BREAKING: Sources: US prepares for possible preemptive strike if North Korea chooses to test nuclear

[MelissaB]

BREAKING: Sources: US prepares for possible preemptive strike if North Korea chooses to test nuclear weapon.

U.S. May Launch Strike If North Korea Reaches For Nuclear Trigger

by William M. Arkin, Cynthia McFadden, Courtney Kube and Kenzi Abou-Sabe

The U.S. is prepared to launch a preemptive strike with conventional weapons against North Korea should officials become convinced that North Korea is about to follow through with a nuclear weapons test, multiple senior U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News.

North Korea has warned that a "big event" is near, and U.S. officials say signs point to a nuclear test that could come as early as this weekend.

The intelligence officials told NBC News that the U.S. has positioned two destroyers capable of shooting Tomahawk cruise missiles in the region, one just 300 miles from the North Korean nuclear test site.

American heavy bombers are also positioned in Guam to attack North Korea should it be necessary, and earlier this week, the Pentagon announced that the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group was being diverted to the area.

Link: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-s-may-launch-strike-if-north-korea-reaches-nuclear-n746366

[herding cats]

1. This is not OK!

Someone has to stop these fools!

[jackssonjack]

15. The law does not seem to apply to this administration.

Trump didn't go to congress last time. He ignored those who challenged him on it. Republicans sit on their hands and do nothing.
He will do whatever he wants .
As Mitch McConnell stated “I think for virtually all Republicans, the chance to actually do things we felt would move the country in the right direction and have the President sign them into law is a pretty exciting prospect, so we're looking forward to a positive, upbeat presentation tomorrow night, and then proceeding with our agenda, which is exactly the same as the Trump agenda.”

[Dustlawyer]

56. Trump is the fall guy.

If it turns out bad they can say it was unauthorized.

[kstewart33]

20. Key paragraph:

"It's a feat that we've never achieved before but there is a new sense of resolve here," the official said, referring to the White House.

[Fast Walker 52]

47. that's really not good... in other words, we have real psychos in charge

[spanone]

2. trump with bombs is too fucking scary....stop this mofo, where is congress??????

[atreides1]

10. The US Congress

Has abrogated its position, so that it can claim plausible deniability!

If Trump follows through, it is the people of South Korea who will suffer...because North Korea will cross the DMZ and for at least 4 days will wreak havoc on the Korean peninsula!

And I believe if the US becomes overly aggressive, China will step in and place itself between the US and North Korea!

[bdamomma]

52. This is really insane

where is the Congress on this??? Are they aware of this???? I don't know how to react to this?? Are we going to have this sick ass man take us out?

[spanone]

59. he discovered the media loves him when he kills people....i'm afraid that what he will do now

he's that fucked up....imho

[WinkyDink]

3. WTH is going on with this madman Trump?! Does he think the US has some Invisible Shield?!

[bronxiteforever]

4. Ryan and McConnell AWOL! N/t

[Warpy]

5. Asshole is itching to get his war on and any old war will do.

I just wish the world were a sane enough place to do it as a cage match between the two pudgy man babies.

There is nothing we can do about it beyond keeping the pressure on Congress up. Let them know they're in charge of this stuff and they can take it away from him if they bother to act.

[MelissaB]

6. NBC News thread on Twitter

Link to tweet

[Fast Walker 52]

49. Trump must be really desperate to distract from the Russia treason...

[50 Shades Of Blue]

7. Nice knowing you all....

[GeorgeGist]

8. MOAB trial on Afghan tunnel?

[herding cats]

11. Yes, and a show of force.

Trump is the military's freaking dream come true.

[Initech]

9. Stay the fuck out of this one, Trump!

That fucking asshole is going to get us all killed if he's not careful. North Korea is a line that should not be crossed.

[bdamomma]

48. Oh god,

I am going to say it, I am really scared............

[Initech]

51. I just about wanted to vomit when I heard about the bomb this morning.

Trump is literally playing with fire here.

