Mattis warns of 'massive military response' if North Korea threatens attack

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico




The remarks follow a series of presidential tweets.

By MATTHEW NUSSBAUM, BRYAN BENDER and BRENT D. GRIFFITHS 09/03/2017 08:03 AM EDT

Updated 09/03/2017 03:33 PM EDT

Defense Secretary James Mattis on Sunday warned of a "massive military response" if North Korea threatens an attack against the United States, after the rogue nation said it completed the test of a hydrogen bomb.

"We have many military options, and the president wanted to be briefed on each one of them," Mattis told reporters outside the White House. "Any threat to the United States or its territories, including Guam, or our allies, will be met with a massive military response -- a response both effective and overwhelming.

Mattis promised an "ironclad" American commitment to its regional allies.

The escalation in rhetoric comes after President Donald Trump tweeted Sunday morning that North Korea is "very hostile and dangerous" and called on South Korea to end its "talk of appeasement."



Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/03/trump-north-korea-nuclear-242289

[SweetieD]

1. Kim has already done that numerous times. He said he is going to strike Guam.

[uppityperson]

2. Mattis, define "threaten" as they've already verbally threatened.

[sandensea]

3. Yeah - he can't really.

These verbal salvos are just red meat for the base, who do fist-pumps and yell "Yeahrrr!" every time they hear it.

This isn't to say that lil' Kim shouldn't be kept a very close eye on. Personally, I doubt Pyongyang will try anything really serious; it'll be the end of their regime no matter who happens to be president of the United States - and they know it.

[Ligyron]

4. This is getting us nowhere.

Give up and accept the fact that they have nuclear weapons now. Get over it.

p.s. - not a good thing but there is no real alternative.

[PSPS]

14. You're correct, of course.

We handled the threat of a nuclear USSR for decades without going to war. If rational thinking people are involved, we can handle a nuclear NK too without going to war. Of course, things are a little different in this case with a "president" who cares only about "ratings."

[Honeycombe8]

5. Wag the Dog is coming. Crap. nt

[FarPoint]

6. Acts of War.....

I thought Congress needs to give approval????

[Hortensis]

7. Mattis is no idiot. This will be a traditional move understood by other nations --

at least relatively "traditional" within the context of this bizarre situation.

The normal diplomatic maneuvers of nations, including verbal sword waving, have been developed over many centuries. Mattis's statement will fit a more expected pattern that will be seen as something of a steadying hand on the loose canon he serves.

[BeyondGeography]

8. Fired there, furied that.

The threats aren't working so Team Trump is lashing out at everyone:

Ely Ratner, a top national security official in the Obama administration, said Mr. Trump’s criticism of South Korea came even as South Korea had been under considerable economic pressure from China because of its decision to allow the United States to install a missile defense system intended to deter the North Koreans.

"In a circumstance where we’re going to need close cooperation with not only South Korea but China as well, he’s coming out swinging at all of them rather than trying to build support and coordination,” Mr. Ratner said. “It just looks so haphazard.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/03/us/trump-north-south-korea-nuclear.html

Score another round for NK.

Can't anyone here play this game?

[DK504]

9. "We have many military options ..."

Actually pal no we don't. We are fighting on two separate front, we have military scattered around the world and our military isn't large enough to deal with this nightmare.

[bucolic_frolic]

10. Is this in lieu of

State Department and/or Presidential leadership?

I just don't recall a time when the Defense Secretary was responsible for diplomacy, at least not publicly.

Eisenhower did it during World War II as he balanced conflicting Allied policies or had no direction

[gyroscope]

11. All talk no action.

Trump will never do anything because the military industrial complex loves North Korea.

They need to keep NK and its crazy leaders alive as a perpetual excuse to keep the defense budget high, and even raising it. They won't ever kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

[YOHABLO]

18. You're so right. Gotta keep spending money on weapons, jets etc.

[IcyPeas]

12. japan, china, s. korea, russia? etc.

australia even?

why must we always get involved?

[Plucketeer]

13. Trump's a JERK.

That's a given. While I know nothing about Mattis, I'm willing to bet he got to where he is by being pretty sharp - at military conflict and strategy - much more so than Orange-ade, the dunce, is qualified for dog catcher.
That said, consider the back-turning that brought us Pearl Harbor. Our government and military KNEW that Japan was going to attack us. And Stalin made the same stupid mistake about Hitler. There they were (the Nazis) gathering for an assault on Russia, and Stalin was truly amazed when the Germans started pressing their attacks.

I'd say, if someone declares they're gonna cause you harm - they mean it! I had a neighbor (until last Tuesday evening) that threatened me - made sure I got to see his 9MM pistol - and taunted me as to how he'd piss on my grave when I was "gone". He kept telling his free-loading stepson as well as his wife, that there were going to be consequences if the stepson didn't start cleaning up after himself. Tuesday evening, this fella told his wife to get after the stepson or he was gonna take action - which he ultimately did. He shot the son (28 YO) - shot the wife execution style - and then dispatched himself. Obviously, wifey and sonny didn't take dad's threats seriously.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

15. Time for the big dick off

[Crowman2009]

16. It's pretty easy for those not doing any actual fighting to talk tough.

Because if he fucks up big time--in a failure equivalent to the Russian military in the Russo-Japanese war--then off to Levenworth he and Drumpf will go.

[YOHABLO]

17. The N.Korean's are sending a message: Don't fuck with us. So what's the U.S and it's allies

going to do? Start a nuclear war? How about Pakistan, India, Israel etc.. are we going to bomb them because they have nuclear weapons? I honestly don't get it. The only rational solution is dialogue. However, because we have a fucked up state department and a jackass for a President, all bets are off.