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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Richard Engel describes how North Korean officials handled the failed rocket launch with the invited international press.
PYONGYANG, North Korea -- North Korea's long-range rocket failed early Friday, U.S. officials said, calling it a blow for the reclusive state's propoganda efforts.
The rocket broke up about 90 seconds after taking off, an official told NBC News.
The rocket was launched from Tongchang-ri, on North Korea's west coast and flew about 75 miles, Japanese broadcaster NHK said.
The South Korean army said rocket debris crashed off Kunsan, home to a U.S. air base on South Korea's west coast.
NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, said the rocket's first stage fell into the sea and two other stages failed.
There were no casualties nor was there any threat to anybody on land, U.S. officials told NBC News.
"All indications are that it failed," one official said, adding that they are still looking into it.
David Guttenfelder / AP
North Korean press center workers are surrounded by international journalists trying to gather news on the launch inside a hotel press center Friday in Pyongyang, North Korea.
The South Korean Defense Ministry announced that North Korea fired the long range rocket Friday morning around 7:39 a.m.
U.S. officials said the launch was monitored by U.S. surveillance satellites, unmanned drones and six anti-missile U.S. Navy warships, NBC News reported. The rocket was also traced by powerful U.S. military radars at sea in the region and in Alaska, NBC News said.
"Despite the failure of its attempted missile launch, North Korea’s provocative action threatens regional security, violates international law and contravenes its own recent commitments," the White House said Thursday night in a prepared statement. "North Korea is only further isolating itself by engaging in provocative acts, and is wasting its money on weapons and propaganda displays while the North Korean people go hungry."
The launch, which North Korea's neighbors and the West said was a disguised ballistic missile test, was to take a three-stage rocket over a sea separating the Korean peninsula from China before releasing a weather satellite into orbit when the third stage was to fire over waters near the Philippines.
Regional powers also worried the launch could be the prelude to another nuclear test, such as one the hermit state conducted in 2009.
North Korea had announced it was planning the launch of an observation satellite to celebrate Sunday's centennial of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder.
Hours later, North Korea's state-run news agency said the satellite had failed to reach orbit, and that scientists were searching for a cause of the failure.
"There is not a lot of information being disseminated at this point," said Richard Engel, NBC News' chief foreign correspondent, who is in North Korea. "But we did hear just a short while ago after the launch took place, after it was confirmed internationally, some martial music playing in the street, some fighter jets flying overhead. This is a national celebration time in North Korea and this rocket launch and this satellite launch, as the government describes it, is seen as a source of pride."
Now led by 20-something Kim Jong-un, the third of his line to hold power, North Korea had planned to make 2012 the year in which it became a "strong and prosperous nation" and the launch was part of a program to burnish its credentials.
North Korea's rocket had no impact on Japanese territory, Japanese Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka said.
The United States, Britain, Japan and others have called the launch a violation of U.N. resolutions prohibiting North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile activity.
The U.S. earlier canceled food aid when North Korea announced the rocket test, despite Pyongyang's February agreement to suspend all tests in exchange for food, NBC News reported.
U.S. military experts told NBC News that the best example of what the North Koreans were denied because of sanctions is advanced electronics for guidance systems, potententially contributing to the failure.
U.S. officials also told NBC News the failed rocket launch was a propaganda effort.
"That effort clearly failed and will have ramifications internally,'' an Obama administration official said.
"This launch was also a chance for North Korea to showcase its military wares to prospective customers," the official said. "The failure will make those customers think twice before buying anything.''
"Their efforts to draw attention to the program certainly seem to have backfired in this case," an official told NBC News. "Everyone will be watching closely to see how the government handles this first real test."
US officials say an attempted rocket launch in North Korea ended in failure when the rocket broke up shortly after launch. NBC's Bob Windrem reports.
Earlier Thursday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said after meeting with Group of Eight foreign ministers that the U.S. would go to the U.N. Security Council to seek action. U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice is the rotating president of the Security Council and controls when to call a meeting.
The U.N. Security Council planned to meet 10 a.m. EDT Friday to discuss the launch, diplomats said.
Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said, "Predictably, diplomatic overtures with North Korea have failed once more, and now an avowed enemy of freedom, with a new and unpredictable leadership, possesses nuclear weapons and is testing their capability to strike long-range targets, including the American homeland."
He called for more investment in U.S. national missile defenses.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press and Reuters.
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What? They weren't going to launch today, probably. I'm sure its the first time North Korea ever misled anyone!
I'm not the man they think I am in Pyongyang...no no no no, I'm a ROCKET MAN, ROCKET MAN, burning up the fuse out here alone...
Derek they are a day ahead of us... LOL its friday there.... LOL
South Korea g'ment is having an emergency meeting regarding the blast-off of the rocket/weather satellite by North Korea. UN Security Council will convene Friday. If North Korea said- they are launching the rocket and US/State/HRC- do not dare to launch- start asking questions now- they were too busy in trying to find an excuse for Turkey's PM Erdogan and the Syrian Free Army= Free of Syrians to launch an attack establishing no-fly zones.
Was the rocket 'made in China' ??
@Leatherneck918, that country....just think about how many people didn't get to eat, and how many people got sent to Gulags, just to launch that failed rocket....
I'm certainly laughing at their joke of a leadership. Not so much for the completely trapped and suffering population. It is really amazing that so many people trapped in time can survive.
The advertising covers up the story. I start reading and half way through the advertising cuts into the story. This happens almost all the time...doesn't anybody at MSNBC notice this? Can't the advertising be moved a bit so both can be on the page?? Helloooo?!
Ground control to Major Jong....
Gee, there's a shocker. The washing machine filled with rocket fuel blew up.
We now return you to our regular programming of The Three Stooges! Yuk, Yuk,Yuk!
Epic Fail FTW
What a bunch of Twits
I guess it failed after launch. crazy
Kim Il: "I said LUNCH you idiots! I'm hungry!"
The rubber band which they got from coyote@acmerocketlaunchers.com was defective and wound too tight.
yep, this was really a source of pride for those dumazz NK's. Now, since they chose to launch, let's just starve the crap out of 'em. Let's see if our beloved POTUS has a real pair.
This rocket is a 3 stage one- the Japanese reported something plunged into sea- but the Unha-3 rocket was launched from a new site on the West Coast of NK near China border- its path was over the sea between Korean Peninsula and China-1st stage splash down to sea- 2nd stage land in water near the Philippines. If it had been successful- then it could have been an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
This just goes to show you that the drummed-up fear of North Korea is blown way out of proportion. They can't even fire a rocket much less threaten America.
