A lot of good discussion does.
Posted on 10/11/2006 10:15:49 AM PDT by excludethis
The North Korean government really has no redeeming qualities, and they keep threatening others and performing criminal actions to get what they want.
It's appalling that we have allowed them to get away with it for decades, and in the case of the Clinton administration actively rewarded them for such actions at the behest of Jimmy Carter.
Sanctions can be useful in containing such rogue governments, but they are ultimately very harmful to the civilian population while their effect on the government is less sure due to widespread breaking of such sanctions by other nations, and an unwillingness of the US to hold those who break them accountable.
There comes a point where the choices are using military force, or ignoring the threat and hoping that the government is overthrown from within and that the new government is an improvement.
We have been doing a lot of hoping, and taking very little action for a long time. The result is a lot of relatively small problems have grown to become large problems for the world as a whole.
Sticking our heads in the sand doesn't make problems go away.
Sing, "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!"
In order for the NK's to do much damage they'll have to MOVE that dug-in army of theirs...and light off their artillery.
Once these things start moving they become targets...and easy targets at that. China knows it. Russia knows it. Japan knows it. Even the NK generals know it. Our air dominance in any/all theatres ensures no real army can move without our tolerance of same.
Simply put, the best way to strike the NK's is to PROVOKE them into doing something stupid. Then it's slaughter time...
Yes, Seoul would take a BIG hit for a day or two...but it wouldn't be the US fault:)
That sawed-off little pant load that runs North Korea hasn't figured out that he can't treat the world like he treats his own citizens.
So, North Korea acts with impunity on the world stage. They break agreements with parties at will. Then, when the world decides to ignore them politically and economically, that is an act of war. I get it, it's like arguing with a toddler. Our next move should then be: "Mine is bigger than yours!"
Actually with 1000's of his toys aimed at Seoul, we're checkmate unless he starts something. Starve them out seems unfortunately to be the bst option.
A lot of good discussion does.
Time to tell Bejing we'll nuke their asses if they don't make Kimi STFU.
We don't need to preemptively strike NK. We just need to make it clear that if NK strikes South Korea, Japan or us in any military way we will nuke North Korea and deliver any and all weapons upon them that are required to annihilate the North Korean armed forces and the infrastructure that supports them entirely. China and Russia would not like this but we are still in a UN sanctioned state of war with North Korea, and after 50-60 years, plus provocation lately by NK, who could counsel further patience? We can take NK out and if provoked we will ultimately take them out after the first major move on their part against the United States, Japan or Korea. So, if the Russians and Chinese don't want the little tyke and his pissant regime fast fried, it would be in their interest to take him out, and take him out soon. They stood him up (and his papa before him) and they keep him up with economic and political viagra, but they can put him down and keep him down by withholding what he needs. Is it in Russia and China's best interests to wait for the United States to microwave the little weiner with all of the attendent implications or ramifications, or would it not be better for them to abandon him and let the country find a better way of being-in-the-world than pathologically dysfunctional for no apparent reason? Could it be that Russia and China really have no influence on the little twerp, but are embarassed to admit it? Could it be that North Korea is the ultimate godchild of communism, and an embarrasment to its godparents? Could it be that its godparents have propped up the regime for decades out of concern for what comes next, allowing it to ultimately morph to the point where they really need to be concerned that what comes next may be more dangerous for them than it is to anyone else in the region? One way or another, the North Korean regime has got to go and its (probably few) survivors given a place in the region-- hopefully a place where they can share in the prosperity that almost any government in that part of Asia other than theirs would have provided them long since, and freedom with all that it can deliver, philosophically, religiously, intellectually and economically and socially.
Most of the time was during the Cold War and the potential for direct conflict with the Soviets and/or Chinese again was a serious matter. The last fifteen years however have offered an opportunity which should never have been missed.
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