N.Korea's Kim too selfish to start war -defectors

Reuters ^ | 05/28/09 | Jack Kim

[TigerLikesRooster]

N.Korea's Kim too selfish to start war -defectors

Thu May 28, 2009 2:20am EDT

(For full coverage of the North Korean crisis, click [nN25330519])

By Jack Kim

ANSEONG, South Korea, May 28 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is likely basking in the patriotic fervour whipped up by his nuclear test but is too worried about his own well-being to start a war, North Korean defectors said on Thursday.

Poverty, famine and political oppression have driven tens of thousands of North Koreans over the border to seek a better life.

"Why did they have to do it again? If they already have all that military power, perhaps it would be a wiser plan to make the lives of the people better," a defector named Choi told reporters at a centre established by the South to help recent arrivals adjust to life in their new capitalist home.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Need4Truth]

Obama might be too selfish to stop a war. It could lower his approval ratings and hurt his chances for re-election.

[TigerLikesRooster]

It takes two to dance, doesn't it?

[JillValentine]

All those liberals who claim to hate jingoism...how come they never bash North Korea’s jingoism? Or Communist China’s jingoism? Or Iran’s jingoism? Or France’s jingoism?

[cripplecreek]

Obama might be too selfish to stop a war.

That might be a good thing. South Korea would grind North Korea into dust in short order. I liken it to the USA being attacked by Belize.

[Bender2]

Re: N.Korea's Kim too selfish to start war

Hey, it didn't keep me... from getting to be Vice President, did it?

[DrC]

“South Korea would grind North Korea into dust in short order.”

I can see it now. Kim’s belligerence, such as attacking US ships seeking to enforce a nuclear weapons embargo, culminates in NK-SK conflict; SK wins, leading to the liberation of NK and a stunning reversal of NK’s bad economic fortune akin to the resurrection of East Germany following its unification with West Germany.

Likewise, Obama’s timidity vis-a-vis Iran leads to Israeli preemption, culminating in the fall of Iran as its people, also angered over decades of stagnation, overthrow the fundamentalist leaders. Lacking a bully to incite trouble and protect it from Israel’s wrath, Hamas negotiates a 2-state solution that guarantees Israeli sovereignty and its right to existence (i.e., an Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty II).

Obama is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (or at least is accorded #1 rank among presidential historians) for having ushered in a generation of peace. Wouldn’t be the first time Obama got (or took) credit for something entirely not of his doing.

Sorry if this sounds pie-in-the-sky but fantasizing about such rosy scenarios is the only hope I can muster when faced with the much more bleak reality that is likely as a result of POTUS’s mismanagement of our foreign policy. He’s actually not doing that badly in our “hot wars” Iraq/Afghanistan, but that’s because he’s largely adhered to both the policies and personnel put in place by GWB. It’s in the “psychological warfare” with NK, Iran and Hamas that he betrays his signature weenieness.

[Mountain Troll]

Unfortunately, most wars start by accident. Someone goes a little too far, or takes one chance too many, and then things happen on their own. The collapse of Western Civilization began with “some damn fool thing in the Balkans”. It could very well end with “some damn fool thing in Korea”.

[SevenofNine]

I wonder if say Little Kim is overthrown like he go into exile would he be invitated to Hollywood probably Sean Penn give him five picture deal

Then have film festival film chosen by Little Kim himself please let be Team America as movie chosen

[reagan_fanatic]

"I'm number two! I'm number two!"

[NeoCaveman]

I’m actually frightened that this guy is a heart beat away from the presidency.