Thursday - July 20, 2006

Rocket Science

Memo To Kim Jung Mentally Ill: What’s the matter little man? Run out of Rocket Viagra™? Couldn’t keep your missile up in the air longer than ten seconds? Did your tiny little TaePoDong wilt and go limp in the Sea Of Japan? Well, let me show you how it’s done.

You see, you take a bunch of scientists, put them in a room, take the results and turn it over to Boeing and before you know it you have a real missile. One that will hold up under pressure and can penetrate anywhere with ease. And you want to talk about payload? This baby can deliver the goods and can impregnate any pissant country with up to three separate MIRV warheads.

And for real excitement each warhead can be a real nuke, not some firecracker thrown together in a Third World craphole. We’re talking NOOKULER ANNIHILATION, babe! So play with your toys, little man. Just don’t piss us off any time soon. We have thousands of these missiles and one of them might just have your name on it. Now go have a nice day. Better yet, go get laid. If you’re man enough ....

U.S. Successfully Completes Missile Test
_{July 20, 2006, 8:49 AM EDT}

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) - The Air Force successfully launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile early Thursday.

The Minuteman III dummy warheads were fired at 3:14 a.m. and traveled about 4,200 miles before hitting a water target in the Marshall Islands.

The launch was delayed by a day because of a power outage at a radar facility that handles flights in and out of Southern California. The purpose is to test the defense system’s reliability and accuracy.

Earlier this month, North Korea shook up the world by firing several missiles into the Sea of Japan, including a failed long-range missile.

The North Korean launch raised questions about the readiness of the U.S. missile defense system, which includes interceptors housed in underground silos in California and Alaska.

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/20/2006 at 09:05 AM   
Filed Under: • North-Korea •  
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   Tuesday - July 18, 2006

Meanwhile …

These are not the warships you’re looking for. Move along. Nothing to see here.

So says the US Navy. Of course the visit was planned months in advance. The logistics of deploying this much hardware requires that much lead time. It is convenient though ... and somewhat comforting to know that the carrier group is on hand in case Kim Jung Mentally Ill decides to get uppity - especially after the recent bottle rockets the NoKos fired off.

Which brings me to the crux of the matter ... if we’re constantly being tasked to be the world’s policeman then why in hell are we paying dues to the United Notions. They ought to be paying us for this crap! Instead, they make us pay more than any other country, squat on prime real estate in New York and give us a hard time.

It’s time to tell Kofi And Gang to “pony up for protection” ... and sit down and STFU when we bust the bad guys for them. Send them a bill for Saddam’s capture - which they approved. A few trillion dollars ought to do it ...

U.S. Warship in S.Korea
Amid Missile Issue
—SEOUL, South Korea (AP)
July 18, 2006, 4:21 AM EDT

The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise arrived in South Korea Tuesday for a routine port call, officials said, amid heightened tensions in the region over North Korea’s missile launches.

The group led by the nuclear-powered carrier USS Enterprise, and including a guided missile cruiser, attack submarine and other ships, arrived for a previously planned port call at the southeastern city of Pusan, the U.S. Navy said in a statement.

“The Norfolk, Virginia-based carrier’s deployment to the Western Pacific was planned months in advance and is not in response to any current or recent events,” the statement said. U.S. military officials would not say how long the naval strike group would be in Pusan, but local media said it would stay for four days.

The communist North fired seven missiles earlier this month, including one believed capable of reaching the U.S. The missiles plunged into the sea east of the Korean Peninsula without causing any known damage or injuries, but prompted strong international condemnation. It wasn’t clear how long the vessel will stay at the port.

It is the first time in 17 years for the Norfolk, Virginia-based Enterprise to travel to Pacific waters. The carrier’s deployment to the Asia-Pacific region is “part of a regular rotation of vessels in support of U.S. commitments to around the world,” the Navy said.

About 29,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, which remains technically at war with the communist North since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty.

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/18/2006 at 09:52 AM   
Filed Under: • North-Korea • United-Nations •  
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   Friday - July 14, 2006

Meanwhile, In Korea…

At a time of heightened tensions in the Koreas, Washington and Seoul are considering separate commands.

