Sounds like the US should perform a number of tests of our nuclear-tipped ICBMs asap. And unfortunately for the Pillsbury Dough Boy it seems quite a number of the tests strayed off target and landed in North Korea's Capital and the DMZ, taking out North Korea's artillery, by mistake. I'm sure that President Trump would then apologize to the North Korean people via Twitter.
SHAME !!! on NYT, Sanger, Broad & Coyle III -- Nothing like giving away intelligence, including - most horrifically - pinpointing the sphère & date of an uncertain upcoming US test, for foes & friends alike to monitor.
The current Aegis ballistic missile defense system has had 36 successful hits out of 40 tests since 2002. With 26 of those tests carried out since 2009. Personally I don't know why the media isn't reporting accurately regarding current systems in operation vs. the testing of new systems. For one thing it's making people fear for their safety when they shouldn't be.
1
The process of fueling a missile takes several hours, making it vulnerable to a pre-emptive strike. From your article. SpaceX latest fueling has been cut from hours to under 30 minutes.
2
Kim is building a nuclear capability for the same reason all nuclear armed states have: Detterence.
Stop all the hand-wringing already...
Stop all the hand-wringing already...
1
Tell that to South Korea.
1
Kushner should talk to Russians if he can get a secured channel to talk to Kim directly so that Trump can ask him directly if they have technology ready to fire intercontinental missile. There won't be any confusion in our intelligence community, besides White House doesn't trust our intelligence. There is no urgency, their missiles can't reach Washington, D.C. At the most California, a Democratic state.
1
Cong's Mr Kim for having reached such abig step ahead of everyone.America has no right to stop any country from testing their weapons.Whatever the situation is now,it all shows that its America that wants war with North Korea(as it has always done in lraq,Afghanistan, Libya,etc)and leave its people innocently suffering.Its these American arrogant manners of intimidating anyone against their will that shall open everyone's eyes to see them as a genuine globle problem.
1
Who is Trump's ambassador to South Korea again?
How many State Department critical positions held open and unfilled? All seems motivated by Trump's desire to disrupt the U.S. Intelligence capability of gathering counter intelligence that might walk in the door on Russia.
Trump is a traitor, and is repeatedly putting our nation in harms way because his sole, selfish motivation is to save his own bacon. If 20,000,000 South Koreans were to die in a Kim nuclear attack, Trump would likely just tweet about it and through the problem back at his Iran obsessed generals (McMasters, Mattis, and Kelly).
Trump will sacrifice anyone, and any number of people to protect Trump. That is all he is about. He is evil and the sooner removed the better for the world.
How many State Department critical positions held open and unfilled? All seems motivated by Trump's desire to disrupt the U.S. Intelligence capability of gathering counter intelligence that might walk in the door on Russia.
Trump is a traitor, and is repeatedly putting our nation in harms way because his sole, selfish motivation is to save his own bacon. If 20,000,000 South Koreans were to die in a Kim nuclear attack, Trump would likely just tweet about it and through the problem back at his Iran obsessed generals (McMasters, Mattis, and Kelly).
Trump will sacrifice anyone, and any number of people to protect Trump. That is all he is about. He is evil and the sooner removed the better for the world.
3
Follow the oil.
Follow the guns.
Trumps America.
Follow the guns.
Trumps America.
1
Want to stop nukes start I'm your own backyard. No one wants to listen to the country with the most nukes telling others who can and can not have them, especially the one country who actually used them.
NK missiles that land in sovereign waters of other nations represent a direct threat. The United States should begin intercepting all missiles launched by North Korea. Their testing should not be allowed to advance. For several decades, NK's military capacily has been orders of magnitude greater than the South. NK has attacked and sunk South Korean ships, attacked and macheted to death border guards and kidnapped citizens of SK right off the streets. NK has continuously threatened war with the south, with the region, and with the US. The US has made no such threats and sought for decades to improve relations and promote stability on the peninsular, sending billions of $ in humanitarian aide, even a million $ only last year to that impoverished country. All of this while NK spends hundreds of millions if not billions developing nuclear warheads and intercontinental missile technology. NK has ignored 15 separate UN resolutions seeking and end to its nuclear weapons program. NK cannot be allowed to have intercontinental nuclear weapons.
2
It looks like we may need President Obama (or President Kennedy!) soon.
2
In this game of chicken Kim Jong Un seems to hold all the right cards. He is a murderous thug and his nuclear weapons are symbols of his virility and authority. Cowing the US is his aim. Trump lost the diplomacy war. All he has is the war of words. Kim Jong Un is laughing up a storm at Trump's bluster. Trump is the most dangerous president we've had. He doesn't care to hold his tongue or tweets and he doesn't care to or doesn't know how to engage our enemies.
