Breaking Defense:
WASHINGTON: The House Armed Sevices Committee markup of the 2019 defense budget asks the Pentagon to test the feasibility of stationing a THAAD battery in Hawaii, along with stationing an Aegis destroyer permanently offshore to protect against attack. The legislation was introduced by Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
The push acknowledges the broader array of missile threats the Pentagon faces in the Pacific region, where North Korean ICBMs join new generations of Chinese hypersonic, long-range, and medium-range missiles in worrying American officials.
“Given the threat we face from North Korea, it’s critical that we evaluate all available options to provide Hawaii with a multi-layered defense,” Gabbard said in an email.
