Is Hawaii Vulnerable To A ‘Pearl Harbor-Style’ Surprise Missile Attack?

WEDNESDAY PDB – PAUL'S DAILY BRIEFING – On January 13, 2018, Hawaii residents and visitors woke up to a terrifying emergency alert on their cell phones that sent a wave of panic across the state. The message warned of a ballistic missile heading for Hawaii.

It read, “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”

It took nearly 40 minutes for officials to admit it wasn't a drill, but it wasn't real either. It was a mistake.

But concerns over Hawaii's vulnerability to a missile attack remain. Sen. Mazie Hirono concerned about lack of missile defense for Hawaii. Sen. Mazie Hirono wants answers from military leaders about missile defense in the islands amid rising tensions in the Pacific, asking senior military brass about the Pentagon's strategy for defending Hawaii.

All we know publicly about defending Hawaii against missile attack is that the Pentagon's $9.1 billion ‘Pacific Deterrence Initiative' includes “funding for defense of Guam and Hawaii.”

We should know more.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here's a roundup of other developing stories.

Not the President's Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL'S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:

POLITICS & DEFENSE BUDGET

OH, FOR PETA'S SAKE! – PETA calls on Pentagon to stop ‘Havana syndrome' testing on animals. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is pressuring the Department of Defense to stop its testing of microwave radiation and radio frequency on animals in an attempt to determine the human effects of the mysterious health problems dubbed “Havana Syndrome.”

IT'S IMMORAL NOT TO FULLY PROTECT OUR NATION – Religious groups push to cut ‘biggest ever' Pentagon budget. In their letter to Congress, the religious groups called the Pentagon budget “absurd,” adding they were making a “moral case” for cuts.

NATIONAL SECURITY

New US nuclear chief takes fresh stance on sea-launched cruise missile. The new head of U.S. Strategic Command, which oversees the country's nuclear arsenal, is taking a less forceful tone on developing the sea-launched cruise missile than his predecessor, who was an unabashed champion of the program.

BUYING OUR NUKES – Inconsistent acquisition authorities for nuclear weapons are harming modernization. CSIS's Sarah Mineiro argues that bureaucracy is endangering the well-being of the most powerful weapons on the planet.

CHINA THREAT

China has shattered the assumption of US dominance in the Middle East. With a grandiose diplomatic flourish China brokered a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, in the process upending US calculus in the Gulf and beyond. While the U.S. under Joe Biden has angered its Gulf allies by dithering over morality, curbing arms supplies and chilling relations, Saudi Arabia's King-in-waiting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), has found a kindred spirit in China's leader Xi Jinping.

Taiwan ally Honduras seeks diplomatic switch to China. Taiwan is in danger of losing one of its few formal allies, Honduras, as the Central American nation seeks official relations with China. Honduras' far left President Xiomara Castro said the pivot aims to expand foreign engagements.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

PUTIN'S MESSAGE TO BIDEN – Moscow warns US aircraft away from its air space after drone crash. Moscow told Washington on Wednesday to keep well away from its air space after a U.S. drone intercepted by Russian jets crashed into the Black Sea, the first known direct confrontation between the superpowers since Russia invaded Ukraine.

Artillery shortage hampers Russia's offensive in east Ukraine, west says. Russia's defense minister told domestic manufacturers to double their production of precision-guided weapons, as Moscow pushes to capture Bakhmut city after months of heavy fighting.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 385. An MQ-9 US military drone has crashed into the Black Sea after being intercepted by Russian fighter jets in a move the U.S. called a “brazen violation of international law.”

Senators from both parties press Austin on sending F-16s to Ukraine. Eight senators argue that modern fighters “could prove to be a game changer on the battlefield.”

Ukraine's military intelligence chief predicts how war will end. As Ukraine announces a planned counteroffensive in the Spring, the head of the country's Main Intelligence Directorate, Major General Kyrylo Budanov, is predicting that the coming battles will be ‘decisive.'

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

$368 billion, 20,000 jobs over 20 years: How AUKUS could ‘fundamentally transform' Australia. One analyst called the new agreement the biggest engineering project in 75 years for Australia, but there are big hurdles that need to be cleared.

Air Force may shrink Middle East presence, proposed budget cut shows. The Air Force in 2024 hopes to further shrink its presence in the Middle East to focus more resources on countering China in the Indo-Pacific.

Islamic State claims responsibility for east Congo attack that killed 19. Islamic State claimed responsibility for an east Congo village attack that killed 19 people on Sunday, according to the group.

US's Blinken meets Ethiopian leaders to repair bilateral ties. Blinken's trip is the latest in a series of visits to Africa by senior US officials as the US looks to reinforce ties with the continent amid competition from China and Russia.

SPACE THREAT

Space Force wants to trim missile warning satellite program. Space Force's fiscal 2024 budget proposes cutting one of five satellites from its Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared fleet, according to Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman.

US MILITARY

Air Force won't buy hypersonic missiles in 2024. The service will spend the next year continuing to develop and test two candidate weapons, a budget leader said.

We have to adapt: Marine commandant says future dominance depends on ability to change. The Marine Corps will have to keep adapting and possibly make unorthodox changes if it is going to remain a dominant military force in the world, the service's top general said.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

READ NEXT: Ron DeSantis Hit With Ethics Complaint From Trump Super PAC