SEOUL — The United States and South Korea are considering disbanding their combined command and creating independent military commands, with a restructured U.S. Forces Korea focusing on air and naval power, according to USFK commander Gen. B.B. Bell.

Gotta admit, I don’t get the timing of this. With all the trouble with North Korea why would you want to add a layer of command that would just slow down response to enemy action?

Bell said that since October, the U.S. and South Korea have been studying Seoul’s request for independent operational command of its troops during wartime. Current agreements call for Bell — also commander of the Combined Forces Command and United Nations Command — to direct all combat operations.

“While no final decisions have been made, we are considering creating two independent commands — one ROK and one U.S., with U.S. forces in a supporting role, and restructured to take advantage of U.S. air and naval warfare capability,” Bell said.

It was unclear Friday whether the restructuring Bell mentioned could mean a drawdown of U.S. soldiers or an increase of Air Force or Navy personnel or equipment.

“It’s inappropriate for us to speculate on force-structure changes to basing or any other future development,” USFK spokesman Col. Franklin Childress said.

I should hope it is inappropriate. No sense in telling the North all of our plans.

Posted by Christopher     on 07/14/2006 at 08:48 PM   
Filed Under: • Military • North-Korea •  
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   Thursday - July 13, 2006

Deja View

_{Scott Stantis - The Birmingham News (AL)}

China Slams Japan Over North Korea
_{—(THE AGE - AUSTRALIA) - July 13, 2006 - 6:29AM}

China has criticised Japan for “pouring oil on fire” for raising the issue of a pre-emptive strike on North Korea after its missile tests, warning it could seriously disrupt international efforts to defuse the crisis.

“This practice is extremely irresponsible and incomprehensible and it will only seriously disrupt international diplomatic efforts and accelerate tensions in Northeast Asia,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement.

Last week’s launch has rekindled debate in Japan over whether it should develop the capability to make pre-emptive strikes and whether these would violate its post-World War Two pacifist constitution.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe did not say Tokyo was considering a pre-emptive strike nor did he use the words “pre-emptive strike”. But he said: “I believe it is necessary to conduct study and research (on the matter).

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/13/2006 at 01:54 AM   
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   Wednesday - July 12, 2006

A Minor Nuisance

_{Mike Thompson - The Detroit Free Press}

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/12/2006 at 11:14 AM   
Filed Under: • North-Korea •  
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   Friday - July 07, 2006

Respect My Authority!

_{Gary Varvel - The Indianapolis Star-News}

The “Dear Leader’s” Quest for Recognition
_{July 6, 2006}

Despite worldwide protests North Korea says it wants to test more missiles. By demonstrating its military strength, Kim Jong-Il’s regime appears to want to force the United States into direct negotiations. The international community remains undecided about how it should react.

There aren’t many cars on the roads of insular North Korea these days; there isn’t enough petrol or diesel. Nevertheless, the country is aiming for the skies: After launching seven medium- and long-range missiles on July 5, the North Korean Foreign Ministry announced it would carry out further tests. “Our military will continue with missile launch drills in the future as part of efforts to strengthen its self-defense deterrent,” said a spokesman.

This statement seems to confirm the findings of South Korean secret service personnel who anticipate further short- and medium-range missile tests. Still, it seems the North Korean military is less inclined to fire any more long-range Taepodong-2 missiles.

The first test launch of the missile, which has a range of 6,700 kilometers and can carry a payload weighing up to 1,000 kilograms, ended after just 40 seconds in the Sea of Japan—a complete failure, which Pyongyang nevertheless managed to herald a “success”.

Nobody knows what is driving the “Dear Leader” towards the “provocation of the international community,” as United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice described it. Presumably he wishes to show the world that he is still a force to be reckoned with, despite the dire state of the North Korean economy.

It’s possible that he is also convinced that he can force the Americans into direct negotiations through a demonstration of strength and thereby demand concessions. Kim has always considered it a great dishonor that Washington will only deal with North Korea through six-party talks based in Beijing.

The goal of the North Korean regime is not just American economic assistance but also full recognition by Washington. That doesn’t appear impossible: an increasing number of members of the US Congress are calling on the US government to take a more direct and serious line with North Korea.

- More on this story at Spiegel Online ...

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/07/2006 at 10:19 AM   
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It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

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