North Korea underscored its rogue nation status this week by test-firing a long-range missile, as well as several other Scud missiles, in defiance of strong U.S. and international warnings.
North Korean despot Kim Jong Il (in photo) seems to hope that the missile provocation will prompt the United States to agree to direct bilateral talks. But the administration wisely isn’t letting North Korea dictate the terms of the relationship and is working with the United Nations and countries such as China to respond to its actions.
There are no good options on North Korea: Perhaps the best course is to pursue patient diplomacy and work to contain this threat. The dictator’s shaky regime can’t last forever.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/22
- Regular on Open thread 11/22
- Regular on Open thread 11/22
- Rage on Open thread 11/22
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/22
- Chas on Open thread 11/22
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/22
- Boxlock20 on Open thread 11/22
- satatom on Open thread 11/22
- JimJohnson on Open thread 11/22
24 Comments
George Bush is upset, distraught, that North Korea has fired a missile that could reach Alaska — carrying a nuclear warhead.? Well, Mr. President, you have only yourself to blame.
In case you can’t recall, your intelligence chiefs ordered US agents to curb their investigation of A.Q. Khan, head of Pakistan’s bomb-building program.? There was mounting evidence Khan was selling his nuclear and missile material technology to Libya and North Korea.The reason for the spike order, the “back off” directive, was that the investigators had tracked the source of funds for Mr. Khans flea market in fissile material to Saudi Arabia.? Apparently, Team Bush did not want to make the Saudi’s uncomfortable by exposing their payments to Khan.
We reported this on BBC in November 2001, based on informants within the top levels of our intelligence agencies, men unhappy with politicians who would have them avert their gaze.
http://www.gregpalast.com/north-koreas-missile-fired-by-kim-jong-il-built-by-team-bush
This kind of behavior from N. Korea is the direct result of President Bush’s decision to bog the US military down in a purely elective war in Iraq.
Kim wouldn’t have fired 7 missiles in the general direction of Japan – on July 4 – otherwise.
Tomorrow is President Bush’s 60th birthday. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few more N. Korean missiles lit up as birthday presents.
“The dictator’s shaky regime can’t last forever.”Isn’t that what somebody back in the early ’60’s said about Castro?
At least Castro doesn’t have a completely stupid looking hair cut.
At least Kim Jong Il doesn’t have a completely stupid looking beard.
I would think ANY beard would improve his looks. Especially if he would cut off his ‘hair spray helmet’.There’s a new reality show for you:DICTATOR MAKE-OVER
Saw the wingnuts on Larry King last night already blaming Clinton for this. The right is so truly pathetic and desperate to stem the sh@tstorm that’s about to strike them that they don’t even focus on governing or attempting to govern anymore. Just put on the greatest hits album – “Clinton’s fault, Clinton’s fault! Democrats hate America! The media hates America! Abortion, gays, Jesus, and the flag (TM)!” These people have ABSOLUTELY no shame, and their followers have nearly no intellect.
“There’s a new reality show for you:DICTATOR MAKE-OVER”
First Guest: George W. BushBut what could possibly improve chimpy’s looks? Maybe they could rid him of his simian crease.
“Saw the wingnuts on Larry King last night already blaming Clinton for this.”
Have you seen the wingnuts on this forum already blaming Bush for this?
What I find interesting is that their test seems to have been a monumental failure.
What I find scary is both of these guys are blithering idiots!
Let’s see: why don’t we invade North Korea?1. No oil2. Million man army3. No resources we can use4. No oil
Reasons to invade North Korea:1. WMD2. Terrorist state3. Missle delivery system4. Nuclear weapons
So what’s the difference between Iraq and North Korea? Iraq had no WMD, and they have oil. O, wait a minute . . . something about a joke for an army, and we would kick their ass and be out in a year. Damn, doncha hate it when the Administration is wrong?
We’ve made all kinds of threats leading up to the launch of N. Korea’s missles. Now they’ve called our bluff. I’ll be interested to see what the administration intends to do about it (besides blame Clinton). Can we really conduct war on 2 fronts? This has got to drive Bush crazy. Just when he was planning his attack on Iran….
Wouldn’t it be a bitch to have to go to war with a country that has no oil.
North Korea may have really stepped in it. They thumbed their noses at Russia and China as well as the United States.
Of course, this could mean that the U. N. will come down hard on them. A reprimand, telling how bad they are being and that they better not do it again, is not out of the question.
JM,
The primary reason we didn’t confront N. Korea militarily is because they are not a threat to the zionist entity and aipac!
V.L.R.B!!
Bush didn’t help anything when he alienated Jong by including him in “the axis of evil” analogy. Clinton came close to establishing a diplomatic rappor with ‘ole crazy Kim, but when Bush came to office, not only did he drop the ball, he slammed the door shut. George would do well to remember that you “gather more flies with honey than vinegar”, that goes for crazy dictators, also.
To be that sophisticated, he would have an IQ greater than his respiration rate, and we clearly know that isn’t the case.The Shrub uses the sledgehammer approach, ” We don’t need no stinkin’ finesse! That’s a French word!”
How many nukes did N.K. have during the Clinton administration. How many have they built during the Bush Administration? And, I bet they’ll refine their delivery system before Bush is out of office. Clearly Clinton’s fault, for building N.K. pent up demand!
When Clinton was in office, N. Korea had 0-1 nuke. They’ve built 6 or so more during Bush’s tour. Heck of a job, Bushie!
Good post X
But….
Bush is LIKING this. NKorea is 10 years at least from a viable intercontinental ballistic missile with a nuke warhead. Kims nukes are likely as big as a boxcar and his “missiles” are known 50 year old technology bolted together.
Ahh but this does give bush another “threat” to America that he can further exploit. Look for a HUGE increase in SDI funding. Look also for more “us against them” and “I have to do this to keep you safe” rhetoric.
“So what’s the difference between Iraq and North Korea? Iraq had no WMD, and they have oil.”
I love conspiracy theories.
“I love conspiracy theories.”
But you obviously disregard truth.
Here is a photo essay of N. Korean taken by a Russian tourist.
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=82755
This missile launch would have been the perfect opportunity for us to test that 747 with the laser!