missile capabilities.' "
It is now 2009, and Alaska has become a strategic target due to the natural resources (natural gas and oil) which are critical to the U.S. economy as well as defense. One has to believe that the administration and the Pentagon are well aware of the scenario and although there has been no statement issues from the White House regarding this particular threat (as of yet), a failure to protect and defend Alaska or any United States Territory, in this instance, would be not merely politically suicidal but geographically suicidal. Without a direct military intervention at that point, the Peoples Republic of North Korea, as well as other nations holding such weaponry that would see the United States harmed, would be further emboldened and unfettered by any threat of retaliation. That said Barak Obama, regardless of political affiliation, has, at times, shown a moderate approach to issues, and in the case of defense has yet been tested. Silence, or a lack of statement, can prove to be planning and execution of military action: “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far”: Theodore Roosevelt
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