It is a shame how much much food could have been purchased for this starving nation, for a weak minded show of power.
Is anyone looking at pictures of this "rocket" on television. It's a piece of junk!
More like we ran a test of our own.......
I think I would let this guy load up the next one with all the nuclear stuff he has and send it off. No doubt he will blow himself up as it falls back on North Korea!!
"All indications are that it failed".........
Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
I wonder how successful the USA test of their high velocity kinetic device was - the chunks of iron designed to hit an incoming missile. Is it possible that this rocket/missile had any help in failing?
They probably bought it at Walmart.
Somewhere out there, somebody is blaming Alec Baldwin for this rocket's failure.
"cut off food aid"
If a Republican administration would have chosen that strategy the liberals and media would have , well , you know
@If you have to ask
So you agree that a conservative government would certainly enforce that strategy?
if you have to ask: Well I really don't have to ask but I wanted to comment that I am continuously amazed at conservative/regressives who speculate on things that haven't happened, determine what would have happened, and badmouth people for things they haven't done. This is a real challenge for psychiatrists in our mental hospitals every day and you, and people just like you, are out walking around in public. Scary.
Come on people, all you had to do is fill a big tube with fuel and ignite it and channel it out of a funnel at the end, which is designed to produce the proper pressures to provide lift off with out blowing up... It's not f'ing rocket science!
"LOL"
It failed.
It broke up over North Korea.
They need to strap a nuclear bomb to the damn thing and go nuke themselves.
Robin... VERY funny!! Thanks for the laugh!
Gremlins I tellya, definitely Gremlins.
This is a blow to the North Korea's missile program, mightier than all special services of the world could ever dream to strike. Because the launch was dedicated to 100th birthday of Kim the 1st, or something. The failure means the heads will roll. Since the political leadership is infallible, it's rocket scientists and engineers that will be made scapegoats and sacrificed. Taking out the top scientific and engineering talent of the missile program without even lifting a finger - that's something to celebrate for CIA, MI6 and others.
Spend the money on hot dogs and feed the people; stop with the rocket crap....
Na na nabooboo stick your head in doodoo.
Do you think the launch failure will throw a turd in the punchbowl for Kim Il Jong's centennial birthday party? Now I'm going to miss hearing the satellite broadcast Dear Father Leader's favorite tunes! I am devastated!
@85 million thats one serious OOPS. Well, with the imports coming out of that region, I guess we should have expected it to last 10 minutes more than it did. But Ah Well.
Maybe, US agents sabotaged the rocket so it would fail after takeoff.. I am sure we are capable of such an act, without being detected. But, I wonder if the failure of this rocket would be that important to the US.
All the people laughing and joking about the failed launch need to take seriously that this is a dry run. Sooner or later, someone will figure it out and then we will be within their or someone else's sights. I wouldn't celebrate too much.
Pyong Yang News has announced that the engineers overseeing the launch have been returned to the tractor factory where they work to resume their duties as crash test dummies.
The sad part is that the North Korean television is probably saying "Great successful launch today in the name of our esteamed late leader; not only did we get the weather Satellite in orbit, but we accidently put the first man on Mars, and we now own it. In a related story; NKorean Government sues American choclate manufacturor over trademark rights"
You're right Breeze, I must agree.
Maybe behind the scenes, but the North Korean people won't know about it. The state media will proclaim a complete success, much like the last rocket launch.
Awwwww too bad! :o)
It was a ACME rocket made in the Chinese factory, I knew it would not fly the fuse between the 1st and 2nd stage was to short, They claim no one was hurt but I wonder about the poor slob that had to light the fuse is he accounted for? as for the mini frig they used for the satellite its toast as well, don't worry it only cost the people 20 million meals, they are used to going hungry to amuse the Devinneruler Kim, he ate a whole dog while watching the show. you have to admit they gave it their best shot, now wait 3 years and they will attempt it again and, they will have to re staff because the present scientist will all be sent to detention for ruining Kims day. except the guy that lit the fuse nobody can find him. in all seriousness though maybe this backwards country will join the rest of the world and start building a better life for their people. we will have to wait for them to wake up and do what it takes.
@Irish-N-Green
uhhh no
anything else?
So much for the Hyundai of ICBM's.
A failing rocket is not something easy to hide from your people since all they have to do is look up to see it.
N. Korea on the cash for clunker program. Obama is cutting the check as we speak.
I predict a very bad day tomorrow for some North Korean rocket scientists. They will wish they weren't.
Seems like it was an excelent skeet shooting exercises for the USA, SK, and Japan.... PULL!
LOL!
If you look at a the inside corner of on of the stabilizing fins, you will see in small print "Manufactured by ACME Corporation"!
Only legible because they never left the ground. "Ah... stabilizing fins, that's what we forgot!"
It's funny how so many of you assume the stories are correct, and the missile just failed.... yet I keep wondering what WE used to quietly kill it!
Lol, good one Ed!
Dennis, I think this is a situation, where if that did occur, it's a case of ask no questions and you'll be told no lies!
And now the world speculation begins in ernest. Was it a success or a failure, and to what extent either way?
They would learn nothing from success, only confirm that particular rocket worked. A failure provides them the opportunity to learn what will not work, and more dangerously why it wouldn't work.
If they figure that out, then they can make many reliable rockets.
And that is where the danger lies.
Ummm, no. They $hit the bed and heads will roll with a few scientists not among the living..........
Can you say "Rail gun".......... :-)
Rail gun just shoots a dumb superfast bullet. But you can't aim at a rocket which is still accelerating.
You will recall our Vanguard program. You will also recall that we were flush with cash at the time, and owned at least 80% of the rocket scientists on the planet. What the North Koreans need now is a really, really big slingshot.
Hmmm I remember something about a 747 carrying a hi powered lazer up to shoot down/destroy missels and warheads at either end of their journey:)
Hey N. Korea.... Got Lazer?
Wonder if it was a "metric mixed with inches" debacle. I mean, who'd be that stupid.
Well obviously they aren't too bright launching a high profile missile on Friday the 13th. Seems like they were begging for it to fail. You have to figure that their odds were probably 50/50 at best that it would work and probably 50/50 that we'd take it out with and airborne laser or similar high tech weapon.
A very sad day for the North Korean scientists and engineers who worked so hard on this. Condolences to their families.
North Korean is going to inform it's populace that the launch was a sucess and for the failure KCNA will accuse that outsider showdown the rocket while in flight. N. Korean will never accept responsibility for it's own failures always blame others and always cover up to its'w own populace.
KABOOM !!!,,oh well, better Luck next time..........
