WASHINGTON (CNN) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday the United States could defend itself against a missile should the North Koreans launch one toward Hawaii.
Japanese media reported Thursday that the North Koreans are preparing to make such a launch.
Gates said U.S. officials are watching the situation carefully.
"We do have some concerns if they were to launch a missile" toward Hawaii, he told reporters.
But with missile interceptors and radar equipment in the region, "we are in a good position should it become necessary to protect the American territory," Gates said.
From CNN Politics
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
President Obama's foregin policy of being "deeply concerned" continues...God help us.
Shoot a rocket right up their ass Gates. Right into the heart Poyauang or whatever it's called.
I have no doubt the US military has the capability of shooting down a North Korean missile. But, the launch order has to come from the commander in chief. Obama has already demonstrated how he handles foreign threats.... by expressing "grave concerns."
The One is unlikely to tell anyone to do something that isn't written on his teleprompter. Mr. Indecisive is all talk and no action and our enemies have already figured that out which is why they are pushing the envelope a little further each week.
So, folks in Hawaii, you may still be our first line of defense as you were in World War II. May God be with you.
I have no doubt we can defend ourselves if North Korea should attack any American territory. I hope those North Korean soldiers can fight as well as they can march cause they'll need to. As crazy as Kim Jong Il is, I don't think he believes we will actually sit back and let him fire a missile at one of our states. If he does, then he is certifiably crazy. They don't have anyone on their side at this point. Even Russia and China don't think they are wrapped too tight. We'll just wipe them out and won't have to be bothered with those pests any more. The poor North Koreans may welcome that, better than starving to death like they are now.
Let's hope they do a better job than Jimmy did in the hostage rescue debacle.
Wait! Am I understanding correctly, that a foreign country is planning to attack U.S. soil?
What then?
Shoot it down and send a message that america will protect it;s ally's and to NC any missile's aimed at or over our friends is intallerable let em whine later to the U.N.
Well, ya know, if we didn't have a coward in the White House today, we would have already smacked Korea in the face. Sometimes, diplomacy simply is NOT the answer...spanking is.
The way in which the media covers stories on missile testing conducted by other nations would have you thinking that everyone should run for the hills.
If America didn't have they nuclear threat, would anyone listen to her?
But it will take a few days for Barack to "ponder" the situation and write a wonderful speech.
N. Korea
Ask the people of Hiroshima and Nawasaki how we get down.
should it become necessary to protect the American territory," Gates said.
I hope it was just an unfortunate choice of words, but Hawaii stopped being a TERRITORY in 1959. Perhaps someone on Secretary Gates' staff could mention to him that it's a STATE,
Uh...dreamer; Hawaii is not one of our "friends" or allies"...it is part of the U.S.
I'm about as far left as they come, but I agree with previous comments. If North Korea sends a missle, presumably with a nuclear weapon attached, lets send a couple Tsar Bombas their way and see how they handle it.
There will be hell to pay if North Korea fires anything toward US territory. There will be something fired back.
The United States has more Nukes then what they do, they are itching to get us back, the big bad United States, if we can destroy Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we can take them out... with a couple of Nukes.
North Korea firing missile towards Hawaii....
QUICK .. CNN ... run a picture of Obama and his girls. Let's not talk about national security and the LACK THEREOF – let's ooo and aaaww over Obama.
Some of you ridicule Obama's "deeply concerned" stance ...
For one thing it's better than Bush's warmongering. How quickly you ignore Iraq & Pakistan. Ready to add a 3rd front so quickly are you?
Secondly, to be practical, North Korea is sabre-rattling. They're tempting the West into a response much like a child will cause disruption to get attention. They've already said any UN sanctions are "a declaration of war" and will be answered militarily. What have they done? That's right nothing. NK is all talk and no action at this point so let's not overreact. Sorry Cheney, no more business for Haliburton today
Don't all you left-wing libs wish Senator McCain was your Commander-in-Chief right about now? Sure you do, your comfy level would be just a little bit higher now. Sorry Hawaii, after you've been nuked I'm sure Obama will express grave concern over the North Koreans intentions.
@ JK Ashburn, Va
what an idiot your are. Just because Pres Obama don't just jump into wars like GWB does that does not mean he is not a man of action, not to mention intellengence. It's morons like you that think we need to be at war with everyone, stupid we are the superior country and everybody know that, we don't have to pledge war to prove our superiority. Your remarks are typical of warmonger but I bet your sorry butt hasn't served one day in the armed forces.
