Mixed Messages

There has been a fair amount of talk about a possible missile test by North Korea, possibly around the Fourth of July holiday. Despite the initial hoopla and talk about "defending America" from a North Korean missile launched "in the direction of Hawaii," life goes on in the islands with not much care given to the idea by people in Hawaii.

But messages are mixed: first Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and President Obama make it clear America is ready to defend itself and, in a report on the question of a possible missile test last week, a local Hawaii television news station blithely ends saying that in the event of a missile launch we (the public in Hawaii) will be notified with a siren blast and radio warnings. Great.

But does anyone really think that A) the North Koreans could fire a missile as far as Hawaii and B) even if they could, they would want to? What would they gain by incurring the wrath of the United States?

Interestingly, last Thursday (6/25), in a mass email sent by the office of Hawaii's junior (he's only 84 years old) Senator Daniel Akaka with the subject line "North Korean Missile Test," he wrote his constituents:

This morning, I was briefed by officials from the Department of Defense regarding the threat of a North Korean missile test in the coming weeks. Based on the information I received about the Department's readiness and the Administration's attention to this matter, I am confident that we are prepared to defend against any North Korean missile should it be directed toward Hawaii.

Aloha pumehana,

U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka

More confidence-instilling measures?

The whole thing is tricky because, on one hand, if you give it too much attention, it comes off as fear-mongering. On the other hand, if you just joke about it or blow it off entirely, you appear to be smug and cavalier.

If only we had Governor Sarah Palin here in Hawaii, for surely she would be able to see North Korea from our shores and in the event of an actual missile launch, she could give us early warning.