Tend to agree with you, since China has said it will stay out if we don’t strike first: do they mean a nuclear strike? Iraq is a good comparison. So here;s some scattered thoughts.
If we’re boiling this down to tough talk from Western movies:
`Open Range’ Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall
[Charley has explained his strategy for the upcoming fight]
Boss Spearman: Sounds like you got it all worked out.
Charley Waite: Yeah, except the part where we don’t get killed.
OTOH:
Mack: Shame what this town’s come to.
Charley Waite: You could do something about it.
Mack: What? We’re freighters. Ralph here’s a shopkeeper.
Charley Waite: You’re men, ain’t you?
Mack: I didn’t raise my boys just to see ‘em killed.
Charley Waite: Well you may not know this, but there’s things that gnaw at a man worse than dying.
I think a precise conventional strike—something like Claus von Stauffenberg and Hitler, but from an aircraft—against the little Prince and his handlers would resolve the matter.
(Unlike the attempt on Hitler, probability of success would have to be Ivory soap sure, or 99 44/100ths certain.) I think that’s what is planned, with the recent arrival of the Nebraska boys.
While I’m risking all this thinking, I believe the response of the NORKs would be similar to the reaction of the Wicked Witch of the west’s guards as they stood over her puddle: relief and gratitude.
One final point. Someone else pointed out that a strike seems to be what they (NORKS) want; either that or they believe that sabre-rattling will gain concessions, as demonstrated by the pusillanimous actions of Democrat `Chamberlains’. I tend to believe the latter.
And you hit on what a lot of people are missing.
- N. Korea has always relied on their hot talk to win cash and prizes from the west. It’s worked every time.
- Trump has said “no deal”
- N. Korea threatens all types of (insert bad things here) if we dont give in, because they “really mean it this time”.
- Trump says if you pull anything, we will pound you to ash.
- China said if N. Korea strikes first, they are on there own.
- Trump now has the “trump card”. WE DONT need to attack them. We gain nothing from doing so. N. Korea “loses face” if they do nothing (leading to little fat boy being disposed), they lose China if they do.
We aren’t going to use nukes on them as it is a waste and gets us nothing by a radioactive wasteland in N. Korea and all the headaches from refuges there. And it isnt necessary to accomplish what we need if the north goes full retard.
We have them right were we want them.