I imagine Obama is rather hoping the North Korean missile hits it's intended target....
.... Hawaii's State Office of Records... where they keep birth certificate documents.
Obama is weak for being willing to talk to foreign countries. We should return to the Bush Doctrine of preemptively attacking countries who are no threat to us. We should nuke North Korea now. The clearly have WMD as has been expressed by Lynn Cheney recently. Down with the communists.
I'm not sure why this is even a concern. North Korea couldn't successfully launch a water rocket, let alone a real one.
If North Korea successfully does it and gets within 4350 miles of Hawaii, I'll be amazed.
@ JK Ashburn, VA
All talk and no action huh? I guess that rescued Captain freed from the pirates just walked on water and hopped on a U.S. Navy warship.
Hey Jon. God is helping us. He started by rooting out the stupidity and failure from the presidency this past Nov.....the very stupidity and failure YOU rightwing lemmings voted for TWICE! And I'll know that He is continuing to help when he loads you in the cannon as amunition when we shoot down any NK rockets!
I step on bugs every evening on my way to the parking lot as I leave work.....and I'm left to wonder that if, by doing so, I might not be destroying the upper echelons of rightwing intelligence.
jimmy combs... 4:02 pm ET Well, ya know, if we didn't have a coward in the White House today, we would have already smacked Korea in the face. Sometimes, diplomacy simply is NOT the answer…spanking is.
------------
Hey big talker! You think Duhbya would have done anything different?? What is wrong with you? Are we gonna bomb them without provocation? Oh yeah, GW already did that by invading Iraq and look where we are now. Are you in the military Jimmy boy? If not, sign up big mouth. Back up your words with action unlike Chicken Hawk Cheney
Those three Somalian pirates with ventilation holes through their heads learned (at least for a fraction of a second) that when President Obama says he is "deeply concerned" he won't take if further. If North Korea does fire a missile heading over Japan and anywhere in the direction of Hawaii, or Alaska for that matter, then we need to test our anti-missile defense capability and shoot it down, then follow up with a strike on NK's nuclear facilities. With their evolving nuclear capabiltiy and means to deliver a bomb, and with a certifiable nutcase sitting there with his finger on the red button, North Korea is the biggest international threat to the world.
Forget the deeply concerned....this is inticement and must be addressed accordingly.....I think the stroke left some brain injury..yet he was given back some life yet he learned nothing in his recovery. God roars!
@ Robin
"it would take obama a few days to ponder the situation and write a speech"
You are a complete idiot. You have no clue as to how a situation like this works so you use your tiny brain and come up with sarcastic remarks like this. You better be glad we have a President who does not jump into fighting other countries just because they don't look at the whole picture like GW did. What do you want to suit and go fight for our country? I didn't think so. shut up
The presidents cool head will keep this from becoming and issue, but if they should shot a rocket at our county, then by God they will pay the price. Obama has the nerve to do it and we would have the right.
Conservatives are plainly ridiculous. (look in the mirror, Jimmy Combs) If war mongering Bush did not 'slap Korea in the face' in 8 years, what the hell makes you think McCain would have. Get a Grip. We only slap people with oil. If McCain were in the white house he would have invaded Iran this week. Thank god we have Obama.
jimmy combs June 18th, 2009 4:02 pm ET
So your response is to start another war, two that Obama did not start. The Bush administration conned the United States people into going into Iraq... Someone should mentioned that South Korea is below them? Stop thinking like a Warmonger, wars are costly, and I believe that paying for two wars and deregualing the banking industry is what put us in this predicament.
****************************************************************************
I understand one thing, it is really scary, yeah, but my witchy feelings are this in out life time we will see a Nuclear war, that will wipe out everyone.... This is sad but true...
You people who advocate "nuking" North Korea don't have a brain. This is actually kind of a scary scenario. I personally don't think the nimrods running North Korea would be so stupid as to fire a missile at Hawai'i, but then again, they're a little off the edge, so who knows what's going on in their strange minds. But I would bet every dollar I've got that if they did fire a missile at Hawai'i that the U.S. would fire every reactive missile we've got to bring down the North Korean one... my concern is "would our wonderfully over-rated Star Wars system actually work"?
Man, like Hawai'i isn't suffering enough from the absolute total lack of tourism right now. Now they've got this to contend with. Pits.
all of you Obama bashers make me sick. you need to get over it.