1
CHINA, CHINA, CHINA, CHINA, CHINA, CHINA adinfinatum
Punish CHINA every time North Korea does something objectionable and you will see the North recede back into the woodwork.
Punish CHINA every time North Korea does something objectionable and you will see the North recede back into the woodwork.
4
The ultimate call for the shooting to start is with South Korea. They are the ones that are staring down the barrels of all those artillery guns. They will be the ones that could lose thousands of people in the opening minutes of the war. The city of Seoul is barely a stone's throw from the North. Their city is the primary objective and will be hit full force by everything that North Korea has. This will not be a war like the ones we have grown accustomed to sitting back and watching like it is a video game on tv. This will be an old fashioned war in the beginning with lots of casualties on both sides. We will have to neutralize the area where all of these long range artillery pieces that the North has are located. If we are able to do this then South Korea will be more inclined to give the thumbs up to President Trump to drop the hammer on fat boy.
1
A tiny nation is launching mediocre rockets and the planet shivers like an old eel. This funny communist remain is as much a threat as we make it. Leave them and they will simply disappear. ....
4
The biggest defense flaw?
Why it's Trump, Kushner, Tillerson, Field Marshalls Kelly and Matis.
and Princess Ivanka.
The Great Showman's deep deep bond and friendship with the Chinese leader has paid REAL dividends!!!
Perhaps the Chocolate Cake Embargo will do the trick.
Why it's Trump, Kushner, Tillerson, Field Marshalls Kelly and Matis.
and Princess Ivanka.
The Great Showman's deep deep bond and friendship with the Chinese leader has paid REAL dividends!!!
Perhaps the Chocolate Cake Embargo will do the trick.
1
Considering where the undetectable EMP missile will come from, North Korea might as well be attached to the Northwest coast of Cuba! That is inside 300 miles easy.
North Korea has secret sites in Cuba they can use for their EMP attack.
NORTH KOREA AND CUBA: JOINED EFFORTS
amigospais-guaracabuya. org/oagmc248. php
...Since early 1990s, North Korea and Cuba have maintained a secret, but constant exchange of scientists and technology.
North Korea has secret sites in Cuba they can use for their EMP attack.
NORTH KOREA AND CUBA: JOINED EFFORTS
amigospais-guaracabuya. org/oagmc248. php
...Since early 1990s, North Korea and Cuba have maintained a secret, but constant exchange of scientists and technology.
Was North Korea issues on Jared's to do list? I thought Trump was going to fix this because only he is smart enough. SAD
Why in the world is Phillip Coyle commenting?
He basically tried to bury all missile defense development when he was working for Clinton from 1992-2000, back when the DPRK threat was in its infancy.
He bears a huge share of the blame for the mess we are in.
He basically tried to bury all missile defense development when he was working for Clinton from 1992-2000, back when the DPRK threat was in its infancy.
He bears a huge share of the blame for the mess we are in.
1
During the campaign, I thought Trump stated he wouldn't allow North Korea to continue these type of tests. I guess when you're standing in front of 10,000 people with the combined IQ of a bag of hammers, it's easy to make statements like that and have them believed.
Now that he's our President, I'm waiting for Trump to convince Xi Jinping to make it clear to the cherub leader, who is followed around by generals with pad and pen at the ready, that it is in his best interest to tone down the missile tests.
I guess POTUS is too busy letting Europe know that an attack on Europe is an attack on Europe and we wish them the best of luck.
Now that he's our President, I'm waiting for Trump to convince Xi Jinping to make it clear to the cherub leader, who is followed around by generals with pad and pen at the ready, that it is in his best interest to tone down the missile tests.
I guess POTUS is too busy letting Europe know that an attack on Europe is an attack on Europe and we wish them the best of luck.
7
Not to be too critical but its all a little more complex that that, there are years of multinational talks on disarming N.K. and they were abandoned before Pyongyang has a nuke, so you can run through at lease two other presidents who did nothing successfully on the topic. Now there are possibilities because Kim made it serious by nuking up. Pres. Moon wants talks, Xi has not been quoted and Pres. Trump has offered to talk. Possibly there will be talks and even an agreement but it will take leadership.
Time for The Times to fill in a little history on the topic.
Time for The Times to fill in a little history on the topic.
Difficult for many to understand by N.K. is not a P.R.C. client state, just an ominous problem. There are business contacts but only recently governmental. The USA is the needed motivator for the talks that might end the threat by both powers agreeing to offer ‘protection’ for Pyongyang leading to its disarmament. What would the media, including this one, do with such an American offer? What POTUS would have the courage to even start that discussion? So somewhere in the Pentagon the first strike possibilities are being worked and reworked. That is the world we live in; how sad.