Why have we been giving N. Korea food. Why can't they use their money to buy food for their people from us rather than spend it on a three stage flop and a satellite. Why didn't Hillary and Obama say ages ago: "If you are going to proceed spending your resources on nuclear testing and long range missiles, you are not broke. Restructure your spending." Of course, neither Hillary or Obama thought of that until the missile was on the launch pad being fueled. Simplistically. Hillary and Obama allowed N. Korea to become an entitlement State even though it didn't need the money. The fact that selling the food would help out our economy apparently never crossed their minds.
So we should punish the innocent starving civilians because of the actions of their oppressive regime? What we give is a drop in the bucket compared to the big picture. The country has relied on foreign supplies since the devastating famine of the mid-90s killed hundreds of thousands of people. Do we want 10% of their population to die because of a food shortage? It's just the right thing to do.
It's a good idea.
I think it’s great that North Korea wants to create national pride and prove that they can be a contending nation, but not at the expense of their people’s sustenance.
Are you high? Do you know what their possible success next time could lead to? If they want to show pride or power, try curing cancer or AIDS. I say, starve them. We're not exactly rich over here and our debt. is growing and unpayable. In fact, we should starve any nation that threatens the lives of ours.
colampin: You miss the point. It is the N. Korean government who is depriving the starving of food. I trust that if we were starving we would close down much of NASA, the National Parks and other other non-essential government expenditure's so we could buy food for our people. I can't believe that we would go on making unnecessary expenditures, as we do today, and beg for food contributions from other countries.
BTW: I put "much" in bold so as to make it clear to the idiots who cannot or refuse to read, or just want to make an issue out of something that was never said, that I am not suggesting abolishing NASA. I'm sick of inane replies.
Now isn't that just sad their little rocket didn't work boo hoo hoo. Hey N.Korea, Next time spend your money wisely like on FOOD 4 YOUR PEOPLE! Now that would be something to be proud of. The media said it was embarrassing that it failed, so is not feeding your people
Kim (Bud Bundy) Jong-un's rocket failed?
I'm shocked!
The "Kid" President is playing with Fireworks.
He better watch out---one day they will explode in his face while launching the Missile.
North Korea. Glad he is dumb.
Propaganda; that is all it is---now all the World knows his country is not able to "produce" the results, and what an embarrassment for Um Something---Iran better come to the rescue.
Maybe South Koreans can relax a little bit, knowing their neighbor N. Korea is incompetent at sending missiles.
We have a CAR on the moon and a remote control car on Mars. Just saying.
Of course the launch was a success. 75 miles is a long distance for a north korean missile.
I wish that the Kingdom of North Korea would stop playing with expensive fire works and do something for their own people for a change. I was hoping that their new king would be a true revolutionary and turn the country into a true people's republic with inevitable reunification with the much more prosperous south. I think that it is really the military that rule the country and want to keep their esteemed positions at the expense of the North Korean serfs. I would think that they could get all the weather information that they could possible need from the Internet like we do. I am sure that they have plenty of useless military personnel available to scour the country side and report on crops. I would think that if they really needed protection that the Red Chinese would do that for them. I really feel sorry for the people of North Korea.
I love hearing that they failed. I wish they would get with it and take better care of their people. I am sure the rocket builders were either killed or put in jail, how horrible.
And they say it isn't "Rocket Science"...........HA - HA..... a BOY named KIM, had toy failure....must have been made in China......and had a pretty Lead Paint job.........
With things in short supply in North Korea, they might have design it to fly only 75 miles.
Plop-plop, fizz-fizz, oh what a relief it is!
I don't see this as a failure. North got the attention it wanted. They blew it up deliberately. Next time you see a successful launch it will be because they kidnapped a bunch of foreigners to use as collateral. Also I think China is involved. The point of the exercise was to see how fast other countries around the area could get a missile defense shield up and running and where they are located at. What is the name of that humungous aircraft carrier China built, thanks to the importing of OUR AMERICAN jobs overseas?
Wrong on both counts, the Navy's new rail gun shoots GUIDED projectiles, up to 10 per minute.
Rockets accelerate until they reach orbit and you CAN shoot them down on the way to orbit, we have many many times. If an ICBM reaches orbit its too late, then you have to hit multiple warheads.
On behalf of the rest of the world, let me be the first to say: neener, neener, neeeeener. Neener, neener, neeeeener.
The USN and ASAF would like to thank the leader of North Korea for this opportunity to test our latest missile defence technologies. Our missile defense test "operation Numb-nuts" was an overwhelming technological success which we would like to dedicate to Kim Jung-un, who has shown amazing compassion for his starving people by spending millions of dollars to provide us with this test target. His investment in this rocket
missilehas shown that he is truly a candidate for this years Nobel peace prize which is historically given to unproven leaders with big mouths and no history of accomplishment.The US is not the police or social workers of the world. I know it sounds crass but North Korea has set up this situation with the people and they need to work it out. As far as the missile launch, we can protect ourselves. It's time to quit sticking our noses in other countries businesses and take care of our unemployment, starving children here in the US, the economy, and the list goes on.
Hillary and Obama allowed N. Korea to become an entitlement State even though it didn't need the money.
LOL I know the bots have to down Obama at every chance but this is stupid to say the least. Bush and the republicans have for years offered these people aid to stop their nuclear program. Along with that the food for not experimenting with long range missles has been violated and the admin already took that off the table. All of these things had this poster took a minute to research it instead of jumping on the anti Obama bandwagon were reached between both NK th US Japan China and many other countries. Get out the dunce cap for the latest right wing liar that posted this nonsense.
Really,,,, why is this news?
WTF! This is probably one of the only newsworthy things Ive seen in MSNBC lately.
Because American Idol isnt on tonight...
The North Korean communists have been saying for a month that they were going to do this. That's why it's not news!
hey dummy because the next test might have a nuclear tip, really what a stupid post
Because, they actually did launch it. There was much tension even in NK prior to the launch, and most of the time countries as powerful as the US act as a deterrant to rogue nations.
Let's put it this way just to give one example. IF the North Korean's "could" launch a single nuke, successfully get past our (not 100% effective missile defenses) and do a high altitude detonation over the Central United States, it's thought that the EMP from such a blast could wipe out ALL unshielded Electrical Grid power, Vehicles, Electronics, Batteries, etc.
It's also thought that it would take 8-14 months to recover from such an EMP, given that most of the Electrical infrastructure in the US would have to be replaced. Could you go without Electricity or a car or food (brought to your city by vehicles) for 8-14 months?
