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U.S. Flexes Nuclear Muscles as Tensions Rise

nuclear weapon
The U.S. Air Force conducted a missile test to demonstrate nuclear capability. | Image by Airman 1st Class Landon Gunsauls/Space Force.

A week after it was alleged China infringed on U.S. airspace with a spy balloon, the U.S. Air Force launched a missile test in California to demonstrate the country’s nuclear readiness.

The Air Force launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test late Thursday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, according to Fox News.

“The ICBM’s test reentry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands,” the Air Force reported in an announcement.

The launch was a routine activity “intended to demonstrate that the United States’ nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable, and effective,” the base said in an announcement.

“A test launch displays the heart of our deterrence mission on the world’s stage, assuring our nation and its allies that our weapons are capable and our Airmen are ready and willing to defend peace across the globe at a moment’s notice,” Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, Air Force Global Strike Command commander said, as per the announcement.

“This launch showcases the redundancy and reliability of our strategic deterrence systems while sending a visible message of assurance to allies,” explained Col. Christopher Cruise, 377th Test and Evaluation Group commander.

“This multilateral team reflects the precision and professionalism of our command and our joint partners,” Cruise added.

This missile test was conducted after a show of force from North Korea’s military, which put on its largest-ever display of ICBMs in a parade. A total of 12 individual Hwasong-17 ICBM launchers were escorted down the capital of Pyongyang’s streets, flanked by marching soldiers, according to the BBC.

Analysts say these North Korean launchers could fire missiles, in theory, capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

While the timing of the U.S. tests might suggest that the Far East’s recent display of military capabilities may have prompted them, military officials have said that the Air Force and its agencies had been planning the tests for months, Fox News reported.

As for the recent discovery of a Chinese spy balloon in U.S. airspace, according to Department of Defense press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, these surveillance practices have long been known about and reach much farther than the U.S.

As The Dallas Express recently reported, Ryder told reporters on Wednesday that other potential spy balloons had been traced passing over the U.S., Canada, Costa Rica, and Japan, among others, and that this alleged Chinese aerial surveillance program had “been operable for several years.”

The U.S. has since received more unwanted visitors, announcing it shot down a high-altitude object in Alaska on Friday. The object was smaller and “likely less sophisticated” than the alleged Chinese balloon shot down last week, CNN reported.

“I’ve driven this point home for years, and we have now been reminded twice in the past week: Alaska is the first line of defense for America,” Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said in a statement.

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12 Comments

  1. Bear

    The Government works for WeThe People and not the other way around.
    Care to tell us why we are just now hearing about it??? I think it’s time to fire all you Government clowns and start fresh with those who understand just who is who!

    Reply
    • Andrew

      The news of that came out an hour and a half after it was shot down. Just cause you are reading it now doesn’t mean this is the first article on it.

      Reply
    • R Reason

      Turn on “missile launch notifications” in your cell phone, or subscribe to them at, [email protected]

      Reply
      • Tiff k

        How does someone turn that notification on?

        Reply
    • Brandon Gille

      Because we the people don’t need to know everything! That should be why we elect officials, not soley on party and tax reasons. We should trust or leaders if they were elected for the right reasons.

      Reply
      • Employee of the U. S Government 20 Years!

        EXACTLY! The governments dutys include ensuring the safety of all American citizens. You can’t assume that you know everything they are doing and be blind to the fact that they are ALWAYS working diligently behind closed doors! Withholding info from the public is only for SAFETY reasons. If you knew everything than our ENEMIES would know too!

        Reply
        • fed up with Dallas County

          “EXACTLY! The governments dutys include ensuring the safety of all American citizens.”

          Is that why they developed Covid and are promoting a poisonous and dangerous “vaccine?”

          Reply
    • Employee of the U. S Government 20 Years!

      The governments dutys include ensuring the safety of all American citizens. You need to understand that they are ALWAYS working diligently behind closed doors! Withholding info from the public is only for SAFETY reasons. If you knew everything than our ENEMIES would know too!

      Reply
    • Rbarnes2204

      2nd amendment is the right to bare
      Arms against a tyrannical fear driven government in order to overthrow that govt.
      It has nothing to do with self defense or hunting

      Reply
  2. Ghost

    Someone just needs to take china Russia and them damn Iraqi countries off the map

    Reply
  3. Ghost

    Here is the president spending billions to help out Ukraine but not a damn bit worried about the American people and their needs. They just raise our cost of living and taxes making us pay for all the stuff he is giving away to some damn country that we have nothing to do with. I say leave those people over there alone and tear each others heads off why put the American people in danger of a Nuclear attack.

    Reply
  4. Dustin Hill

    All I can say is the one in charge making these calls, Us as Americans,U.S citizens do not agree or stand by his decisions at all!! No reason we should have to feel repercussions of someone else’s action that we do not even agree with being in our office every country needs to look and realize that before trying to start a war!!!

    Reply

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