Trump just retweeted Fox News story quoting Mattis saying if NK fires a missile, it's "game on"

[highplainsdem]

Mattis has been talking, and writing, a lot about diplomacy in recent days. This article makes him sound more bellicose, and more obedient to Trump, than any other I've seen.

Will have to look for what else Mattis said at the time, which might offset the impression given here.

But Trump clearly loved this...

Mattis: If North Korea fires missile at US, it's 'game on'

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/08/14/mattis-if-north-korea-fires-missile-at-us-its-game-on.html

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Monday that if North Korea follows through on its threats to fire a missile at the United States, "it's game on."

Speaking to reporters, Mattis added that the U.S. military would "take out" any North Korean missile it detects is heading for American soil, including Guam, a U.S. territory. Mattis said the U.S. would detect a missile of that nature heading towards Guam "within moments."

Mattis added that if North Korea fires at the U.S., "it could escalate into war very quickly... yes, that's called war, if they shoot at us."

-snip-

Asked how the U.S. would respond, Mattis initially declined to say. When pressed, he said that if U.S. radars and other detection and tracking systems determine that a missile was going to fall into the sea, short of Guam, then the matter would be taken to President Donald Trump for a decision on how to respond.

-snip-

_______________



Editing to add some more about what Mattis said that wasn't reported by Fox but was reported by the Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/14/us-defence-secretary-james-mattis-warns-north-korea-game-pyongyang/

He would not, however, be drawn on how the US would respond if it was clear that the missiles were not going to reach the island.

"If it falls short of Guam, then it becomes an issue that we take up however the president chooses," Mattis said.

"I need a certain amount of ambiguity on this because I am not going to tell them what I'll do in each case."

While Mr Trump has talked tough over North Korea, both Mr Mattis and Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of state, have been more cautious - emphasising that they hoped for a diplomatic solution.
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Both men have made it clear that they are not seeking regime change in Pyongyang.

[Grassy Knoll]

1. Fox News Is Fishing For Viewers If A War Breaks Out....

...But Most Of The World Will Be Watching CNN, Like They Did On 9-11,
CNN Is Reliable World News, Fox News Is A One Sided Fake News Racist Stupid TV Show
You Get for Free At Motel 6.

[furtheradu]

2. Thought I read, Saturday, before VA hell broke loose

that reports of NK abilities were greatly exaggerated, no way to reach US (mainland?) for several years.
Heading to bed, will try to verify what I remember, asap.

[Not Ruth]

3. They bought Russia missiles 2 years ago and can now nuke the US