Because, things like this are just another straw on the camels back. If the continued printing of money with nothing to back it doesn't bring us down, it will be someone like these clowns detonating a warhead over the US and either starting a war or an EMP that will disable our beloved cell phones, Ipads, tablets or whatever else it is we are addicted to!
We had better wake up soon. China owns us, our President apologizes to them for us becoming a laughingstock in the eyes of the rest of the World, and all the while we stick our noses in a phone or on the TV, unprepared for the possibilities that we don't really want to think about!!
The little guy is trying to prove his worth among his people so he figures he should have a pissing match with the rest of the world, kind of a middle finger, or in this case launch a missile. I swear, it's always some $hit going on!
the US act as a deterrant to rogue nations.
The U.S. is the world's biggest rogue nation.
hey wolf, let me guess you're one of those occupy trash
Yeah, but all of our nukes kind of discourage other countries from, you know, nuking us.
Hey fedup. I agree. Not one mention of a Kardashian or Britney Spears. I can understand why you are so disinterested.
Why would anyone be surprised that President Obama would be less than aggressive over this? He is the cousin of the North Korean leader and spent several years as a youth living there and going to Communist schools. This is where he gained his knowledge of the Marxist agenda he has been pushing here in the US and which he will have all wrapped up if we just elect him to four more years. He is the most powerful president ever as he will be able to undo 246 years of US progress in under 8 years.
Well AlaskaGirl (3.8 above); it seems to be a broken middle finger and probably a little short too.
And I sure can't believe that those (2) of you talking about EMP blasts over the US (by North Koreans) can possibly be flying with all your nuts and bolts in place! [Actually, I could believe a comment like that about some little country in central Africa before I could believe such a report from North Korea!]
Bottle rocket technology ? They never fly as well without the stick. To paraphrase that great American philosopher Nelson of " The Simpson's " fame................. HA HA !
They don't need their nuts and bolts, PublicSpeech. They get all the information they need to function as citizens of this country from Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, and Glenn Beck. Unimpeachable sources and you should apologize to them for attempting to get them to think for themselves.
@ cwlfan: Are you being serious in your first comment, or is that your version of humor?
"Why is this news?"
The Ronco pocket fisherman 2.0 wasn't finished yet?
Magician, my first comment on this thread was to fedup who wondered why this was news. I told him I understood his lack of interest because there was no mention of a Kardashian or other meaningless garbage involved in the story.
If you are asking about my comments regarding Obama being a cousin of the Korean leader, I was joking but am certain that it would not take much to get that kind of thing moving around the conservative/regressive blogs and, before long, it will be god's honest truth.
The whole point of launching a rocket, is getting it to go where you want it to go. KATOs don't count for beans.
Idiots + Hate Radio = Stupid
EMP is all fine and dandy. Do you really think our Military-Industrial Complex has been out to lunch since 1949? Our own strategic nuclear system has been thoroughly shielded for decades now. Rest assured that every government on the planet has been well informed that any such attack on the USA would immediately result on the attacker's own nuclear extinction.
Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that a relatively primitive missile from the likes of N. Korea would ever stand a chance of entering US airspace. It is the mass attack from multiple-warhead missiles that would be a credible threat to the US, not one iffy rocket from the Hillbillies of the Far East.
But hey, put Savage back on, and enjoy the angry fearfest just awhile longer...
FourPointsShy,
No, EMP does not destroy everything. It disrupts 'electromagnetic' devices, such as motors, transfomers, condensers, choke coils, etc. It may permanently affect some IC chips. However, the EMP has not been shown to de-magnetize motor stators or deplete batteries not attached to a load.
EMP is actually a common experience, earth suffers millions per year in the form of lightening. Other than a direct strike on a grounded vehicle, show me a car or truck disabled by a major electrical storm.
Agree with Bill Marvel here. EMP is a moderate concern, but the 8-14 months downtime statement is a tremendous overstatement. Even at that, the affected territory would not constitute the entire central US as stated. It would be a much, much smaller piece of geography. Not to mention, there is plenty of shielding in place for military vehicles for EMP.
Just another failed attempt. Nothing to worry about here folks.
This post is just silly. First of all, they do not have high yeild Fusion bombs, the best this backwater country could possibly do is a low yield fission bomb. Second, the effects would not be nation wide even if it was a high yield fusion detonation, third 8-14 months is just rediculous, the effects would be temporary on many things, some things would not be affected at all.
There sure are a lot of nuclear weapons experts commenting here, the FAS (Federation of American Scientists) websit explains EMP in great detail. It would require a one megaton bomb detonated at a very high altitude to do any real damage. North Korea would have a better chance of putting a man on the moon, or at least partway through it.
Just another reason to start a war...
good idea, next test might have a nuclear tip, let me guess your a progressive
heh, heh, John. Mushroom cloud? Eminent threat? Where have I heard those scary things before?
yeah just like England could appease Hitler
If Bush and Cheney and his warmonger pals were still in power we would be at war with them tomorrow.....
really obama has more troops in Afghanistan then bush did.
Afghanistan/Pakistan is where the people who attacked us on 9/11 went. Not Iraq.
Remind me john, since I seem to have forgotten: how much land has North Korea been allowed to take? Who have they expelled from their territory?
"Just another reason to start a war"
Ummmm.........NO!
They would have to be pretty stupid to launch one with a nuclear tip at us. If they do, they know there'll be at least 50 coming back at them. Seeing as we are the only country to have the balls to use them in war, we have a credible deterrent. No matter what their rockets do, they are not a threat to our national security.
A moment of intense pride for the government of North Korea... as our rocket shoots skyward, in an... upward... wait... it's going... it's...
Never mind.
Somebody forgot to clean out the carburator. It's been sitting in a silo since 1962. Did somebody forget to check the points and plugs?
john: agree with your OTHER post, a blunt retort to someone who does not understand why this event is extremely newsworthy. But you erroneously peg somebody as a Progressive who astutely notes what Republicans and Democrats are so good at: starting wars. Yesterday's smart, consistent Conservative/Progressive knew war was the last resort for the USA. We responded to aggression, rather than creating it (for the most part). Why start WWIII with a lame country like North Korea? They are far from developing a rocket that can reach outer space, let alone the central USA. I agree with you that countries like North Korea, that hate the west and especially the USA, must not be allowed to develop a technology which can destroy you and I. As a progressive, I question the need to start a war with a feeble enemy like North Korea.
John,
So the next missile is launched, in confident airs like this one, with a nuclear bomb aboard. Even today, high-yeild bombs are still heavy and somewhat bulky. So if the next missile performs like this one??? The problem may solve itself. Remember how many duds we 'failed to launch'' and I'm not talking 21st Century disappointments to their parents.
