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Additional ground-based interceptors to deploy at missile silos on West Coast
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An about face now the administration is stepping up our missile defense system on the American West Coast.
That move comes only days after North Korea -- a pre emptive nuclear strike on the US.
The decision deployed fourteen additional ground based interceptor missiles along the West Coast -- plan first proposed by the bush White House.
Retired US marine lieutenant and -- -- calendar Fox News military analyst well lieutenant.
Good morning.
What does this -- you elected and he was well what does this say about either.
North career is Korea's capability.
Or or maybe the concern we have about what they have done with -- -- technology.
It well you know -- I don't think anybody believes at this point North -- capable of sending any nuclear weapons across the ocean to hit us.
But nonetheless we know that they're moving forward aggressively.
-- the plan that they hope is gonna give them the ability to achieve that.
Not only nuclear weapon but just some of their long range ballistic missiles that they're working on -- drop any kind of left -- on the United States.
-- are gonna cost a lot of problems for whoever the administration maybe.
And so we're trying to get our defenses and ordered in order.
In order to be able to you know go to counter any threat would make.
We have the interceptors in place now and in different parts the West Coast including Alaska.
But this would ramp up the number when you see that headline you -- you know what -- the US intelligence saying now.
That we did not see before and again here -- -- facts -- there's -- an audience behind you let me show our viewers at home the area here China and Russia we mentioned.
Short time ago South Korea here in Japan off to the east.
Just in the past ten days advance at one time.
Not 1953.
-- -- the 38 parallel but if it is true lieutenant.
That North Korea could fire one of these long range missiles then you look at the animation that we've prepared here and the interceptors themselves could theoretically.
Enact this interception some 30000 miles off the West Coast of the United States.
But if you're going from thirty to 44.
What does that tell you about North Korea's.
Well I it's somewhere along the line were -- -- the threat to be greater than it's been in the past bill but I don't again I don't think anybody think that in the near short term.
They're going to be able to hit the United States to remember we don't have Hawaii on that map and I think Hawaii would be as Pearl Harbor.
Illustrates would be a good attack point for them also but nonetheless I think this is more in terms of a long range capability to prepare defenses and remember also bill.
China's the other nuclear armed nation over there we have great relationships with -- we have good relationships with China right now.
We don't think -- about the firing missiles at us but.
You know things can change overnight and we need to always be concerned also by China's capabilities so it's they were my putting together a long range capability it's my understanding this idea was proposed years ago -- -- last administration.
Why -- the current administration.
Back away from.
Well you well I Billick honestly let's look at him we had thirty of these sites already active right now and when you looked at the threat.
This administration look bad it's that great at that time the north Koreans did not -- Long range -- they weren't prepared to put a nuclear weapon on I think it was probably a reasonable decision.
Not to go ahead and deploys additional fourteen sites that the Bush Administration called -- now.
Given what's going on in North Korea in -- suggesting the exact right thing -- intelligence that we the public don't know about.
We're making a move that's probably most prudent for our long term take what more more question here Anchorage is 3700 miles from Pyongyang.
You mention Honolulu Hawaii the state of life 4500 miles.
He's -- true that North Korea right now has the ability to reach either place.
I don't think that they fired any long range -- yet that it worked but we know that they're working on and you know they have periodic tests of long range missiles.
Most of those tests have gone awry but the fact of the matter is at some point they're gonna have a missile that can make that distance.
And that's when we have real concerns not just for a nuclear weapon for any kind of -- Thank lieutenant bill calendar with the Seattle Washington -- -- the state of Maryland this morning thank you sir for your kind of backed bill are.