I'd like to thank the GOP for getting us into 2 useless wars which in turn helped put this countries economy in the tank! So now, not only can we not afford to defend against this kind of thing or do anything to prevent it! But, we also don't have the military strength because they're currently fighting 2 stupid oil wars! It seem's that while you've all been chasing oil profits in the Middle East the North Koreans have been sitting there biding their time and building their military and nuclear arsenal just waiting for something like this to happen! And you idiots think Obamas policies will embolden our enemies? Here, have another helping of sheep food you morons! Oh and thanks again for keeping us so safe!
I really worry about some of the people on here. There is no suggestion – none!!!! – that the North Korean launch will be anywhere near Hawaii. Yet, almost everyone who has posted thus far, having forgotten the ass-whuppin' that the US suffered in Vietnam and Iraq as well as the holocaust inflicted on the innocent people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, are gung ho for war.
I think you should do more readin' and less Fox News-watchin'.
I see there are a few pathetic cowboys on here (JK Ashburn, jimmy combs, and Robin to name a few). You've truly got your Fox blinders on if you think that Obama will just sit back and "ponder the situation". He'll handle it the same way he did with the Somali pirate situation. Trust in our military and tell them to do what they have to do to keep our citizens safe. Grow up, you repukes.
N. Korea is bluffing!!! And for those who doubt Obama's metal.. ask the Samali pirates how they are doing!
Hmmmm... lots of libs talking lots of smack in here. Warmongering libs... who'd have thought?
Here's what you do. Tell China – in no uncertain terms – that unless they do something about Kim Jung Chia-Pet, we revoke most-favored nation trading status with them.
Problem over in record time.
Gates is doing the right thing as well as President Obama....he's letting his selected leaders do their jobs as any leader would doin a situation like this! There's actually nothing to worry about because we're much stronger than they are anyway.
If a missile comes towards us from North Korea just blow their reactor off the face of the map.
We may finally get to shut that nuclear reactor down once and for all.
fella from Chicago June 18th, 2009 4:11 pm ET
Don't all you left-wing libs wish Senator McCain was your Commander-in-Chief right about now? Sure you do, your comfy level would be just a little bit higher now. Sorry Hawaii, after you've been nuked I'm sure Obama will express grave concern over the North Koreans intentions
_______________________________________________________
Really, because being in a third war right not would actually make me feel less safe.
"We do have some concerns if they were to launch a missile" toward Hawaii, he told reporters . . .
---------
WOW! It is SO reassuring that you have "some concerns." Just unbelievable. I don't ask that you nuke 'em (yet), Gates, but come on - that's the best you can come up with?
We need to band together as a country and put politics aside when another country threatens us. We will defend the US at all costs and we shall never ask for forgiveness for defending our homeland. If a country such as NK wants to fight, you have come to the right place baby!
well at least my 3rd stepmother is there,, dang
No problem. Anchor Rush, Hannity, and Beck off the coast of Korea and all the hysteria, hot air and spinning will throw any missles off course.
And jimmy combs, if your guy hadn't made the colossal blunder of manufacturing that Axis of Evil garbage and then engaged in his amateur excuse for foreign policy in his usual dumb-butt way, we wouldn't have this issue. Let's see, call out a couple of belligerent countries run by nut jobs, engage in a war without cause that weakens the military so we won't be able to mount an effective response, and Duh! Look what you get!
Numbskulls.
If this would have happened when GWB was president he would have bombed China instead.
maybe god the obama,, can stop all this,,, raise his god appointed hand,, and say part............... i cant wait until you people get what you voted for,,
Gregg 45 . . . that sentence was . . . special.
Best thing that could happen (if we can shoot it down) is for N. Korea to launch that missle.
Then we finally can go in there and make it a desert.
Ahh, I am so glad we got "Change We Need." I feel so safe now.
fella from Chicago June 18th, 2009 4:11 pm ET
Don't all you left-wing libs wish Senator McCain was your Commander-in-Chief right about now? Sure you do, your comfy level would be just a little bit higher now. Sorry Hawaii, after you've been nuked I'm sure Obama will express grave concern over the North Koreans intentions.
************************************
Short answer, no.
McCain is not competent.
"Well, ya know, if we didn't have a coward in the White House today, we would have already smacked Korea in the face. Sometimes, diplomacy simply is NOT the answer…spanking is."
You mean China THEN spanking us? China can ruin us just by calling in all the debt we owe them.
