North Korea

[CERuppel]

I find the lack of news here in the USA regarding this to be more disturbing than the event itself.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2796067.stm

Will return with more (I hope).

[Theophylact]

Indeed, even the BBC recognizes this: US Unruffled by N Korea Missile is their head on the story.

1) North Korea is by far the bigger threat but GWB is now so committed to taking Iraq, he can't refocus.

2) It's easy to say wars can be fought on two fronts but in the 21st century there are so many issues/complications that it will be improbable though not impossible.

3) From a political point of view, Iraq will be an easy victory and should pave the way for a second term for the President, the economy be damned.

On the other hand, North Korea is also a regime that can listen to reason and negotiate.

Unlike Saddam Hussain.

Edit for spelling of threat.

[ClubMed]

shahani in what way is N. Korea a regime that can listen to reason and negotiate? I didn't know that this was a trait found in dictatorships that massacre their own people, commit horrendous war and human rights crimes while basing their entire existence on lies and illusions.

I put N. Korea and the Iraqi Baath regime on the same low and despicable level. Only one is under sanctions and facing an invasion, the other openly threatens to wage a nuclear war and gets away with it.

North Korea openly has asked for oil and money in exchange for keeping its nuclear program under inspection. Iraq denies everything till they get caught.

Good to see you acknowledge, for once. that the Iraqi Arab regime murders its own people and commits horrendous war crimes.

North Korea will get away I agree. Because they are not Muslim and because they will weasel their way out. They are not headstrong like the Iraqis. I say this because of the huge wave of anti-muslim feelings all over the world for their sponsorship/abetment of terrorism. Not all are like this but 1% spoil it for the 99% good Muslims. And the 99% good ones do not openly and in public condemn these terrorists.

[reticent]

Well, there are several reason that NKorea is not the target right now.

1- we have been dealing with Iraq for over a decade. North Korea's threat just came into the picture recently.

2- We already have troops in the mid-east and moving them would make the US look bad to the world, would give Saddam time to rebuild his war machine and would damage moral of our fighting force, which is the worst of the 3 things listed here.

3- We have not been negotiating or gone through any diplomatic channels yet with NK, while we have pretty much exhausted the diplomatic channels over the past 12 years in regards to liberating the Iraqi people and creating a safer West.

4- Iraq has loose ties with France, Russia, Germany and China by way of purchasing WMD materials, yet NK has a very intimate tie with China. This causes a huge problem since China and the US are not exactly friends. The loose ties with the above nations is much easier to overcome than the Communist brotherhood of China and NK.

I believe NK will invade SK before they strike the US. I would not be surprise if an invasion of SK coincided with the beginning of our operations to liberate Iraq.

[ClubMed]

shahani I have always denounced the illegitimate (as I have repeatedly said) regimes not only in the Arab world but around the world, perhaps I need to put it in more simple and clear terms for people not to misunderstand what I am saying, as has happend on some occasions.

N. Korea is blackmailing the USA and threatening to use nuclear weapons. If you call this reasoning and debate then yes it would seem that the N. Korean regime is quite cool and a good diplomatic partner.

But when you take into account their crimes towards their own poeple, and their intentions then it becomes harder to speak positively (in any way) of such regimes.

Hence why I so vehemently disagree that N. Korea is open to reason and negotiation.

[Toadman]

After 9/11, it's a stupid move to threaten the West. NK should be told to shut the hell up in straight non-diplomatic terms. If it insults them and they pull the trigger, flatten Pyongyang.

I liken Kim Jong Il to a global gang-banger, who must demand respect through threats of force, extortion, and blackmail. The more we ignore his threats actions and rants, the more angry and frustrated he gets. Even China is holding back-door counseling sessions with NK to temper his sabre-rattling. It's a no-win for them anyway. Be assured an eye is being kept on his every move. We've had 50 years to prepare contingencies for any scenario. Casualties at the DMZ will be extremely high on both sides, with NK's million-man army overrunning the South into Seoul in 1-2 days. Remember our 35-40,000+ forces there are a "trip-wire", not a full defensive fighting force. Trip wire for what is the question...

[Theophylact]

Trouble is, if you "flatten Pyongyang" you can also kiss Seoul goodbye; they've got 11,000 rocket launchers (not counting larger missiles) aimed at it right now, and a million troops within 30 miles of the border.

Edit: I see you've got the count right, but "invading" is not the point. "Spasm" is more like it, and Seoul has a very large civilian population.

[Epidemic]

CM,

You would support a war with NK?