[DesertRat]

12. This will not end well

[MelissaB]

13. MSNBC is reporting this now

as well.

[NightWatcher]

14. Send Dennis Rodman back to NK. Maybe he can save us all

Worm, tell your buddy Kim that trump is fucking in sane and will nuke his ass.

[MelissaB]

16. At this point, I'd try it. Our pResident is bat shit crazy.

[gratuitous]

17. Gee, a lot of shit seems to be hitting the fan lately

I don't remember the previous administration starting or feeding quite this many international conflagrations all at once. Is it to be our new normal to be in drunken brawls with every tin-pot dictator on the planet?

[MelissaB]

19. And he had to choose this one?

Why choose the craziest one?

[bathroommonkey76]

21. Trump's doing all of this to take people's eyes off the Russia investigation.

[MelissaB]

22. How many wars will he pull us into trying to cover Russia?

He just had to threaten the bat shit crazy dictator. Of all people, him?

[bathroommonkey76]

25. Did Trump say this before he left for Florida today?

US President Donald Trump has vowed that the “problem” of North Korea “will be taken care of,” as speculation mounted that Pyongyang might be preparing another nuclear or missile test.

“North Korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of,” Trump told reporters.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/trump-north-korea-will-be-taken-care-of/news-story/5afce35c5ec0c79b99d060b57472b0f5

[ananda]

50. With a nuclear strike, that will be our last war!

Cry

[Docreed2003]

18. Paging Congress...where the hell are you? You going to allow Heir Trump to do this??

[nocalflea]

23. Yesterday-China helping re NK

Today - bombs away.
Dont understand what advantages US and SK and Japan would get out of attack.
Our military has to be wondering the same-is a nuclear test worth starting an all out war over ?
Hopefully , just posturing.

[MelissaB]

24. From a White House bureau chief

I don't know what to believe at this point.

My sources say a pre-emptive strike is NOT planned, contrary to what @NBCNews reporting, but retaliation likely if missile/nuke device test.

Link to tweet

[still_one]

26. I agree, this is a pissing contest.

[bathroommonkey76]

27. He's saying the same thing NBC News is reporting- Cept he isn't good with WORDS.

What the hell is a retaliation for a test? Same thing as a preemptive strike, right?

[Ccarmona]

28. I Didn't Think When I Moved to Hawaii

I'd become a sitting duck for two madmen.

[sinkingfeeling]

29. What exactly the aim of a preemptive strike other than to start

an all out war?

[retrowire]

30. Thank you Trump voters.

If it happens, just know he kept none of his promises and people are already dying.

[ellie]

31. Jesus Christ

[LS_Editor]

32. What. The. Fuck.

We are already begging North Korea to nuke a carrier group. This is insanity.

[elmac]

33. Won't happen

NK has enough long range artillery stationed at the boarder, Koksan 170-mm self-propelled guns, as well as 240-mm and 300-mm multiple launch rocket systems to partially destroy Seoul in a matter of minutes. Casualties would be massive. There will be no US first strike.

[secondwind]

34. He called it "my military" today... sounds like the man-child in North Korea.

[secondwind]

35. Doesn't he know we have a young American doing 15 years' hard labor there?

[JonLP24]

36. Isn't he the same person that said in the debate he has these secret plans but he won't reveal them

Because it would give the enemy a heads up? Well from bombing an airfield that was evacuated because he told Russia he was going to bomb Syria, to a "friendly fire" bombing of an ally rebel group "mistaken" for ISIS, to this he certainly does telegraph what he's going to do on there international stage.

[KingCharlemagne]

37. Preemption cuts both ways. Noth Korea can preempt our preemption. I hope

she does not.

[Vinca]

38. Trump is going to get millions of people in South Korea killed.

Someone has to stop BOTH mad men.

