The problem is that you're rolling the dice if you ignore him and assume that he's all hot air (which he most likely is.) My concern is that this guy is not behaving rationally, and neither are his generals. He's doing this so that he can get attention, and likely trying to bribe his way to some more money/prestige/etc... But who's to say if he's ignored, he'll eventually decide that sabre-rattling isn't getting it done, and decides to go ahead and invade South Korea for real? Then what? They're our allies, and we can't just sit by and let that happen. We're already showing a track record for hanging allies out to dry in situations that make them feel insecure - we folded on the missile defenses in Eastern Europe, and the Poles and Czechs are definitely not happy about that. At some point your allies decide that you're really not serious about helping them until it's too late. I think that at this point, your best hope is that the North Korean allies see all this brewing, start to get nervous and call junior into a back room and set him straight. Maybe if he knows that Russia and China don't have his back after all, he'll calm down a little. I suspect up till this point it's been a series of public reprimands and private arms sales.
How is that provoking N. Korea? Is responding to provocation the new provocation? Seems prudent to keep radars aimed at nutjobs threatening to launch missiles or start wars. That, and it's good to keep in practice while dealing with a country that poses a near constant threat to the army we have positioned in S. Korea. I have no problem with the US pulling its forces out of the Korean peninsula and allowing that economically strong country to look out for itself. Until we do, we must be vigilant about the Americans stationed there and nearby.
The right is so bewildered and in such disarray, that anything Obama does, they'll condemn it. If Obama sneezes, they'll go bersek. If Obama supports the same bill that was sponsored by a repub, the repub will filibuster his own bill. Pitiful.
I don't like the vast majority of Obama's policies and decisions, but I have no issue with his response on this. The NorKs are the ones making threats. I hope they are just blowing smoke, but if they do do something stupid, we have to respond.
I'm not worried about the petulant child of a leader in NK as much as his 6'4" 400 lb cousin China being dragged into this mess.
Man, I thought my posting history would make my sarcasm obvious. Or maybe that the link is to Fox News. If the current President was Republican comments like mine would be spewed everywhere by the left. Obviously the right thing to do is to bulk up security and forces around N. Korea given the crazy **** coming out of that country. However there's barely a peep from the left....not much support and certainly no opposition. Why is that?
I don't like the idea of adding more ground troops. I don't see how that would help if war broke out. It would just mean more US casualties. I would use the Navy in this instance.
I think the Chinese are very worried. not because they will come to NK aid, but because of the influx of refugees they are likely to get if conflict ensues. China is just managing to control the hand they've got. Adding 1-2 million refugees would swamp the boat. I think NK is just trying an old ploy to get aid without actually giving anything up again. Young one just ain't playing the hand the same way we are used to. the regime in charge knows that no matter how much damage they inflict on SK and our local troops, they will eventually be crushed and all of their personal power goes with it. Based on the atrocities that have been reported of NK over the decades, many of the regime will be tried for crimes if not killed outright. It's a losing proposition. Still doesn't gaurantee that we don't slide down the slippery slope into conflict, but I don't think that will be by design by any of the parties.
If North Korea moves to nuke the US, we should pre-empt. Why? Because I'd prefer the destruction of the N. Korean military with whatever collateral damage to the destruction of a US city. Your question is silly and simple to answer. What answer did you anticipate?
rv I agree with you completely. As I posted in another thread BO is doing everything he can to prevent this while letting NK know it will not get away with anything. What in your opinion would signal NK is actually getting ready to send missles ? Do we take this CNN report seriously and pre emptively strike or do we wait until he actually launches missiles?
After what their leader has said, if they were to be seen from satellite to be readying a launch of a missile, I would strike that site with a barrage of cruise missiles. Be ready to unleash hell on them if that triggers a general mobilization of NK forces. If they launched a missile, I would be tempted to smash not only their missile capability, but also cripple or destroy their ability to strike quickly against an American army even if the NK is not mobilizing troops for invasion. Years ago I read that NK has deep tunnels to protect their military assets from air assault. I assume the bunker buster technology we have developed would be somewhat effective against that defense, but it has been years since I've read much about our military capabilities. If they're in tunnels, bury them alive if they move against the US. I think war is an option to be considered as last resort. Once committed to war, recognize it as the sledgehammer it is and wield it with might.
Not me. For one thing, there is a clear possible threat to American military within reach of NK. For a second, NK is developing actual missile-launched heavy weapon capability that actually could threaten the region. Lastly, nobody is implying they were involved in a prior attack on the US that cost thousands of lives. That's just off the top of my head.
While it may be the exception, all executive decisions are not and should not be compartmentalized as left, or right. This is one of those things. Not by a liberal, or conservative President, but by an American President.
Why is there an Air Force plane messing up a perfectly beautiful Navy Fleet photo? Edit: I guess the photo is gone now.