Regarding the idea of starting a war, if I remember correctly we already are at war with North Korea and have been since the early-1950s . . .
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Korean_Armistice_Agreement
The Korean War did not end . . .
Instead, what happened is that the various parties agreed to stop fighting for a while . . .
We continue to have troops stationed at the 38th parallel, which is the line that defines the demilitarized zone (DMZ) which separates South Korea from North Korea, and we continue to reserve the right to kick North Korea's butt whenever we desire, although mostly we just mess with their minds at every opportunity and do everything possible to isolate them from the civilized world, since in the grand scheme of everything they are mutants and miscreants, as are the commie Red Chinese, really . . .
Really! :-o
Republicans start wars? REALLY???
Wilson, a DEMOCRAT, got us into WWI
FDR, a DEMOCRAT, got us into WWII
Truman, a DEMOCRAT, got us into the Korean War
Kennedy, a DEMOCRAT, got us into the Vietnam War
Johnson, a DEMOCRAT, escalated the Vietnam war to the point it ripped this country apart
Clinton, a DEMOCRAT, got us involved in Bosnia, an internal European problem
Obama, a DEMOCRAT, has escalated Afghanistan and we still have no exit strategy after 3 years
DEMOCRATS are no slouches at warfare, don't fool yourselves.
ScoMata1964
FDR, a DEMOCRAT, got us into WWII-----AH I thought it was the Japanese that brought us into WWII. So it was not of his making. No matter who would have been in office then we all wanted to kick their bu-ts
Kennedy, a DEMOCRAT, got us into the Vietnam War He gave the south ADVISORS, not troops. He never wanted to getThe US that involved in Vietnam.
Johnson, a DEMOCRAT, escalated the Vietnam war to the point it ripped this country apart----- It was a police action, not a war. War was never declared( My hat is off to every Vietnam Vet that went there,EVERYONE OF THEM ~S~ to you all )
The Vietnam War was not technically a war (though many would disagree) because Congress did not officially declare war. However, it was perceived by the rest of the world as a war and as a consequence America lost much of its political pull. For the grunts in the field it was a war.
WWII was the US's last "declared war." WWII also brought the world into the "atomic age", when the nuclear weapons were dropped on Hiroshima & Nagasaki in August 6 & 9, 1945, ending WWII.
I found this after a search or The Vietnam war. just in case you might argue that it was not a war
really obama has more troops in Afghanistan then bush did.
If Bush had done his job instead of attacking Iraq there would be no need for troops there now....
Republicans start wars? REALLY???
Wilson, a DEMOCRAT, got us into WWI...et al
Republicans start wars? REALLY???
Wilson, a DEMOCRAT, got us into WWI
Bad policies mainly from the Republican side got us into thos "wars" not warmongering
Pearl Harbor was avoidable, and it was convenient too for a country insisting on neutrality
BS, there were 16000 troops in Vietnam when JFK was assassinated including special forces fighting and dying.
Vietnam War is how it is defined and that is what it was. Most historians agree that just because we changed the procedure to authorise combat, war is war.
How lame! That just means the democrats were not in control, weak, and gullible then, which is not the case.
It will be interesting to see the results of this test. I'm curious if it will follow the trajectory claimed by news agencies, and if the satellite will successfully attain orbit.
So am I.
Looks like they updated the article: fail.
Satellite..........erm........not anymore........ :-)
Better luck next time guys, eh?
It would seem that rockets and missiles are to the DPRK what nuke subs were to the CCCP...
Holy crap! I am really tired of these war toys
If were soooooo concerned about this, why not shoot it down?
Ballistic missiles/rockets travel too fast to be shot down.
Baloney! That's what the laser is for.
What laser?
Ballistic missiles travel many times the speed of sound.
Way slower than the speed of light.
The Airborne Laser Platform probably isn't ready to target a real world, supersonic object.
We don't have a missile-shooting laser. The ABL was defunded in 2011.
It's ready. Already deployed, most likely on the so called secret Air Force project in orbit.
We need to quit believing all these projects are defunded. Not the case.
So what's your plan, fedup? We all line up and aim our laser pointers up? What laser are you talking about? There is no laser powerful enough to shoot down a rocket even if the technology existed to aim it at a supersonic object. You are reading too many comic books.
Sounds to me like the laser works just fine.
fedupwithidiots: You seriously believe the ABL is fielded? Perhaps I'd better let my cousin's husband know as he's one of the project managers.
Hope your comment is not a breach of security.
If it's not being funded why would they, and how would they pay for, a project manager, let alone "one of" as agent 99 is saying. Just asking. I really have no idea what the sci-fi sounding laser is! LOL
It's being funded.
AK Girl: I should have said "was a project manager."
The ABL, if you're interested, was an attempt to put a weapons-grade laser on a B747. They made a lot of progress, but it was no where near ready for deployment. The program is not technically dead, more like mothballed so the AF doesn't lose what it's learned so far. Who knows, it may be resurrected someday; it had a lot of potential.
Thanks 99! I appreciate the clarification and the basic lesson! Very interesting "stuff" we do!
I don't think it would be possible to secretly deploy the ABL carrier within its operating range, on short notice.
FYI, USN SM-2 bloc 3, mk 4's are satellite killers, and can hit BM's. The SM-3's are upgraded versions and are dedicated BM/Sat/ killers. And they also travel many times the speed of sound.
Japan has them, and Tens of Hundreds of these are also Haze Grey & Underway.
When Japan said they'd shoot it down if they had to, did you think they were going use spitballs?
"We don't need no stinkin' Lasers" to shoot down a Ballistic Missile, and you can bet that there were/are plenty of little grey boats floating in the water between us and them, wherever there is a "them".
And for those worried about an EMP Bogyman, yea, you'll probably lose your laptop, iPad, xBox, and bank computer records will hopefully move the decimal point on my savings/checking accounts about 7 places to the right. All military and civil defense vehicles, as well as C3 (command/control/communications) systems are shielded from EMP. Civilian cars ain't so lucky, unless it's an older car without all the computer crap in it ( like my '77 MGB! ) Worse thing they'll get is a burned-out ignition coil if they were running at the time. But I carry a spare one anyway ( and extra fuse's ), so I'm not worried.
Solomon Kane,
Thank you for confirming my understanding of EMP: disruption of active circuits, IC's, and condensers. But lasting effects, at distance, are unlikely on magnets, motors, generators, alternators, transformers or relays. Those are the heart of our grid, we'll just have to go back to hands-on maintenance; CRAP.
