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I am not in the mood to write a big long essay on this. My writing is not going to be good, but I will try to make a point or two none the less. I hope you get the jist of it all. I am going to try and be brief.

First, Check this thread for some background.

AmericanInTokyo quoted “ The ruling party's Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda announced to North Korea just now that "there will be no normalization talks unless you agree to meet and solve the issue of your nuclear development at once."

That is EXACTLY right.

Per the USCC report to Congress China is menacing and is a potential threat to Asia.

Bush declared “strategic competition” did he not?

Notice the warmth between this Admin and Taiwan.

Here is another link of interest about our new sub deployment.

Recently the PM of Japan went to N. Korea. We are dangling bait in front of the N. Koreans.

Also recently, China sacked the supposed economic czar to N. Korea. That was a big snub. TigerLikesRooster touches on the issue here, as far as competition, and loss of influence goes. That is a very important part of it. It’s the lynchpin.

Then look at this map

Chinese influence and offsetting of Japan’s power will be mitigated significantly if N. Korea switches sides.

I believe that is exactly what is happening. We are dangling bait on one hand, but threatening to whoop ass on the other.

The Admin is trying to heap pressure upon pressure on N. Korea.

I read one article where they titled Bush’s stance toward N. Korea as “hawk engagement”. It went on to say that Bush was engaging, but his style was way different than Clinton. Bush will turn the screws on them, and kick some ass if needed, but at the same time get to move in his direction.

At the same time, he wants N. Korea to change from the inside out, which many in N. Korea want themselves.

It will be tantamount to Kissinger’s 1972 China visit all over again only with N. Korea as the changer. North Korea is on the virge of defection from Chinese influence. Talk about HUGE! Remember the Korean War? Its part of the overall US strategy towards Asia. It goes far beyond N. Korea alone.

In the end, it boils down to this:

Domestically, it is putting the madalene albright wackos on their asses, and promoting a realistic Asia policy, the BUSH policy, and completely turning the Clinton view on its ear.

It is bringing to pass strategic competition with China, and upping our influence in Asia. That is the BIG part of it. Plus Taiwan being restored in stature is a key. Two borders right on China’s doorstep.

It is dealing with a threat.

All of that in one swoop. North Korea is not admitting all this stuff for no reason. They have admitted quite a lot lately. There are forces inside of N. Korea that want change, but the old school is stopping them.

Look for a gradual increase of presence in Asia from the US. Also look for N. Korea’s defection to the West.

The conclusion of the military review from about a year ago was to move our strategy from Europe in post WWII to Asia in the 21st Century. The landscape will be a changing.

Let's not forget that it was Jimm' Carter who went to North Korea in 1994 and laid the groundwork for the wretched pact with North Korea.

Part of the justification for his Nobel Prize was his trip to Pyongyang.

Thanks, maui. Very interesting read. A global economic friend told me a few years ago "keep your eye on N.Korea. It's 'key'."

Thanks, your observations are interesting and will take me a while to digest.

Thanks for your input ..

The conclusion of the military review from about a year ago was to move our strategy from Europe in post WWII to Asia in the 21st Century. The landscape will be a changing.

And about time. Isn't it wonderful to have adults like Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and yes, Powell et. al. doing the planning, and a President like Bush who's wise enough to initiate and take their counsel and run with it? It feels soooooo good to see some proactive 'real world' moves for once!

Re #209

Good review on the strategic competition bet U.S. and China.