This isn't Red Dawn you fool.
hey gregg45, he's not god appointed – he got voted in. Remember? And we've already had enough of what you probably voted for. And by the way, do you think N Korea started their program after the last election? Who was watching them before??
I feel better knowing that Obama is in charge. If this happened on the GOP's 'god' watch, Bush would completely bungled everything, but what else do you expect from an incompetent who thinks he can walk on water?
Just out of curiosity, why in the world did the GOP revere Bush as a god? The guy was destructive, forced his views/religion on everyone, lied to everyone - and the GOP thought he could walk on water.
the missle doesn't have the range to actually REACH hawaii, only to be aimed TOWARD hawaii and fall short. so NK won't be hitting anything in that state.
Hmm, would Obewan have the cahootzbas to return same ?
Time to send in the backup J.C. he knows how to handle North Korea !
@Too True For You
It's amazing how you are so angry, you are willing to believe every lie that is told to you by the likes of the huffington post. You are the perfect example of how liberals are always angry and miserable. Poor sap. It is sad that you think our military can't handle North Korea too. You are truly a left liberal nut. But at least you are honest about being an idiot.
I just have to ask one more thing . . . why do conservative rednecks (likely in Nowhere, USA) talk constantly about feeling 'safe'. Do you really think North Korea is coming to get you in Knobnoster, MO? REALLY? Think about it.
If China, Japan, US and Russia banned together and blockaded this country it would fall apart in 6 months. Everyone is all talk and no action. The more times the UN allows countries to develop the nuclear weapon the more countries will do it. We are moving towards a world where 50 countries will have nukes and some unstable or terrorist supporting regime will cause a disaster.
I live in Hawaii and I have absolute confidence in our Commander in Chief's ability to protect us. I'm quite a bit more at peace than if John McCain were in office!
Mike June 18th, 2009 4:10 pm ET
For one thing it's better than Bush's warmongering. How quickly you ignore Iraq & Pakistan. Ready to add a 3rd front so quickly are you?
-------------
I'll give you Iraq due to it being very different than this situation. But in Pakistan, all was well (compared to what it could have been) with Musharraf in power, who was a close ally with Bush and the U.S. It wasn't until he resigned that things went to hell there. You can say, "why wasn't Bin Laden caught?" But I'd rather have him and terrorist friends confined to one area along the border in Afghan./Pak. than running all over the Pakistan country.
GOP Philosophy:
Attack ! Attack !! Attack !!!
1. Attack Iran and North Korea, They are manufacturing Nukes.
2. Attack Somalia they are Supporting Pirates.
3. Attack Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan and Saudi Arabia because they have Al Quida Pockets.
4. Attack Cuba and Valenzuela because they are Communist.
Attack the Whole World, it will make America Safe.
This is all Clinton's fault by starting it, and Bush's fault by returning to it.
N Korea was dead to rights until Clinton signed the deal with them and provided N Korea with "energy assistance" (see oil and nuclear material) and money for food (see weapons). After the deal, N Korea began their missle development program.
Bush would have slowed it a little bit by continuing his early policy of having them on the terrorist list, but he removed them and payments began again late in Bush's presidency.
When will we learn that we cannot give this country anything. We'll find out how close we are with China and Russia when this thing plays out...
If a missle is launched at Hawaii, don't worry! Obama will consider the situation and recommend some "vigorous debate".
Let them lauch it. That would be a "Real" reason to go to war. If the leader of NK is so big headed that he thinks he can lauch a missle and then not be immeadiately wiped of the map with a few American Bombs, he is a bigger idiot than I thought. Serioulsly he is like a playground bully that as soon as you puch back he goes home crying.
I hope that the military will just evaporate North Korea if they attack any American property. The world needs to know what we can and will do if any of our people murdered. Period.
At least THIS President is not going to let the "memo" pass un-noticed.
Sure, Obama haters. You think he's weak because he wants to talk peace with both our enemies and allies. You want him to be a bellicose bully who stirs up trouble everywhere, even though we can't put our money (soldiers) where our mouth is and we're going broke supporting the Iraq War? The man is doing a fine job diplomatically. Some countries are just crazy and you cannot pre-emptively strike them like we did with Iraq – you see how that turned out. But, then again, like some other poster said, I hope they do attack us so we can say, "told you so" about Obama. Sure, keep listening to that dick, Cheney. You would actually want an attack on the U.S.A. to prove a point? Fine patriots you are!!
