By way of disclaimer, I am not an expert on Far East cultures, history, and politics. Nor am I an expert in Korean affairs, despite the fact that in any given week I converse (in English!) with several native Korean speakers. When all is said and done, I plan to run this post past my friend Plunge, who is an expert (and a humanitarian, but that’s another issue).
United States policy on North Korea has been called “incoherent” and “a comic opera” by people who are in a position to know. But that was before it became clear that there were real live nukes involved — not that evidence of possible nuclear based research stuff that was all we could ever prove about Saddam Hussein. To say this is straining regional relationships is an understatement. Knowing that your next door neighbor is in a position to blow stuff up will make anybody nervous.
The United States, mostly in the person of a Mr. Christopher Hill, is trying to add fuel to the fire by saying stuff like there are “‘increasing doubts’ that President Kim Jong Il’s government was ready to give up its nuclear weapons program in return for security guarantees and economic incentives,” and China isn’t putting enough pressure on North Korea but far be it from us to tell China it’s business and my favorite line, North Korea will give up it’s nuclear weapons “one way or another.” Now, where I come from, those are fighting words.
This kind of rhetoric leads some Democratic Senators to question our current policies and flat out say what Hill implies: Are we looking for “regime change”? Because it sure sounds that way. Why don’t you guys figure out what you are going to do before you go threatening sovereign nations, mmkay?
The United States military already has substantial forces committed in Afghanistan and Iraq for the foreseeable future. And Mr. Hill sounds like he wants to start war on a third front. We already have serious problems recruiting for the military, meaning that news sources around the world are reporting that we may need to reinstate the draft. And let’s not forget that unlike Iraq, North Korea actually has nuclear weapons and more mouths than they can feed. Losing a few citizens might not be such a bad deal to North Korea. They also have a “Dear Leader” who has been described as “obsessed” and a “megalomaniac.”
Yeah, let’s go ahead and stick our hand in that hornet’s next. Where would you like that mushroom cloud?
In closing, I bring you common sense on identity theft, coming to our senses about what we can require of foreign passports, and “follow the money” on potential Presidential hopefuls. From the lighter side, an eagle delivers dinner, something for those of you without air conditioning, and brilliant satire on Big Media News.