Shootdown?

This is coolbert:

Has everyone been following these headlines regarding the purported forthcoming North Korean missile launch? A long-range North Korean missile will soon, very soon, perhaps, launch into earth orbit what the North Koreans describe as a communications satellite. In this regard, North Korea will join a select club of nations that possess both an intercontinental range missile and nuclear weaponry!!

A missile launch, for allegedly peaceful means, that the U.S. might interfere with? Secretary Gates has NOT RULED OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A SHOOT-DOWN! A threat to U.S. security is seen here and the U.S. will not idly stand by?

Interfering with the announced peaceful launch of a ballistic missile is an act of war! Unheard of and unprecedented!!

What does Gates know that the rest of us do not??!!

An act of war [peaceful missile launch shoot-down], coupled with the U.S. and South Korea engaging in "war games" [WAR GAMES OCCURRING RIGHT NOW??!!], is liable to set off a wide-scale, all-encompassing war on the Korea peninsula.

Gates is playing with fire and must be very careful here!!

The U.S. and South Korean forces are on high alert, as are the North Koreans? One wrong move with regard to this missile launch, and the world is turned upside down in a manner we will greatly regret?

"NKorea Threatens 'War' If Satellite Is Shot Down"

"SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea ordered its armed forces on standby and warned Monday it will retaliate against anyone seeking to block its planned satellite launch, a launch many fear will disguise a missile test."

"The threat came hours before United States and South Korea kicked off annual war games involving tens of thousands of troops, which the communist nation has condemned as preparations for an invasion."

"NKorea Cuts Hotline, Puts Troops on High Alert"

"'Shooting our satellite for peaceful purposes will precisely mean a war,' North Korea's military threatened in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency. Any interception attempt will draw 'a just, retaliatory strike,' it said. "

"U.S. may down a threatening missile
Secretary Gates, however, downplays possible danger from a North launch "

"Gates also suggested Washington is ready to respond to any real missile threat from the North. When asked if the U.S. military is prepared to shoot down the North’s missile if it’s fired toward U.S. territory, he said doing so is 'an option.'”

"US To shoot Down North Korea's Satellite Launch?"

"If North Korea launched another missile in the direction of Japan, it would enter airspace that is protected by Aegis anti ballistic missiles, which are deployed on Japanese and U.S. Navy destroyers in the Sea of Japan and designed to intercept incoming missiles in mid-flight. As a secondary layer of defense, Tokyo is also protected by a Patriot missile system."

"These systems raise the possibility that a North Korean missile — even one advertised in advance as a peaceful space probe — could be destroyed in flight"

Evidently, the anti-ballistic missile systems are already in place? Aegis type cruisers waiting for the go-code? "Chomping at the bit", so to speak.

This WOULD NOT BE AN ACTUAL SHOOT-DOWN OF THE SATELLITE. WOULD ENTAIL AN INTERCEPT OF THE NORTH KOREAN MISSILE IN THE BOOST PHASE OF THE LAUNCH, WHEN IT IS MOST VULNERABLE!!

To be honest with you, this one does have me mildly startled. This talk of shoot-down as being "an option" is counter-productive?

We shall find out soon?

coolbert.