About That “Accidental Declassification” . . . .
Here’s an update concerning that Congressional testimony about North Korean missiles and nuclear warheads.
Jonn’s article Friday indicated that GEN Martin Dempsey, CJCS, was “taken by surprise” by the revelation by Congressman Doug Lamborn that North Korea may possess low-reliability nuclear warheads for long-range missiles. That revelation was apparently the unclassified conclusion of a DIA assessment report.
Congressional staffers had confirmed via classified e-mail exchange with DIA personnel that the statement was indeed unclassified. Pentagon sources later claimed the line had been “mistakenly declassified”.
Well, that may or may not be true. But it turns out that classification questions might not have been the only reason that GEN Dempsey was shocked to hear it made in a public forum. According to the Army Times,
In a new twist, a House source tells [Military Times sister publication] Defense News that a DIA congressional liaison told a senior House Armed Services Committee aide that while the finding was unclassified, the Obama administration wanted to keep it under wraps. (emphasis added)
. . .
During the email exchange with the senior House Armed Services subcommittee professional staffer, the DIA legislative liaison told him, in the House aide’s words: “The administration didn’t want this getting out.” (emphasis added)
The Administration has, quite predictably, backed away from the DIA assessment of North Korean nuclear capabilities. The DNI has stated that “the DIA finding is not shared by the other U.S. intelligence agencies”, while a Pentagon spokesman has said that it would be “inaccurate to suggest that the North Korean regime has fully tested, developed, or demonstrated the kinds of nuclear capabilities referenced in the passage.”
That may be true. But about the latter, I’ll observe the following: neither had the US prior to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Trinity was a ground-based test of a non-weaponized nuclear device – not an operational test of a deliverable bomb.
Stay tuned. This one could get quite interesting.
Category: Military issues, North Korea
So kind of like Benghazi, the facts are sacrificed for the politics.
I wonder if it would be politically inconvenient when people freak the fuck out if/when DPRK actually does launch a nuke. Kinda scares you to imagine what this administration will actually do when push comes to shove.
Well, the real question is what’s the level of our response? If they pop one off over Japan, I don’t see how we couldn’t, as we still have mutual defense treaties in place. This whole thing feels like it’s deteriorating, and neither side can back down now without a serious loss of face.
One thing you can be sure is going to happen is a real quick change of command at DIA.
Mike
Mike Kozlowski: don’t really think so – lots of issues (and visibility) involved in replacing head of a Defense Agency. But I certainly wouldn’t want to be working in DIA’s legislative liaison office now. My guess is it’s rather “hot” in that office currently, and IMO you just might see some changes there.
Hondo, are you saying there is deception at work here?
I’m shocked. (snorts with laughter)
The difference between FatMan/LittleBoy and Norkland’s ‘possessions’ (whatever they are) is that ours were delivered by airplane, and Norkland wants to use a missile delivery system.
The Japanese are taking it seriously, and we should, too.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/04/12/north-korea-reportedly-warns-japan-to-be-first-target-over-order-to-destroy/
It should not be dismissed by a disdainful White House just because some poli-sci dabbler says so.
(Sigh) All I see is saber rattling by the G’son of Tiny Troll, so that he can extort more food and fuel from the US and other (relatively) free countries, so that GoTT can continue to feed and propagandize his NorK populace for further slavery.