To Dan:
Um, if North Korea send a missle towards Hawaii, what do you think we should do? Wait for them to hit us?
The fact that Obama has already launched many missiles into Pakistan, and ordered bullets put into the pirates heads, gives me great assurance that we would not hesitate to react as required, should NK shoot a missile at Hawaii.
Now, why would they be aiming their missile at a US state? Would that not be an act of provocation? And holding 2 American journalists, presumably for bargaining chips... is that not another provocation?
Kim Jong Il... what's he trying to prove? That he's a badder ass than Fidel Castro, or Mohammer Quadaffi? It never works. It's a losers game.
Iran's about to implode on itself for playing that game. North Korea will too.
We are prepared. Obama has already drafted our surrender documents and the White House is bringing in Korean speakers to man the phones.
@ ray ray, who said "…. Hawaii's State Office of Records… where they keep birth certificate documents."
Who told you you could take off your bib and helmet and play on the computer?
Fella in Chicago
I thank God that McCain is not our President, especially now! He would have us at war with everyone. I am sure President Obama will respond when necessary.
Seriously, take a second to compare the things the GOPers are saying about the role of our military in foreign policy to the manner in which a 15 year old guy acts at a school dance when confronted by another 15 year old guy. "Hey NK, I'll see you at the Dairy QWueen parking lot after school or I'm gonna tell everyone you chickened out."
What now, Grasshopper?
Robin June 18th, 2009 4:05 pm ET
But it will take a few days for Barack to "ponder" the situation and write a wonderful speech.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robin: The United States is prepared for such an event should North Korean take its ill-timed saber rattling to the next level. The President of the United States is advised by both Democrats and Republicans; all of whom are more knowledge and experienced to deal with these matters than both you, or I, or anyone on this board. The President will protect you, even if you didn’t' vote for him and dislike him so.
Respectfully,
North Korea need to be dealt with soon they think we are scare of them I feel sorry for the 2 lady over there against there will..President Obama please deal with North Korea soon I am tired of there war head president...
You can count on the fact that all these little neo-chicken-hawks posting on here will follow in the proud footsteps of their hero GW Bush. They will talk the talk by clamoring like hell to go to war, but rest assured they will be way in the rear of the line when it comes time to actually sacrifice to go to war. Its the age-old story, the empty wagon makes the most noise, and there is no more of an empty wagon than any one of these remnant [R]ightwingers that post on here with their panties in a bunch because America woke up and threw them out of power.
N Korea is just trying to get attention. It would be nice to get a coalition of countries to cut off all aid and trade to them. They would starve to death in no time. This, however, would provoke them to do something really really crazy like chemical attacks on S. Korea. That would be really bad. I think the thing to do is ignore them and keep tighteing the sanctions. Let the little tin horn dictator rattle his sword all he wants, he knows he can't take us in a fight. Have a nice day!
I do not believe that North Korea would attack the United States of America because unlike the first Korean War the north does not have the full and unwavering support of China due to the fact that the US and China are so economically interwoven and more or less the Chinese only care about controlling civil disobedience and collecting on all the money we have borrowed from them through out the years. The real problem is that we are all so worried about being “safe” and it seems that we are so afraid to accept our own mortality. We look to politicians to keep us safe and that is the real problem. Worry about your family and keeping them safe from the thugs that are running our streets today. You have a better chance of getting robbed,shot,and the victim of a home invasion then you do being attacked by terrorist or a dying dictator somewhere far away. How many people die right here daily in our own country and not by the hand of some other country but by our own so called citizens. Support the right to bare arms and support the right to protect those you love the most not from a low statistical threat far away but from a very high one here at home.
Dutch/Bad Newz, VA June 18th, 2009 3:53 pm ET
Shoot a rocket right up their ass Gates. Right into the heart Poyauang or whatever it's called
-----------------–
Dutch, You sure your a liberal? You sound like us "war mongering" conservatives! You sure you want to go this route and not the route of the UN? All they seem to want to do is write "sternly " worded love notes! Wait a minute!, Somebody else is using Dutch's handle!
whoever you are stop it!
Left CNN ticker a few weeks ago and with some prompting from my daughter, I stopped in to read a few comments. Guess today might not have been the best day to do so . . .
The right still as full of themselves as ever are continuning to go off half cocked with their "witty" zingers while the left is still defending themselves and the Obama presidency.
Best I leave well enough alone.