Regarding the Korean missile, I see them as being about where the US was in 1958-61. Look at our parade of successes. We didn't want to send men into space because chimps were better adapted; we didn't want to send the sad-faced tired old man from "The Right Stuff" to another set of houses. And even then, our confidence got the better of us with the shuttles.
If only N. Korea had not planned this launch many years ago I could see why maybe it would matter to the food package, but they had started building this site when the current leader's father was still alive and in power years ago. The current leader was just finishing it up.
The U.S. has had a ground based chemical laser for some time now that can shoot down BM. It was the same one they were trying to cram in the 747 that has the adjustable mirror, and uses a couple weaker lasers to read the atmosphere to adjust the mirror to optimal before the main laser fires. I am sure they have one or two on some ships too, plenty of room. Israel has them too.
Missiles are another way to shot down a BM. My money is that it was shot down and did not fail, or it was shot before it could fail. So many people worried over nothing.
It takes a very powerful EM wave to induce enough current in a circuit trace to do any damage. EM waves weaken very quickly from the source they are created at unless they are directional/focused. It is the same thing as a radio wave, and they need a piece of metal wire or a conducting trace to act as an antenna. The closer the antenna length gets compared to the wavelength of the EM wave, the more effective/efficient the antenna/wire/trace will become and the more current that will be induced. Then there is still how much resistance is on that line or that line could be open and not connected to anything atm. V/R = I, Ohms law.
Most IC's have protection diodes that can take 1000V or more. It is the rewritable magnetic media that you really have to worry about, like hard drives. Good thing most hard drives have a grounded metal case and are inside a grounded metal computer case. Plastic laptops are not as safe, but they still will take a pretty big hit before anything happens.
Yea right. With the Death Star floating around in space, some of you people are going to tell us that lasers don't have the ability to shoot down missiles and what-not? I've seen it happen! Not just some stupid little missile! AN ENTIRE PLANET WAS DESTROYED BY A LASER! Give us a break!
it landed shortly after takeoff
Who cares!!!!!!! We can't, nor should we, stop others from advancing!!
Would you be saying that if a missile was launched in our direction?
really, people are eating saw dust in NK and you think launching a missile is advancing the county. Take your head out of your ass.
Country NOT county there johnyboy!!!!! I am just saying that we have so many issues of our own that this Prez can't even handle and we are worried about NK?? As Berry Blowbama would say, "They are a tiny country, they can't be a threat!" Maybe he will make another idle threat! The only reason NK did this is because they know how weak the US is!!!
No kidding. This ping pong, or whatever the fluck his name is needs to be bitch slapped hard and fast.
Hey Jesus, what issues can't President Obama handle? Just curious.
Hey Jesus: I think that our country is one of the strongest countries in the world and the fact that you apparently don't feel that way says alot about your allegiance to your country.
My first reply was in agreement with john and directed at him.
Nice try AlaskaGirl!!! You might be right, The USA is "one" of the strongest countries not THE STRONGEST like the past! This Communist President is loving this and is trying to destroy the GREATEST COUNTRY in the history of civilization. You have the right to question my "allegiance" all you want but that doesn't change the fact that this country is weak and being "lead" by the weakest President in my lifetime.
Well, I guess we agree to disagree. I rather like a president who isn't too trigger happy in having our men and women go gang busters into another country like our last president did. Don't get me wrong, I, like alot of us, wanted revenge for the 9/11 attacks, I just wish we hadn't been duped in the process. I do believe that we are still the greatest nation in the world and I misspoke when I said "one". And, nobody will ever make me believe that our president is a communist. You are entitled to your opinions.
Oh, I know it is really tempting to call someone out on their spelling and grammar ( I fight the urge every day on here!), but it really makes you look like a douche. Just sayin'.
Well Jesus, you obviously haven't done an inventory of our military arsenal lately. And by the way, this "weakest president" seems to be doing fine militarily by my book. He took out Osama, toppled Gadaffi without even getting our boots dirty, and pulled out of Iraq which shouldn't have been started in the first place, and strengthened the forces in Afganistan. How is he weak again?
LOL!! Douche!!!!!!! I remember calling people that in grade school. Nice!
Jesus...you are an idiot!!
AlaskaGirl,
Actually, it was lauched in OUR direction, for the same reason we point all our space missiles at the Bahamas. (Damned, dirty limey islanders --- NO, NO, NO!!!) By pointing missiles EASTward, you gain about 1050 mph airspeed due to the earth's rotation. We are EAST of the Korean Penisula. Doh!
If the US military was twice the size that it is now, do you think the North Koreans would've changed their plans? No, not a bit. There is no domestic (or international) support for a war against the North Koreans. The only way to build that support is to show that all other possible actions short of war have failed AND that they are an imminent threat.
Hey Alaska Girl, I also hated being duped into believing that Iraq had WMD. However, Hussein basically threw out all of the coalition inspectors that wanted to verify the existence of hidden weapons. Our intelligence dept. (though not very accountable) was worried about huge quantities of poison gas, hidden missile silo's and who knows what. We know now that Hussein was bluffing, but crazy dictators are capable of doing illogical things. Could we all agree that the world is a better place without Hussein. All of this madness needs to stop, and I'm proud that we are doing our part. I'm still not convinced that if the middle east was bone dry of oil, would we really give a crap about our involvement there. Damned if we care and damned if we don't.....kind of a catch 22.
Jesus, you are obviously ignorant of every aspect of this situation, yet you comment. I would say the name calling should be expected.
They singed the anti ballistic missile treaty and the nuclear non proliferation treaty. They are violating BOTH because this has NOTHING to do with civilian space operations and EVERYBODY knows it. That's why China is upset, that's why Japan is upset, and that's why WE are upset.
After all the propaganda and postering about NK military might and prowess, then an epic fail on the launch; did I miss the part where the world points and laughs?
Just imagine if they manage a nuclear warhead....they'll likely blow themselves off the map...while the world watches and shakes it's collective head.
The RNC sends nothing but idiots in to argue things that are easily debunked. Guess they are gonna go on the lie till November swift boat route again this year. Ever notice how they never have to make a promise because they spend so much time trying to make you hate their opponents?
Yep, I say it was a failure, that thing just landed in my backyard.
Jeesh!
Okay N Korea, you better not do that again! This is our last warning untill next time.
yeah obama really really really mad.
That is Obama's Missile Warning System!! "I'm Warning you NO MORE MISSILES!!!!!!!"
Okay, wreck, John, and Jesus.......You are the President of the United States. What would you do in this case?
No response, General Jesus?
I wouldn't do anything!!! Let Asia handle this.
cant do anything since Obama has cut the defense budget by 500 billion.
Obama is way cooler than you racist lackeys.
