Quote:
Originally posted by PornoDoggy@Apr 8 2003, 10:18 PM
Uhhhh ... do you think it's just a coincidence that the folks in Washington are taking a far more traditional diplomatic approach to the North Korean dispute than they are to Saddam? I for one am glad as hell they are.
This whole scenario is a clusterfuck waiting to happen. Events in Iraq have likely made it more difficult, and not just because of its effect on the North Koreans. Hopefully a diplomatic solution is found soon, because it's causing all kinds of tensions and will likely lead to an arms race in the region, particularly if Japan decides to rearm to a greater extent than they already are.
We don't have enough troops in the theater to defend South Korea against an attack from the North, and probably haven't since the mid 1960s. Presidents, Democrats and Republicans, since Johnson diverted troops to 'Nam, have turned down DOD requests to strengthen the forces. Just about every war scenario that's been gamed out has involved the loss of Seoul and a million or so South Koreans, and most of the 30-40K U.S. troops that are stationed there. They are there as much as a deterent as they are a military force.
So I just wonder what razzle-dazzle plan people have for "taking care of the North Koreans." See, we did kick their ass the last time we were there. However, another power was concerned that OUR presence on their border represented a threat to THEIR national security intervened and damn near kicked our asses, after the "defeatists" in Washington were warned it would never happen.
You think, in view of the events in the Middle East, they're likely to think any different?
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I think its a different situation in North Korea than Iraq. With Iraq, diplomacy has failed time and time again and has not even deterred the Iraqi government from brutally torturing and slaughtering their own people. Its a different situation. Why does anyone need diplomacy to deal with Iraq, when all they can say is "fuck you" in return?
I think that we also know far less about North Korea than we do about Iraq. Events in Iraq have played out pretty much exactly as they were expected to. Iraqis neighbors want Saddam and his inner circle dead as well and no one is lamenting the loss of that government. The Iraqi governmnet has significant internal and external opposition - North Korea does not seem to. Iraq has no real military capability (as was recently proven). North Korea certainly does.
What would you suggest PD? Did you notice that "diplomacy" has been a complete and abject failure since the 1994 agreement where the North Koreas blatently lied and continued to pursue a nuclear weapons program?
Sure its a clusterfuck waiting to happen. Are you willing to wait for the UN to debate this issue into eternity while North Korea tries to arm itself so it can threaten the region and blackmail everyone?
The UN just passed a resolution condemning North Korea restarting their nuclear program.
North Korea is threatening the world with Nuclear war. Not because something changed on the Korean Peninsula - but because they want more aid. Thats completely insane. They dont want to talk to anyone but the US because thats where the money is. They are not offering compromise... they are making death threats to everyone.
They have withdrawn from all their international obligations. Their neighbors (China, Russia, Japan, Korea) are all 100% against the North Koreans actions and all accept the threat they present to the region.
They have already stated their intentions already to develop nuclear weapons. T
Its a Stalinist government that again, is causing millions an millions of deaths of its own people through starvation. Its a government who is losing its grip on power and is in serious decay. There is no diplomacy with these people.
What should be done?
Do the fears of "what if" or "Bush is an idiot" in the event of a military action weigh proportionately to "what if they are a fully nuclear power"? Is that a government that could be trusted NOT to push the button?
i personally dont think so.
What happens when they finally start developing rockets and nuclear warheads? all countries in the region will have no choice but to start arming themselves to counter that threat... correct? then what? its Cold War ll and 2 minutes to midnight all over again. What do you think they will act like once all neighbors are pointing nuclear missiles at them to counter the threat of their weapons? will things be better? The bigger question is what can be done to avoid that situation? if dimplomacy is and has been a failure... what options are left?
call me conservative, but i think these guys are positioning themselves for being the most likely candidates in the world for a pre-emptive strike against their military, reactors and nuclear programs.