June 21, 2006 | No Nukes! Donald Rumsfeld is an idiot. True, he is one of a cabal of the most idiotic idiots in the Annals of the Idiotic Idiocy of the Human Race, but this dude stands out like the Eiffel Tower on a clear night. He has other problems, but mainly, he's bloody stupid. Here is Jude's commentary from tonight's Political Waves: Rummy wants to "practice" with nuclear weapons?  What, are we all f__k__g nuts??? Call the White House and tell them that waving a nuclear penis at the world is NOT ACCEPTABLE.  +1 202 456-1414 [voice; ask for the Comment Line] +1 202 456-2461 [fax] Haven't we had a big enough "wake up" in this country?  What Bush is considering would turn everyone's attention to his rash and deadly character, but the after-the-fact cost of nuclear escalation is unthinkable -- a threat of this magnitude is as good as the deed to anyone not brain-dead.  On this day of Solstice, WE set the Intention -- picture plans of nuclear retaliation in the dumper, "see it" deflated, KNOW it can't happen.  BE the energy of peace and cooperation!  Whatever your traditions and rituals, use them now.  Send your personal Angels, cover WaDC with thoughts of calm and peace, pray your prayers, count your beads, chant your chants, stand in your Peace and believe for better! Hundredth Monkey awaits!  PEACE NOW! Jude U.S. activates missile defense, may intercept N. Korea missile http://snipurl.com/s3cn [thanks, Eileen] WASHINGTON, June 20 - The United States has moved its ground-based missile defense system from test to operational mode and is considering the option of intercepting North Korea's long-range missile if launched, the Washington Times reported Tuesday. Quoting U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity, the newspaper said the system was activated within the past two weeks in the wake of North Korea stepping up preparations for launching a Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile. Reuters and other media reported U.S. officials as confirming the Washington Times report. The missile shield includes 11 long-range interceptor missiles, including nine deployed at Fort Greeley, Alaska, and two at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the Washington Times said. Two U.S. Navy Aegis warships are patrolling near North Korea as part of the global missile defense system and would be among the first sensors that would trigger the use of interceptors, the newspapers said. One senior administration official was quoted as telling the Washington Times that the U.S. government is considering the option of shooting down the Taepodong missile with responding interceptors. The officials said an immediate launch is unlikely because of poor weather conditions above North Korea's missile site located by U.S. intelligence satellites, according to the newspaper. But it also quoted U.S. intelligence officials as saying preparations have advanced to the point where a launch could take place within "several days to a month." U.S. Northern Command spokesman Michael Kucharek was reported as saying that the command "continues to monitor the situation, and we are prepared to defend the country in any way necessary." ++ U.S. weighs shootdown of N. Korea missile ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer Wed., Jun 21, 2006 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060621/ap_on_go_pr_wh/missile_defense_korea WASHINGTON - If North Korea launches a long-range missile, as some U.S. officials say appears likely, then the Pentagon may get a first chance to use its unproven missile defenses against a real target. Although the North Korean missile most likely would be launched for a flight test or to put a satellite in space, Bush administration officials are considering the possibility of shooting it down, since they cannot rule out in advance that the missile might be fired with hostile intent. "The problem is that no one knows because North Korea doesn't say anything in advance of a test," said Rick Lehner, chief spokesman for the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency. "So you have no idea what it is."