[Botany]

39. The Trump is in over his head and he needs to change the subject from Russia helping him ....

.... steal the election. North Korea has had some A-bombs since w bush quit talking to
them but they are not a threat to us or other nations but if Trump attacks he will
touch off a war that migh get > 1,000,000 people killed.

[NoMoreRepugs]

40. S Koreans must be terrified

[Bernardo de La Paz]

41. A pre-emptive strike would NOT "solve" the NK problem and would be so stupid in so many ways. nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

42. This kind of pre-emptive strike would be unconstitutional, surely and would start a terrible war.

South Korea would be the biggest loser. Ultimately tRump would be impeached even if his short-term ratings went over 50%.

[defacto7]

55. I have realized today...

we no longer have a constitution. If congress is letting 45 do as he pleases with the military, with no reigns, as well as in many lesser cases.. we have no constitution anymore.

[PatSeg]

43. Why isn't this a bigger story?

Someone mentioned it on Facebook a couple hours ago, but I haven't heard anything until I saw this post.

[PatrickforO]

44. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. NO. No. No. No.

Please.

Leave Kim Jung Ill alone.

[Duppers]

46. Exactly! It's a Hell NO!

Next thought: what would China do?

[bdamomma]

58. He needs to stop now

this is NO fucking game. This is unfathomable, someone/somebody in Congress needs to stop this....

[Bernardo de La Paz]

45. Friday sundown Secretary of Everything Kushner goes incommunicado for Sabbath.

Though the Orthodox Jewish rules say you can break the Sabbath to save a life.

[Still In Wisconsin]

57. You are correct Shabbat may be "violated" to save a life...

but not to TAKE (many) lives!

[democratisphere]

53. drumpf has totally lost his mind.

[benld74]

54. Crap on a cracker

[Moostache]

60. Unreal...I want to get out of Wonderland already, PLEASE?!?!?!

This is insanity.

MILLIONS of people and THOUSANDS of Americans could be killed in minutes by CONVENTIONAL North Korean weapons that are on a hair trigger. This is not a "who's-dick-is-bigger" contest Trump (we have surmised by your reaction to the hands comments how that would turn out anyway...)...this is fucking REAL...

I want no part of a Pence-led theocracy, but if that is the price to pay to save MILLIONS of lives, then so be it.

[bora13]

61. congress

Congress is likely so packed with religious fantastics that they are overtly or secretly rooting t-rump on.
They will have their precious, damn it.

Once a nuke strike occurs somewhere on earth, others are much more likely to
follow, including the compelling need for Israel to be destroyed so they can all rise up to the clouds
or wherever the hell the right hand of god is.

[defacto7]

62. the insane truth.... nt.

[mackdaddy]

63. North Korea is capable of launching an EMP attack over the USA.

NK has already launched several satellites into polar orbit. Going over the south pole that go over the Central USA on their first orbit in less than hour after launch.
One of the major concerns is that if they launched an EMP specific nuke on one of these "satellites" that it would be at a height that the single explosion would affect nearly then entire continent. The explosion would not directly blow up anything on the ground but the ElectroMagnetic Pulse (EMP) would be of such an intensity that it would melt down most high voltage power line transformers and just about every electronic device. No power, no internet, and most vehicles and airplanes with computer controls would be toast. I have seen estimates it would take years to repair, and result in tens of millions of deaths from the resulting lack of food and water. More than an actual ground nuke attack.
I know this sounds over the top, but there have been engineers after congress to "harden" the power grid for years but no one in congress wants to spend the $.
It would take someone truly insane and desperate to attack us this way, but Kim Jong Crazy fits the bill pretty well. Especially if Trump wants to poke that hornets nest with a stick.

EMP commission website: http://www.empcommission.org/

Story on NK Satellite Launch last year: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/north-korea-launches-satellite-sparks-fears-about-long-range-missile-program/2016/02/06/0b6084e5-afd1-42ec-8170-280883f23240_story.html?utm_term=.8b2d89884c9b