Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Threats
Date:	3/28/2016 5:57:13 PM

I notice that our media is not reporting the threats North Korea is making to hit us with an ICBM.  I read an intereting article recently that assessed that North Korea is further along in creating a nuclear warhead, than previously thought.  Kim Jung Un says he is only looking for the merest provocation to bomb Washington.  Should the media be reporting on these threats?   Is it more interesting news that the latest insults that Trump and Cruz hurled at each other?

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Threats
Date:	3/28/2016 6:41:13 PM

Un likely has the Russian verision of an EMP bomb.

He also can almost put it in orbit without spin.

We are politically and technically helpless at this point against it.

Un pushes the button, our electricity goes off and stays off.

It is possible most cars, phones, and radios won't run afterwards.

Estimates are 90% of the American population dead in one year.

Congress refuses to spend a billion or two to harden the electrical grid.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Threats
Date:	3/28/2016 8:34:50 PM

Now I won't be able to sleep tonight.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Threats
Date:	3/28/2016 8:48:40 PM

The electromagnetic pulse (EMP) generated over the US by a nuclear detonation in the high atmosphere would be catastrophic.  Every computer, radio, cell phone, power station....anything running on a chip or using a wire would be fried.  The threat was considered significant during the Cold War, but each side probably knew the other had in place enough hardened facilities so that a response in kind would be possible, but unacceptable to the first striker.  Now enter North Korea.  Their Economy is decades behind the rest of the world in the area of automation, so they have much less to lose were there to be a counter strike.

Shorty, this is one time that I agree with your call out of the possibility that Un might try such a thing.  He could do MUCHmore damage to the US with an EMP burst than wiping out either Washington or New York.  That being said, the sophistication required to pull off a successful EMP burst may be years off for Un.  It ain't no small feat!

To those who wonder, when an atomic weapon is detonated in the upper atmosphere, it supercharges atoms in its midst, and when those atoms settle back into their natural state they emit powerful electromagnetic waves.  The energy has to go somewhere, and in this case it produces an electromagnetic wave so powerful that it literally fries anything electronic in its path.

Forgive me if I got some of the details wrong but the basic tenet is fact: EMP is a plumb chitty thing for any human to foist on another society.  I pray Un doesn't develop that capability.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Threats
Date:	3/28/2016 8:53:20 PM

Especially after you read my post.  I was assigned to HQ SAC 1970-1973, right in the middle of the "Omygod, what if they set off an EMP burst?!" era.  EMP was a real concern then, and should be now with some of the chitbags in the world getting their hands on the technology to see it through.

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Preparation
Date:	3/28/2016 9:24:30 PM

Just a reminder..............beans and bullets.

Some of ya'll rich folks think 5 million in the stock market means you are winning.

Lights out, economy tanked, and empty grocery stores.

Then you'll offer 10 grand for a can of beans.

People, get some freeze-dried food.  It will last 30 years.

Canned food lasts way beyond date.  Don't throw out.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Preparation
Date:	3/28/2016 10:14:56 PM

Pasta is one food that does not deteriorate over time.  If ya can boil water ya can eat.  Might not be the most palatable without some Bolognese but it is food.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Preparation
Date:	3/28/2016 10:29:09 PM

I don't know why we just don't take Kim Jung Un out.  He's far more dangerous than any of the other leaders (bar Hitler) that we have put our sight on.  I knew someone in the Pentagon who was the Korea desk.  Back at the time of his father, when they stated saber ratttling, it was usually they felt they weren't getting attention or they were wanting something like a wheat deal.  But I don't think that is the case with his son.  I think he is looking for an opportunity to do something dramatic.  It must be difficult for our troops in South Korea these days, because I am sure they are on high alert all the time.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Preparation
Date:	3/28/2016 10:39:39 PM

I don't think he will do anything on the ground because that is a fight he will not win.  I would be more concerned about short range nuclear tipped missiles aimed at Seoul.  We lived there for two years and there are millions of people in a very compact geographical area.  Of course the industry, which is the ROK's strong suit, is spread throughout the southern peninsula.

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Preparation
Date:	3/28/2016 11:03:57 PM

I wonder what we have aimed at NK to be used in retaliation?

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Threats
Date:	3/29/2016 7:10:32 AM

The little gargoyle has nothing to loose. I'm sure everyone has seen sateltte images of the Korean peninsula at night. Itnis very dramatic with below the 38th parallel is lit up all over and very heavilly around the coast while the north has a few spots on the coast but is totally dark for the most part. An EMP would devastate us, while an EMP over them would barely be noticed.

Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	Question
Date:	3/29/2016 8:06:36 AM

Would a single EMP burst effectively damage electronics from coast to coast?  Or would it have a more limited range of impact?   Just finished Ted Koppel's book, Lights Out, a pretty good read on the subject of vulnerability of the electrical grid.    In it, he outlines the vulnerabilities, but they are regional... not universal to the entire country.   

Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Preparation
Date:	3/29/2016 9:10:33 AM

There is a big debate in foreign policy circles about whether North Korea is a "rational actor" or an "irrational actor".   It's a tough one to make a call on from my POV.   Kim Jong Un may well think of himself as a god, that's the narrative his family has imposed on No. Korea for 2 generations now.... On the other hand, their use of ridiculous (but deadly) threats has been the only effective means they have had for exercising influence and getting concessions from other countries.    Ultimately, those sort of threats will run out of steam, and if he is an irrational actor he could resort to suicide.  After all, death isn't particularly frightening if you are a god.

