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China-Japan-Koreas
Gates: U.S. Not Prepared to Respond to North Korea Missile Launch
2009-03-29
The defense secretary told "FOX News Sunday" that the United States can do nothing to stop North Korea from thumbing its nose at the international community by test-firing a long-range missile.

The United States can do nothing to stop North Korea from breaking international law in the next 10 days by firing a missile that is unlikely to be shot down by the U.S. or its allies, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday. Appearing on "FOX News Sunday," Gates said North Korea "probably will" fire the missile, prompting host Chris Wallace to ask: "And there's nothing we can do about it?"

"No," Gates answered, adding, "I would say we're not prepared to do anything about it."

Last week, Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, said the U.S. is "fully prepared" to shoot down the missile. But Gates said such a response is unlikely. "I think if we had an aberrant missile, one that was headed for Hawaii, that looked like it was headed for Hawaii or something like that, we might consider it," Gates said. "But I don't think we have any plans to do anything like that at this point."
Tells you everything you need to know about Bambi ...
North Korea has moved a missile onto a launch pad and says it will be fired by April 8. Pyonyang insists the missile is designed for carrying a communications satellite, not a nuclear warhead that the secretive nation appears bent on developing.

Gates said while he doesn't think North Korea has the capability yet to shoot off a long-range nuclear-tipped missile, "I don't know anyone at a senior level in the American government who does not believe this technology is intended as a mask for the development of an intercontinental ballistic missile."

Gates conceded that North Korea will likely get away with thumbing its nose at the international community by test-firing the missile. He also said that six-party talks aimed at curbing Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions have been largely fruitless. "It's very troubling," Gates said. "The reality is that the six-party talks really have not made any headway anytime recently."

Gates also lamented that the missile launch planned by dictator Kim Jong-Il comes just two months after President Obama took office. "If this is Kim Jong-Il's welcoming present to a new president, launching a missile like this and threatening to have a nuclear test, I think it says a lot about the imperviousness of this regime in North Korea to any kind of diplomatic overtures," he said.
It doesn't say anything we didn't know already, and for quite a while ...
Gates also said Japan is unlikely to shoot down a North Korean missile unless it drops debris on the island nation.

The Obama administration has signaled it wants to scale back the deployment of a missile defense system that was initiated by former President George W. Bush. The White House is also talking about dropping plans for missile defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Because missile defense will never work, you know ...
Gates lamented the futility of diplomatic efforts toward North Korea and Iran, another nation with nuclear ambitions. Despite the Obama administration's talk of ramping up diplomatic overtures toward Tehran, Gates was pessimistic about that strategy. "Frankly, from my perspective, the opportunity for success is probably more in economic sanctions in both places than it is in diplomacy," Gates said. "What gets them to the table is economic sanctions."
Posted by:Sherry

#13  "I would say we're not prepared to do anything about it."

Translation: we are not getting involved.

Except maybe diplomacy.

Maybe.

Later.
Posted by: Pappy   2009-03-29 21:56  

#12  That, and catered free lunches followed by dinner parties.
Don't forget Halfbright's super secret decoder broach! That always does the trick.

And also don't forget that Japan might take it out as well. Which will put the Chicom's in a oh-so-well-deserved snit.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2009-03-29 21:08  

#11  Is the US prepared to respond to the rearmament of Japan under a more frightened and militaristic regime now doubtful of the protection of the US defencive umbrella? Kongo and Chokai. Where have I heard those names before?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2009-03-29 21:05  

#10  "What gets them to the table is economic sanctions."
That, and catered free lunches followed by dinner parties. Gates probably figured Hawaii is actually a lot of islands, and they can't get more than one with a single missile. What a Maroon.
Posted by: Muggsy Glink   2009-03-29 19:42  

#9  But maybe you may only have 49 left if shit happens
Posted by: European Conservative   2009-03-29 19:28  

#8  Well, maybe not Hawaii.

Yeah, why bother. It's not like Hawaii is one of the 57 states or sumpthin'.
Posted by: SteveS   2009-03-29 19:23  

#7  Yes we can (not)?
Posted by: European Conservative   2009-03-29 19:14  

#6  A communist missile shot down by a communist president? Not likely.
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-03-29 19:09  

#5  "I think if we had an aberrant missile, one that was headed for Hawaii, that looked like it was headed for Hawaii or something like that, we might consider it," Gates said.

Well, maybe not Hawaii. After all, BO grew up there and besides it is a blue state.
Posted by: JohnQC   2009-03-29 18:54  

#4  The needle on my BS meter actually twitched.

This statement reminds me of the time just before the cops nabbed the Son of Sam: Oh, that Volkswagon? That was nothing.

Nothing to see here.
Posted by: Gabby   2009-03-29 17:41  

#3  "What gets them to the table is economic sanctions."
Right, and then we give them rice and fuel oil and they leave the table until next season.
Posted by: Darrell   2009-03-29 17:16  

#2  The "O" votes no ...
Posted by: Steve White   2009-03-29 17:11  

#1  The "O" votes present?
Posted by: 3dc   2009-03-29 16:54  

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