Way.
I agree. These comment boards are loaded with undercover racists. Nine times out of ten these people can't even tell you why they dislike Obama, I can tell you why...because he's black! If you people can really tell me that you truly believe Romney is AT ALL honest (yes I do realize all politicians lie, just when some do it, people die, like Georgie boy) then you probably should consider not voting because you are simply not smart enough to have any part in a decision of such magnitude. Instead take your overweight kids to 31 flavors. Ice cream is a decision which is more your pace.
This is actually Obama's new stimulus program for the South Korean scrap metal industry.
Obama's not black. He's a ginger with a deep tan. He lived in Hawaii for awhile you know.
NK and Iran have a long history of cooperation with regard to nuclear develpoment...this ought to make the world a safer place huh?
How many did the U.S. launch today?
We launched 0. Also, it's a little more nerve-racking when propagandists in North Korea have posters that depict missles exploding onto our state capital building with titles such as "Death to the U.S. Imperialists."
Which state's capitol do you think they would want to explode missiles over???
My first guess would be Seoul of South Korea, actually.
Tokyo of Japan would be a close second.
Our capital would probably come third, though they'd pause to see if we're scared enough to feed them first.
Not that this has any chance of actually occurring.
I'm hungry
Do they have any oil?
There are huge oil reserves off of the coast of Korea and Vietnam, Craig. That was one of the main reasons we stayed involved in Vietnam as long as we did. Pentagon Papers revealed that US oil companies encouraged continuation of the war in order to ensure they got access to it.
cwlfan... you're so full of sh*t your eyes are brown
Even if it IS a weather satellite, when the rest of the world says NO, that means NO.
Lil Kim is clearly not up to running the country.
A weather satellite that plays propagandist music!! What type of weather satellite does that.
Right, "when the rest of the world says NO, that means NO." I guess we can ignore that rule when we want to invade Iraq. When other countries do it, it's because they are "rogue," but when the US does it, it's for "freedom" or "justice."
Hey genius, there was a UN resolution to invade Iraq. Or perhaps you are too young to remember?
Laura, you are possibly the most dumbest person out there. Since when has the rest of the world, has been the dictator or North Korea? They don't control North Korea's actions, North Korea control's North Korea's actions and they have the right to do as they please, unless it isn't harmful to the rest of the world, but their NO's to something they would like to experiment with is completely atrocious and for you Laura, to support this stupidity, is also atrocious as well. Also, yes, JWo12 has a point here George, if the Americans are allowed to go into war and kill over billions of people and waste billions of dollars, then why can't other countries do the same? Why does it have to be rogue? God, people are just stupid!
Gee, I don't know whether Laura is the dumbest person out there considering your barely decipherable rant. I almost had to call an interpreter. Oh, ever hear of the United Nations?
The only running he's going to do with NK is running his people to the ground. Instead of spending so much money on failed attempts to launch a rocket, he needs to feed his people.
Nihal~ If you can't make a persuasive argument without attacking another person then you don't have much of an argument to begin with. The moment you start calling people names simply because their viewpoints are different is the moment any debate you offer becomes null.
Laura's quite right.
And when (most of) the rest of the world said NO and we went into Iraq anyway...
Well, that didn't end too well, did it? If anything, it reinforces Laura's point. International opinion and interests are not to be shirked so easily. Those that do should prepare to suffer consequences.
North Korea does not have the right to do as it pleases. It has lost that right ever since its conception with its cruelty, sabre-rattling, constant provocations and attempts at extortion. So long as they beg us for food, they do what WE say. Is that hard to understand?
Don't Kill Us
Death Star is coming for you.
I hope there is not a knee jerk reaction to get into another senseless unwinable war. this is the time for rationality and calm. it will never come to a time when us can keep us safe from every imaginable threat. it is just impossible. we let the genie out of the jar with the first atomic bomb. i am not saying it was the wrong thing to do, but can not stuff the genie back where it came from. i believe that thinking we can keep other nations from gaining access to nuclear devices is on the verge of insanity
Problem- We have Hillary to stop anything they may have pointed our way. don't you all feel safer? This party is a joke. Lack of experience at the helm and all the way down the line.
Solution- We had better get multiple practice flights in regards to the National Guard and Air Force. You should begin to see the intervals and more aircraft in the air than ever before. A great Defense is very good for the offense.
Given that Hillary has more balls (and even more brains) than half the republican party, I certainly feel safer.
Did you make a typo? It would be more fitting if you had said the democrat party....
Nope, Toasty got it right, but thanks for checking!
Are you the official spokesperson for Toasty? :)
Hillary as much experience being President as Peyton Manning's wife has at being a quarterback.
Unofficial. LOL Just having some fun and friendly (I hope) banter on a Thursday afternoon (here, anyway)! I just keep seeing "Toasty" and it is making me hungry! LOL
Peyton Manning's wife is a quarterback? What team?
Toni Romo....plays for some team in Texas
mmmm rockets
This is really big news for the army.How can the commander in chief ever let this happen>remember the lost super uav he handed to iran?Whats next?Pray daily!!!
He let a North Korean rocket blow itself up. Gee, what a bad president...
Grow up, BT.
Yea, Big Tycoon. Obama let the world see what a Paper Tiger North Korea is.
What would have McCain done. Oh, we may not even be talking now, cause he would have attacked Iran already. War is not a video game. Jeesh.
And Obama is not winging it. He has generations of advisors, both Republican and Democrat who have expeirence with the North Koreans.
But, these folks like Tycoon have to bash Obama because he didn't order a nuke of the country. Jeesh.
Pray daily if you feel the need to. Or, are you insinuating something? If you are don't beat around the bush, spit it out.
What AlaskaGirl?! Are you talking to me? What do you want me to spit out and reveal.
That America is a war mongering, Military Industrial War Complex, maybe ushering in New World Order rule of international law, kind of country?!
I do pray daily, like Elija, that God would take me. I can't see the world getting any better. All it wants to do is war, so it can attain peace?! Yea, we have to preemptively attack our enemies, so they don't attack us. Fight the war over there, so we don't have to see it over here. Red White and Blue, bombs and Apple Pie.
There is no other way, than a One World Government who will stop the chaos, end the dictatorships, feed the people, and take them all to hell. Yea, I see the Beast coming, but like Noah, everyone says we are wearing tin foil hats. Like Jeremiah, who cried and begged Israel to return to God, they killed him.
I think the time is getting short. God surely can not ignore the moans and cries of the innocent. Surely He can not let the evil mock His Righteousness. I would be quite content, to see my King come in Glory, and for every eye to see Him, on their Smart phones.
