Kim's Targets (North Korean missile was aimed at Obama Administration)

The Wall Street Journal ^ | APRIL 5, 2009 | By ANDREI LANKOV

[MaestroLC]

North Korea's Kim Jong Il and his henchmen are often described as "irrational" or "mad." This description does them a great disservice, for they have stayed in power for decades by manipulating great powers. Sunday's missile launch is just another step in a complicated political game whose aim has not changed since the 1960s: to ensure a steady influx of foreign aid without making any concessions which might put regime at risk. [...]

The first target of the North Korean missile is, of course, the White House -- not literally, but figuratively. Pyongyang's leaders know that under Barack Obama's administration, North Korea will drift downward in Washington's foreign policy agenda -- in favor of hotter spots like Afghanistan -- and they do not like it. To survive, North Korea has to appear a serious threat. Therefore their message to Washington runs something like this: "Mr. Obama, do not forget: We're here, we're dangerous, and we're defiant -- so you had better deal with us and give us some aid and diplomatic concessions." [...]

Will North Koreans succeed in their brinksmanship? History demonstrates that it's likely. The Obama Administration underscored its commitment to diplomatic talks as late as last week. Middle Eastern buyers will soon start frequenting Pyongyang and common North Koreans will feel a bit of patriotic pride which might make them to forget for a while about their empty stomachs.

And who knows: perhaps, later this year, when the first wave of righteous indignation fades, the White House will express its interest in talks about missile control. Needless to say, the North Koreans will demand a huge monetary compensation for freezing their "peaceful space research program."

[MaestroLC]

Obama lies with such ease. Further reading from today:

Obama calls for 'world without' nukes

Barack Obama goes ahead with missile defence shield despite disarmament pledge

[The Sons of Liberty]

Kim's Targets (North Korean missile was aimed at Obama Administration)

Strangely enough, Kim's actions may help save missile defense from an incompetent usurper.

[Tarpon]

Special delivery for Barrack "the naive one" Obama.

[Southack]

It’s indicative of his handler’s preoccupation with 0bama’s secret missile defense letter to Russia that his speech today calls for missile defenses “unless Iran ceases it’s nuclear weapons program.”

After all, missile defenses would seem to be rather relevant to North Korea’s missile launch mere hours before 0bama’s speech today...too little time for a speech re-write.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Headline should read “North Korea teabags Obama.”

[fish hawk]

Actually Bush was no better in that area. It would take the balls of a Reagan to deal with that little rat.

[TMA62]

That is a type of missle that Hussein may understand. After all, he flipped off both Hillary and McCain during the campaign.

[rbosque]

Comrade Clinton gave missile secrets to N. Korea, Kim was just trying to thank the Democratic party.

[blam]

North Korean Rocket 'Failed To Send Satellite Into Space'

North Korea's claims that it launched a satellite into space have been dismissed by South Korea and the US military.

By Peter Foster in Beijing
Last Updated: 5:12PM BST 05 Apr 2009

The launch of the missile at 02.30 GMT (11.30am local time) from a coastal site in the country’s northeast provoked international condemnation amid suggestions it was a disguised test of a ballistic missile.

However North Korean officials quickly reported that the three-stage rocket had sucessfuly placed into orbit a satellite broadcasting revolutionary songs.

A state media report described the launch as a "proud achievement made out of our battle to upgrade our country's space scientific technology."

[snip]

[austingirl]

I got a huge chuckle when O said today “words mean something” while he has mandated that the War on Terror be renamed “overseas contingency operations”.

[Brad from Tennessee]

[. . .the North Koreans will demand a huge monetary compensation for freezing their “peaceful space research program.”]

If they get the same deal Albright gave them on nuclear weapons development, Hillary Clinton will allow them to continue their missile program—in secret—while we ship them oil and food.

[Thunder90]

Obama only said this to keep Poland and the Czechs happy for now. When Obama negotiates with Russia, either one or both of these things will happen

1. Obama gives Russia the technology to the NMD systems, and allow a Russian to supervise them
2. Obama negotiates the system away in the disarmament treaty he is proposing.