North Korea to Launch Missile Today - America Watches Passively
Right now the world waits for North Korea to launch its latest missile. North Korea has formally abrogated the truce with South Korea and the United States, which means that, technically-speaking, a state of active war now exists between America and the Democratic People's Republic of Tyranny Korea. This cuts both ways: if North Korea attacks, this will not be a bolt from the blue, at the same time, if we attack, it won't be unprovoked (it will have been provoked by the invasion of 1950). I fully expect American and international media to miss those points, as they have been missing them all through the crisis.
North Korea, in particular, is threatening to attack South Korea -- and maybe South Korea's allies -- with nuclear weapons. It should be noted that North Korea has repeatedly promised not to develop such weapons, accepting material concessions as price for these promises, and repeatedly violated them. This is a crucial point, as it means that we cannot trust any promises made by North Korea.
Thus, it is not so much impossible to negotiate with North Korea, as it is irrelevant -- there is absolutely no reason to assume that North Korea will fulfill any promise that it makes, and hence no value to be put on such promises. Between us and North Korea, there can only be a balance of strength versus aggression: we must credibly threaten them with enough force that they fear the consequences of attacking us more than they desire the fruits of such offensives.
A good case could be made, given that North Korea has essentially announced that the war has been resumed, for an immediate pre-emptive strike on North Korean nuclear and missile sites, coupled with strikes against any force projection assets (air force, navy and heavy artillery). Certainly, since North Korea considers herself at active war against South Korea and her allies, including America, we should be making an active diplomatic effort to promote an embargo against trade with North Korea -- and (IMO) we should immediately begin naval operations to blockade North Korea. If done right, this could produce a complete collapse of the North Korean economy, society and regime.
What we must avoid doing is making any concessions to North Korea. Experience has shown that such concessions will only get us more worthless promises, at best, and at worst will whet the North Korean appetite for more concessions and hence lead to more aggressions.
Not that I expect our Hopeful and Changey Messiah to do anything other than talk a brave talk, then cave in at the crisis. There are signs that we are already caving in -- note the delay of our own missile tests in a pathetically-useless attempt to appease the North.
Ah well. Such are the slights we must suffer as partial payment for our electoral choice of 2012. At least the misery's being spread around the world, to many of the foreigners who welcomed Obama's election and re-election. We will recover from Obama in a fairly short time -- I can't be so optimistic about many other countries.
North Korea, in particular, is threatening to attack South Korea -- and maybe South Korea's allies -- with nuclear weapons. It should be noted that North Korea has repeatedly promised not to develop such weapons, accepting material concessions as price for these promises, and repeatedly violated them. This is a crucial point, as it means that we cannot trust any promises made by North Korea.
Thus, it is not so much impossible to negotiate with North Korea, as it is irrelevant -- there is absolutely no reason to assume that North Korea will fulfill any promise that it makes, and hence no value to be put on such promises. Between us and North Korea, there can only be a balance of strength versus aggression: we must credibly threaten them with enough force that they fear the consequences of attacking us more than they desire the fruits of such offensives.
A good case could be made, given that North Korea has essentially announced that the war has been resumed, for an immediate pre-emptive strike on North Korean nuclear and missile sites, coupled with strikes against any force projection assets (air force, navy and heavy artillery). Certainly, since North Korea considers herself at active war against South Korea and her allies, including America, we should be making an active diplomatic effort to promote an embargo against trade with North Korea -- and (IMO) we should immediately begin naval operations to blockade North Korea. If done right, this could produce a complete collapse of the North Korean economy, society and regime.
What we must avoid doing is making any concessions to North Korea. Experience has shown that such concessions will only get us more worthless promises, at best, and at worst will whet the North Korean appetite for more concessions and hence lead to more aggressions.
Not that I expect our Hopeful and Changey Messiah to do anything other than talk a brave talk, then cave in at the crisis. There are signs that we are already caving in -- note the delay of our own missile tests in a pathetically-useless attempt to appease the North.
Ah well. Such are the slights we must suffer as partial payment for our electoral choice of 2012. At least the misery's being spread around the world, to many of the foreigners who welcomed Obama's election and re-election. We will recover from Obama in a fairly short time -- I can't be so optimistic about many other countries.