Raise the Shields

I guess we're going to find out whether the propeller heads and generals who fought for, designed, and prepared the missile defense systems are able to deliver on their promises.

The United States has moved its ground-based interceptor missile defense system from test mode to operational amid concerns over an expected North Korean missile launch, a U.S. defense official said on Tuesday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed a Washington Times report that the Pentagon has activated the system, which has been in the developmental stage for years.

"It's good to be ready," the official said.

U.S. officials say evidence such as satellite pictures suggests Pyongyang may have finished fueling a Taepodong-2 missile, which some experts said could reach as far as Alaska.

"There's real caution in how to characterize it so as to not be provocative in our own approach," the defense official said of the move to activate the system.

Others noting the activation of the system include All Things Conservative, who thinks that the US should shoot down the test missile. I think that's a bad idea, but also thank goodness that we've got a missile defense system that could deal with such threats despite decades of opposition to the program by the Left. AJ Strata wonders if the US might intercept the missile as a test of our own capabilities. He also discounts the possibility that the US would use the anti-missile system in response to a North Korean launch, if only to not tip the hands of our enemies as to true extent of our capabilities.

If this is a move designed to get the US into direct talks with North Korea, I don't see it going to improve matters. Japan and South Korea are rightfully worried about such a launch, as it is a direct threat against their own countries, which would be well within the range of the North Korean missile. Thus far, there is nothing the North has done diplomatically that would suggest that they're trustworthy on the nuclear issue, the proliferation issue, or on nonaggression against the South or US forces.