Maranatha!
If you really think that North Korea is a "Paper Tiger" then one can only surmise that you really don't have a clue about a lot of things.
Yep, I would agree with you Upscheidt. I really don't have a clue about what our government and media tells us about what is going on. But I do know what God says.
And I don't think He is happy about what is going on lately with the so called Christian nations and their eagerness to go to war.
BTW, a real Chrisitan nation would provided the food to the needy in North Korea, regardless of what the dumb leaders are doing, rather than going to war, and wiping them out, or as they gleefully say, "Nuke em."
how do you provide food to the needy of a country without the cooperation of those needy's Govt.
and so called christion nations have invaded countries in the past. Crusades ring a bell? how many non christians were killed in God's name.
Thankfully your outdated cultist nonsense does not dictate our national policies.
And not to spill any sunshine over your stormy "the end is nigh, there is no hope" nonsense, but warfare and poverty has actually DECREASED dramatically over time as civilization has advanced. You think things are messy now? Fifty years ago things were worse. Fifty years before THAT, things were even worse. And so on and so forth.
But feel free to pray to your god to save you from the slowly developing planet that continues to bless more and more people with ever-greater prosperity. Maybe things are better in the afterlife. Good luck with that.
After we nuked Japan to end WWll, I believe it was the U.S. that put Japan back together. Yes, they still have restrictions as to them building up to become a military super power, but they abide by the rules we imposed when they surrendered. What does everyone think about this....America is the worst country in the world, well except for all of the others.
It's not like Obama would do anything about it anyways, The Democratic party will probably figure out a way to blame the tea party and bush for it.
Timothy: If the shoe fits wear it. Not all Americans want war all the time. Just the "people" in the tea party and of course, the former President of the United States.
So you think President Obama should jump into all the fires of the world with our children. To die for others (not the U.S.). If the Arab Nations want freedom, it is up to them to do it. Of course, North Korea, the lay country for China is another thing. But, this just the first day of what NK might do. We have to pay attention, but not jump into the ring of fire right now. Who knows the "little guy" might wake up tomorrow and say "what a stupid thing I did". Probably not.
And, Timothy, I would hope with your statement you would be the first in line to go North Korea. Otherwise, shut up. I don't want my grandchildren in war.
Harken back to an earlier period, the 1930's. This country was tired of war. We still had living veterans of the Civil War. We had fought Spain around the world, and then fought the natives of our newly won empire. We invaded Mexico. Fought in and, in our mind at least, won the First World War. Occupied several South and Latin American countries (to protect our private agricultural interests) and been risking open war with the Japanese over China. We even 'forgot' that the Japanese attacked and sank the Panay, a USN gunboat on the Yellow River in China. Men like Hemingway aside, Americans were NOT interested in another European or Asian war. After TWO YEARS of pro-British propaganda, it took the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor to really change America's mind.
Now after nearly twenty years, first in the Balkans, then Iraq, the more Balkans, the Irag for 10 years and Afghanistan for 10 years; you don't think this country is war weary?
War weary? Hell we are just getting started. Nukes don't have a forever shelf life. We gotta use those babies...and sooooon! Bring it on World!
Obama called N Korea and apologies he couldn't be there for the launch
R257
A Great Post!!!!!!!!
Right before Obama called, George Bush Called first and offered to help them build the "Missile", and use the American tax money to do so.. then he called his stock broker to see if there was a way he could profit from the whole deal.. the way he did with Iraq and the stock market. Idiot. Go back to Faux news with your ignorant beliefs.
Didn't he apologize for not offering more support? Our country's arrogance has helped to suppress the good leaders of North Korea.
Atkins @ go sit with BOBO and MOMO and plan your next vacation before the end
I'm sure he wishes he could go, but his schedule is so busy that he hoped Kim wouldn't mind if Seal Team Six showed up in his place.
R257>.Shut Up. Now we both sound like kindergartners.
The Best trick the Devil every pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.....
No, actually the biggest joke is the fact that you believe he really DOES exist...
Hmm....I guess we will all find out in the end, eh?
Hey...it's not like they have WMD's and have threatened to use them...right? Now...if they had something worth fighting over that would be different.
Maybe not, but the Koreans and the Iranians have a long standing cooperation in nuclear development. Iran is getting VERY close, so....badaboom...probable cause. Of course, a rousing round of Kumbiya (sp) with Hillary et al will probably solve the entire problem.
There are some of you that really underestimate the value that Hillary has been as our Secretary of State. Is it because she is a democrat or is it because she is a woman?
being a woman-democrat probably doesn't help.
I trust Hilliary much more than "bite me" Biden. Does that make me a bad Republican?
Let the star wars era begin, Now who's going to shoot it down?
Would it not be nice if mankind came together and worked hard to produce and share freely so that we all can benefit? Why is this enmity? This competition? Together we could make this planet a better place and a home for all of us to live in comfort and in peace. But no, some big shots decide an alternative system cannot be tolerated and must be beaten and demolished. Thus the borders are drawn and resources are wasted.
Ahhh, we tried that after WWII when we started handing out Uranium and pretty much telling the other countries what they could do with it, although they pretty much saw the effects when we bombed Tokyo. Why do you think there are so many nukes in the world? We have had to spend years and a boat load of money to retrieve the uranium still sitting out there, some of it unprotected from evil sources. Our country has worked along side many other countries and done wonderful things together and shared so I am not sure what you don't get? This world is very complex is all I can say. Peace.
It's sad to think that for 50 years the USA lived in a world where a rival nation, the USSR, actually had the capability to destroy the US if they decided to do so. At that time the Communists were depicted as the same sort of monsters as we now hear about in N. Korea and Iran, devoid of normal human emotions and ready to bring down annihilation on themselves to advance their fanatical schemes. Yet we all survived and even cooperate to the extent that the only way for US astronauts to get into space is on a Russian rocket.
Now we are so timid that the possibility that a 3rd rate nation like N. Korea or Iran might develop a weapon 3 or 4 generations behind our own gives us nightmares. I don't believe that these primitive weapons present any real threat to a vast and powerful nation, and I don't think our military and government believe so either.
All this supposed panic over minor advances in weaponry by small nations half a world away is being manufactured by the government to distract any groups or parties in our own country from addressing real issues that the ruling powers would rather not talk about.
We only use russian rockets to get into space because it's nice of us to let the russians fell like they have use. See? We care about how others feel. We have 14 Death Stars you know! Already we have millions in space upon that many Death Stars. We don't have to catch rides from russia to get into space. We need other spaceman out there we'll just clone one. We've been doing it for centuries.