From what I can tell, he has been eliminating top level advisors & long-time government officials in what appears to be an effort to prevent forces in his government from deposing him.   And while I'd like to see him disappear, we aren't in a position to do anything (beyond the severe economic sanctions) except confront him militarily... a direct attact on him would have completely unacceptable outcomes for us in every scenario imaginable.   I just hope that China sees the wisdom in taking him out, that's our best hope right now.   He may be irrational, but the Chinese certainly aren't.

In the meantime, we need something like an "Iron Dome" missile defense system around them... but is something like that feasible?

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Threats
Date:	3/29/2016 9:34:35 AM

Un is certifiably nuts and utterly corrupt and has zero respect for human life so I think he is a real threat.  The problem we have is that he has nuclear weapons so our options are pretty limited.  I suspect the lack of response is simply emblamatic of the current administration's head in the sand approach.  Obama handles these threats like he played basketball, stay on outside and chunk up a long shot every once in a while.  Hayden said he just doesn't care about these issues and is trying to run out the clock of his presidency vis-a-vis foreign affairs.

He is the poster child of why many of us are so adamant about Iran not getting nuclear weapons.  Once they have them and assuming they are nuts, which they are, our options are very limited short of nuclear war.

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Threats
Date:	3/29/2016 10:06:38 AM

http://www.wnd.com/2016/02/north-korean-missile-test-renews-emp-warning/

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Threats
Date:	3/29/2016 10:10:00 AM

This is a man that had his uncle executed.  And he befriended that crazy-a$$ Dennis Rodman.  I'd say he has come out of the small end of the gene pool 

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Preparation
Date:	3/29/2016 11:24:48 AM

I am sure if they launched a ballistic missile in our direction, whether it is a nuke or EMP, that we have teh ability to turn North Korea into a field of radioactive obsidian but that would be of little comfort to anyone.  And I am not sure how we might react.  Again, just another reason not to let any other nations run by nut jobs obtan nuclear weapons capability.  We have limited options and none that are terribly palatable.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Threats
Date:	3/29/2016 11:26:05 AM

Don't know much about his uncle but the Dennis Rodman thing is definitely disturbing.  :-)  

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Shortbus
Date:	3/29/2016 6:13:37 PM

I happen to personally  know the author of this article and I'm hear to tell you he is a nutcase.  I could tell lots of stories about things he has done.  He was the guy that Doug Feith recruited to run his intelligence cell, when he was unhappy with the intell being provided by DIA and CIA.  He used to slink aroung in a trench coat with the collar pulled up and a fedora pulled down over his face, like he was super spy.  He is Lebanese, and he could be mistaken for a terrorist.  I woudn't take anything he says with but a grain of salt. 

Ultimately, he lost his security clearance and left the government.   

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	Shortbus
Date:	3/29/2016 6:35:02 PM

@ hound

So you know more than myself about this guy Maloof.

Can you disprove any of what he has written?

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Shortbus
Date:	3/29/2016 9:26:43 PM (updated 3/29/2016 9:40:03 PM)

I just don't believe anything he says.  He has a very skewed view of the world.  I saw this over a number of years.  I don't find him to be a great thinker.  In fact, I have seen him quite irrational. But with regards to this article, all he does is quote other experts, and I have no way of knowing if they are direct quotes or Maloof twisted modified quotes.   Yes, if they exploded an EMP over some part of the U.S., it would only cause a problem in that area.  And it will be very, very bad. 

Some years ago, a company was trying to sell our South Western grid to Singapore.  If memory serves, I believe we were able to block the sale on the basis of National Security.  So it is not just the North Koreans EMP explosions we have to worry about. 

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Preparation
Date:	3/29/2016 11:13:29 PM

The Commander of the Air Force Space Command worked for me when he was a lieutenant.  Brilliant, hard working, and exceptionally well adjusted.  Had a piece on him on 60 Minutes....when the interviewer pressed him on the innovations that might be in the hopper he responded "it's some pretty neat stuff".  Might not mean much to others on the forum but I am confident that he has a plan for DPRK and its little boy dictator.  One early warning capability warns of a missile launch within six seconds of its firing.  It is old, but Google "Defense Support Program" and you will get the drift that we aren't exactly blind to a launch.  I would be willing to bet, although I don't know it as fact, that we have developed a capability to intercept such a launch and neutralize it.  I sure as he!! hope so!

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Preparation
Date:	3/29/2016 11:29:54 PM

When NK announces they are launching a "weather satellite", one way we might find out it is not

a weather satellite is when our lights go out.

No one is inspecting the payload or asking to.       Politically helpless.

Every 90 minutes something passes over our heads that was put in orbit by NK.

Our Aegis system is the best we have.  It is being pushed to the limit to hit 150 miles up.

200-300 miles up works just fine for an EMP. 

Google Donald Duck.  In 2012 we were saber rattling close to Ukraine in a boat with the best Aegis system.

A Russian plane few over the boat 14 times.  Knocked out every computer in it.

The crew limped the boat to shore and diserted.   Technically helpless.

The only solution is to explain to Un ......We inspect it or destroy it on the pad.............you choose.

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	Last Chance (according to Un)
Date:	3/30/2016 10:25:24 AM (updated 3/30/2016 10:27:12 AM)

http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/03/29/north-korea-we-are-ready-for-pre-emptive-nuclear-strike-on-u-s/

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Preparation
Date:	3/30/2016 8:06:58 PM

While I am not sure I follow or agree with your lead-in, I do agree leaving him with even a snowball's chance in he!! Of succeeding is unacceptable to all Americans with exception of the sniveling coward in chief.