one flew over the cuckoo’s nest

In a strange turn of events, it would appear as though North Korea is going to help America celebrate Independence Day by providing us all some rather spectacular fireworks… After all, the last time North Korea tested their Taepodong missile platform, it went critical and disintigrated mere seconds after launch.
Bad jokes aside, this is pretty serious business, but there is also some good news. First, there is a lot of water between North Korea and Hawaii – trust me, I have seen some of it. Given that this missile platform is only theorized to have an effective range of 4000 miles, in an ideal launch and conditions, and given that Hawaii is 4500 miles away, the islands should still be safe. Additionally, “in Hawaii’s direction” is kind of vague… now, if the missile is scheduled to drop on the straight line between NK and the islands, that is a little different, but “in Hawaii’s direction” pretty much describes the bulk of the empty portion of the Pacific Ocean when observed from NK.
Second, I have seen the behemoth of a floating radar station that is parked off the coast of Hawaii twice in my life now – once when she was leaving her shipyards at Corpus Christi, and once when she was floating off the coast of Hawaii, looking like something from Karl Stromberg’s wet dreams. Let me make this clear – this thing is huge, and if there is anything in this world that can pick out an ICBM going up, or MIRVs coming down, it is this beast’s X-band radar.
Third, the Navy’s AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense system works… mostly. Within a few minutes (and probably less) of the Taepodong missile’s launch (assuming it is successful), we will be able to project where it is likely to come down, and if it poses a threat. After that, shooting it down is possible, though the probability of success is not 100%, and the probability that our Glorious President will push the button is even lower. Much else, I am not allowed to say.
Ok, technical details addressed, this is an unbridled attempt at provocation on the part of the North Koreans, and viewing it as anything except that is just plain stupid. Just a few months ago, North Korea successfully managed to nuke itself, and I commented on how nuclear weapons were great, but delivery vehicles made them a whole lot greater.
The Taepodong-2 intercontinental ballistic missile is a nuclear warhead delivery vehicle.
Where do I stand on this? Well, I find it very comforting that our government is actually bothering to fortify Hawaii… this time. However, despite having the most-successful, most-capable, and most-widespread missile defense system in the world, the best comment our administration has seen fit to make is, “The ground-based interceptors are clearly in a position to take action. So without telegraphing what we will do, I would just say, I think we are in a good position, should it become necessary to protect American territory,” as spoken by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. On the other hand, Russia’s anti-ballistic missile system is archaic, mostly unproven, and horribly maintained, but the deputy head of the General Staff, Alexander Burutin, had this to say of North Korea wanted to “test” a missile in their direction: “Russian radars are capable of registering North Korea’s rocket in the very first seconds of its launch, and its missile defense systems would immediately destroy the missile.”
I am all for talking softly and carrying the World’s Largest Stick, but if a few stern words might help us from having to apply said stick… there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that, either. Especially since our Glorious President seems to be using his stick to herd unicorns…