President Trump orders stealth bombers to Guam

President Trump has ordered three B-2 stealth bombers to Guam, in a surprise show of force. It is unclear if the move has been planned for awhile, or if the order was recently given. The arrival of the bombers increases military tension at a time when North Korea appears conciliatory. Critics say the North's peaceful tone suggests they are merely playing for time. 

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The arrival of three B-2 bombers in Guam ups the ante on North Korea. It is unclear why the bombers were ordered to the island base.

Highlights

By Marshall Connolly (Catholic Online)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
1/11/2018 (6 years ago)

Published in Politics & Policy

Keywords: North Korea, President Trump, B-2, bombers, stealth, nuclear, Guam

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Three B-2 stealth bombers have arrived in Guam, ostensibly with the permission, or on the orders of President Trump. Their unexpected arrival increases military pressure at a time when North Korea is making overtures for peace. 

This week, North Korean diplomats met with South Korean officials to smooth over their recently strained relations. The North has also pledged to send a delegation to the Olympic games which are being hosted in South Korea. 

North Korea now has a missile which can reach all of the United States. There remain doubts as to its reliability or if it can deliver a nuclear payload. 

The B-2 bomber is invisible to radar and would be an essential weapon in the opening salvo of a war with North Korea. The bomber can deliver more than 80 independently targeted bomb strikes in a single flight, and it can deliver massive gound-penetrating, bunker-busting bombs like the MOAB. It would likely be used to destroy North Korea's hardened command and control structures, as well as underground nuclear and rocket facilities. Kim Jong Un's bunkers would also be targeted, threatening him with sudden death, or live burial beneath a mountain of rubble. 

The bombers are also capable of delivering nuclear weapons, although that is not within the realm of reason at this time. 

Until now, bombers like the venerable B-52 and the supersonic B-1 have kept the peace, flying over the Korean peninsula during exercises. However, the promotion of the B-2 fleet to Guam is a major escalation. It is expected they will perform exercises in the region, possibly to prepare for conflict. 

Rumors from the White House suggest that President Trump is considering a "bloody nose" strike against North Korea. Such a strike would be limited to the country's nuclear and rocket facilities, and would not target Kim Jong Un. Instead, it would be intended to cripple their nuclear program. According to leaks from the White House, both Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Chief of Staff John Kelly, both U.S. Marines, have discouraged the President from taking such action. However, the President is willing to carry out the plans which have been developed on his orders. The arrival of the bombers makes is much easier for him to give the order. It should be emphasized these are unconfirmed reports and could be false. 

So far, the great fear is that the North will unleash its conventional weapons on South Korea in retaliation for any U.S. attack. Such an event would kill tens of thousands of South Korean citizens within a few hours time and before many could find shelter. For this reason, the South is committed to a peaceful, diplomatic solution. 

Talks between the North and South could backfire on the North. If relations between the two countries improve and President Trump orders a strike, the North may be hard pressed to order a retaliation on the South. It is also possible a strike could come during the Olympic games, in which case the North may not be able to strike back due to the presence of so many foreigners in South Korea. The North may not want to risk angering the rest of the world by firing indiscriminately on their tourists in Korea. However, if the President were to make such an attack during the games, it would spark a major outcry from around the world. Tradition holds that peace should prevail during the games. 

For now, the U.S. has made a bold move. It remains to be seen how the North responds, if at all.