Michael Auslin of the American Enterprise Institute has a suggestion worth heeding regarding the impending North Korean missile launch (supposedly to loft a satellite into orbit): He advises that the U.S., working with our allies South Korea and Japan, should shoot down the missile. With the Aegis ship-borne ballistic-missile defense system in place, the U.S. surely has the means to do so. And with North Korea’s launch being in violation of UN resolutions as well as Pyongyang’s own commitments made as recently as February 20, the U.S. has ample right to do so.
Auslin is convincing in arguing that this will not start a war with the North but will signal a renewed seriousness in American-led counter-proliferation efforts. This is especially important to do because North Korea has a young, untested leader: now is the time to mold his behavior and show that he will not be allowed to get away with murder, both literally and metaphorically, as his father did so often in his dealings with the West. This would be a salutary lesson not only for the North Korean regime but also for other rogue states around the world, most notably Iran.
Imagine if the U.S. had taken tougher action in the 1990s to prevent North Korea from going nuclear–or since then to punish it for its violations of international law. Instead,we have engaged in one round of fruitless diplomatic wrangling after another, constantly offering the North Koreans generous incentives to abandon their nuclear efforts only to have the North Koreans violate all of their commitments. This experience of American passivity no doubt encourages the mullahs into pursuing their own nuclear ambitions more recklessly than ever. With Iran poised on the brink of going nuclear, now would be a good time to prove that we will not sit supinely back and accept the world’s most dangerous weapons spreading into the hands of the world’s most dangerous regimes. Shooting down a North Korean missile launch would be a dramatic yet not reckless way to make the point.
Wouldn't it be much easier to hit the missile/rocket on the launch pad? North Korea operates liquid-fueled missiiles, so the rocket would have to be on the launch pad for an extended time while fueling. Hitting the rocket on the launch pad would also do some amount of damage to the launching facility, and wouldn't that be regrettable.
This commentary shows how ignorant the American people really are. n nThere is no need to shoot anything at the North Koreans except bullets when they infiltrate the DMZ. Can North Korea start a war? Yes. They will capture Seoul and then the war is over. The North will be out of fuel, ammunition and most importantly food. The South Koreans are fully capable of taking care of North Korea without any assistance from the US of A and have been that way for years. n nAmerica needs a boogey man in Asia to keep things there at a slow boil. Otherwise our politicians would need to face real issues. Shooting down their missile would be the same as a teenager driving his buddies around in the family car while they are all drunk. Giving aid to the North now, as we are doing right this minute, is the same as the drunk teenagers running from the cops after they crashed the family ride. n nIf America really wants to make a lasting effort for peace and stability in that region, we would stop supplying the North with food, supplies and money.
Shooting down the missile after launch or blowing it up prior to launch are two excellent suggestions. There are certainly many more. But as long as Barack Hussein Obama sets Korean policy such thinking is a form of mental masturbation, because under his watch we can only be assured of more appeasement and feckless behavior.
While a BIG part of me agrees, I am also concerned about the blowback. While I doubt seriously that the DPRK would launch any serious attack on the south, they could certainly make life VERY 'interesting' for residents living anywhere near the DMZ as they've proven over the years. n nWe'd HAVE to have the full and OPEN support of both the South and Japan for this to work AND I'd advise getting the Chicoms on board, at least giving them a heads up. n nOf course, a night strike using a couple of well placed Tomahawks could give us plausible deniability. Oops, looks to US like the missile just BLEW up on the pad. Damn, HATE it when that happens!
Mr. Boot, how, exactly, is Auslin "convincing" in his article that shooting down the missile will not result in a shooting war with the NorKs? n nOther than simply saying that a missile shoot-down won't start a war with the North because, from his own perspective, shooting down the missile is such a moderate and appropriate move. Auslin's piece is pretty sparse in terms of analyzing the NorK perspective. Which is pretty much the point, since the Littlest Emperor is such an unknown quantity. For all Aulin or anyone else knows, the NorKs may be itching for the U.S. to shoot down the missile so they can have an excuse for more belligerence. We seem to think that the NorKs are rational actors and view the world as we view it. Big mistake.
the rocket is aimed at Australia and will fly over near Australia, I wonder what USA would do if it was aimed at it and flew near it.
Did the US 'actually' shoot it down?