Trump Orders Military To Shoot Down North Korean Missiles

[edpc]

President Donald Trump has given military orders for U.S. forces to shoot down and destroy any missile launched from North Korea and moving toward the continental United States, Hawaii, and Guam.

Sources close to the president's national security team tell Newsmax the order was given to Pentagon brass in the wake of last month's threat by North Korea to fire a ballistic missile aimed at Guam, a U.S. territory.

"The threat provoked the president," one source familiar with the decision told Newsmax.

Last Sunday, North Korea detonated a thermonuclear weapon. The communist regime claims they can fit the new device on advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles, known as ICBMs.

This week, South Korean intelligence sources said the North was moving an ICBM in an apparent preparation for another test launch over the northern Pacific and possibly Japan.

The president also is said to be considering a new "shoot down" order for any North Korean missile launched and moving toward Japan or South Korea, another national security source told Newsmax.


http://www.newsmax.com/t/newsmax/article/812307?section=Headline&keywords=trump-orders-military-shoot&year=2017&month=09&date=07&id=812307&aliaspath=%2FManage%2FArticles%2FTemplate-Main&oref=r.search.yahoo.com

[edpc]

I am skeptical of the NK claims about compact warheads and EMP capability, but any missile that has a trajectory over an ally should be engaged, at this point.

[Suppressed]

I wouldn't have announced it in advance.  Bad move, IMO.

[The_Reader_David]

I wouldn't have announced it in advance.  Bad move, IMO.

Looks like a leak, not an announcement, and considering it's Newsmax, I'm not sure how reliable the claim of the leak is.

[Suppressed]

Looks like a leak, not an announcement, and considering it's Newsmax, I'm not sure how reliable the claim of the leak is.

Many leaks are intentional, but you're right...this is Newsmax.

[The_Reader_David]

Many leaks are intentional, but you're right...this is Newsmax.

Of course, since keeping one's opponent unsure of one's intentions is good strategy, perhaps a leak to a known to be unreliable news outlet, and only to such a news outlet, may be even better than either saying nothing or making an announcement.

[Cripplecreek]

I am skeptical of the NK claims about compact warheads and EMP capability, but any missile that has a trajectory over an ally should be engaged, at this point.

I think we've been doing it all along.

[Oceander]

I wouldn't have announced it in advance.  Bad move, IMO.

I disagree.  By announcing it ahead of time, it makes an actual shoot down less susceptible to accusations of being an initial aggressor's act of war. 

[Suppressed]

I disagree.  By announcing it ahead of time, it makes an actual shoot down less susceptible to accusations of being an initial aggressor's act of war.

But you don't say you will....you say you reserve the right to.

[Oceander]

But you don't say you will....you say you reserve the right to.

That hair doesn't need to be split that finely. 

[Cripplecreek]

I disagree.  By announcing it ahead of time, it makes an actual shoot down less susceptible to accusations of being an initial aggressor's act of war.

Personally I think its typical Trump wanting credit for everything.

I've long suspected we were shooting them down with laser and other means.

[Smokin Joe]

I think we've been doing it all along.

That thought has crossed my mind. They seem to have consistent in-flight failures....

[Oceander]

Personally I think its typical Trump wanting credit for everything.

I've long suspected we were shooting them down with laser and other means.

I very much doubt we've been shooting them down so far.  We need to know what their missiles can do just as much, if not more, than they do, so shooting down a blank would lose us valuable data without any real gain. 

[catfish1957]

Again.  Like I commented a few  minutes ago on the Seal Team 6 thread.  I thought this POTUS made a point during the campaign that he would not advertise our military intentions.  The man just can't be believed for anything.

[catfish1957]

I think we've been doing it all along.

Didn't one just fly entirely over Japan and land to it's east?

[Suppressed]

Again.  Like I commented a few  minutes ago on the Seal Team 6 thread.  I thought this POTUS made a point during the campaign that he would not advertise our military intentions.  The man just can't be believed for anything.

Sorry, but you're wrong.

Read his books.  He admits to being deceitful, and we can believe that easily.

[TomSea]

We all know, Trump is very trustworthy and has carried out the most Conservative agenda in decades, the military supports him as well.

[Suppressed]

We all know, Trump is very trustworthy and has carried out the most Conservative agenda in decades, the military supports him as well.

 

(Before I saw the signature, I thought this was someone making a funny.  Then I realized it's even more funny that you're serious!)

[catfish1957]

We all know, Trump is very trustworthy and has carried out the most Conservative agenda in decades, the military supports him as well.

@TomSea

I agree he supports the military, but during the campaign he adamantly stated he would not advertise our military intentions.  Now we are seeing the exact opposite.  Care to comment?

[catfish1957]

(Before I saw the signature, I thought this was someone making a funny.  Then I realized it's even more funny that you're serious!)

Yep, there's one of these in every crowd.

[Smokin Joe]

I very much doubt we've been shooting them down so far.  We need to know what their missiles can do just as much, if not more, than they do, so shooting down a blank would lose us valuable data without any real gain.

Isn't the THAL ready yet? (or something like it) Mount that on the Zumwalt. It should have the juice to power it. Target tracking is target tracking with one of those, and target performance issues shouldn't be so finicky.

[edpc]

That thought has crossed my mind. They seem to have consistent in-flight failures....

I don't want to know what passes for quality control in North Korea.  There have been articles speculating their multi-stage missiles are suffering damage during transport. 

[Smokin Joe]

I don't want to know what passes for quality control in North Korea.  There have been articles speculating their multi-stage missiles are suffering damage during transport.

Very possible, with liquid fueled systems, too. Solid fuel rockets don't handle damage well, either, but that is usually apparent early in the trajectory.

[stephen50right]

@TomSea

I agree he supports the military, but during the campaign he adamantly stated he would not advertise our military intentions.  Now we are seeing the exact opposite.  Care to comment?

This isn't "advertising" anything. I don't think it's any surprise that we were going to shoot down Fatboy missiles fired towards Guam.

The question that Fatboy must contemplate, is whether or not we will consider that an act of war and retaliate. THAT is what Trump will not advertise.

[catfish1957]

This isn't "advertising" anything. I don't think it's any surprise that we were going to shoot down Fatboy missiles fired towards Guam.

The question that Fatboy must contemplate, is whether or not we will consider that an act of war and retaliate. THAT is what Trump will not advertise.

Orange koolaid is kind of strong today huh?