1
We have been down this road before with China once again putting the onus of solving the NK problem on the USA while China continues to supply and support the bully known as the NK regime.
President Xi can settle this with a statement that China would no longer abide by the Sino-North Korean Mutual Aid and Cooperation Friendship Treaty, in which either nation would come to the others defense if attacked, and will not renew the treaty in 2021 if NK launches another missile.
Maybe then Kim will understand that the NK and China relationship is not as close as the lips to teeth proximity of that in the past and a new approach is needed. A good start to "protecting" Pyongyang is NK signing the peace treaty with SK and end this state of war.
How many first strike possibilities against Taiwan are being worked and reworked in Beijing?
President Xi can settle this with a statement that China would no longer abide by the Sino-North Korean Mutual Aid and Cooperation Friendship Treaty, in which either nation would come to the others defense if attacked, and will not renew the treaty in 2021 if NK launches another missile.
Maybe then Kim will understand that the NK and China relationship is not as close as the lips to teeth proximity of that in the past and a new approach is needed. A good start to "protecting" Pyongyang is NK signing the peace treaty with SK and end this state of war.
How many first strike possibilities against Taiwan are being worked and reworked in Beijing?
2
Far more worrisome that North Korea’s success in creating a nuclear ballistic missile program is our possible response to it. I am concerned that it will be ill-conceived and totally out-of-proportion in part owing to the perceived threat far exceeding the actual. The consequences of such a response could easily become catastrophic. During most of my 77 years in America, the country has faced hostile nations also equipped with nuclear arsenals. Although there were some close calls, potential nuclear conflicts were avoided through restraint, intelligent communication between national leaders. Negotiation with North Korea will continue to be difficult but will have a better chance of succeeding if starting from the approach of letting them define their objectives rather than just trying to coerce them by sanctions to lay aside their nuclear program, currently the only thing that puts them on the world map.
2
Pres. Reagan came out of a meeting dealing with some matter and to the surprise and horror of his aids started telling the White House press core about a new weapon that would defend us against enemy attack and Star Wars Defense was launched. Not real then and has not done too well since. Man did have an imagination.
This is CHINA by proxy.
3
We are quietly preparing for the worst case that their (conventional) missiles would be landing in Japan. An alarm is to come to all speakers and cell phones 5-6 minutes before their landing and we are ready to run for nearby safer places like underground. But the biggest problem is I still don't understand very well their ultimate goal. What kind of power do they want to have?
1
They know the world they live in and do not want Regime Change so they Nuked up and hope powers will now respond to their demands for security. The initial request is still “on the table”, problem no table. China will likely agree USA unknown but Trump did say he would meet with Kim. How will his critics react, as they have with scorn? Sad and dangerous environment politics.
They know the word they live in and do not want Regime Change so they Nuked up and hope powers will now respond to their demands for security. The initial request and is still “on the table”, problem no table. China will likely agree USA unknown by Trump did say he would meet with Kim. How will his critics react, as they have with scorn? Sad and dangerous environment politics.
NK was barely on the radar during Obama's presidency; now that Trump's in office the NYT and the federal bureaucracy have become NK hawks. Might they be attempting to bait Trump into taking action after which they'll do a 180 and claim Trump lied to enter the conflict? You know, the strategy they used on Bush.
War costs lives and it's utterly irresponsible for the NYT to be engaging in political games that could cause war just because they hate President Trump.
War costs lives and it's utterly irresponsible for the NYT to be engaging in political games that could cause war just because they hate President Trump.
2
Maybe Trump is going to pull a George W Bush and wait until a tragedy actually happens before doing anything. It couldn't be more obvious that Kim Jong-un wants to do battle. Why? I have no idea. Jong-un cannot possibly think North Korea will not be destroyed which makes me wonder what he is really up to. It doesn't matter. Jong-un is use to President Obama who was too frightened to say anything negative about anyone for fear of hurting their feelings. Jong-un needs to understand Obama is not longer the President of the US or the leader of the most powerful military on Earth. Donald Trump is now that person and he is a psycho. Jong-un can't possibly think it will win any battle with the US and its allies. It's time to take him out and drag North Korea into the 21st century.
China is and always has been the cause and solution to the problem of North Korea. China enables and protects the lunatics who rule the North. Surely the Chinese don't want a glowing radioactive wasteland on their border. You can rest assured that that is exactly what would be the outcome of any missile attach on US territory.
7
Give Japan and South Korea some nukes, pull out of there, and let Asia deal with Asia.
Wake up America! This isn't just about NK's ability to reach the US and our missile defense capabilities. Did WW I or WW II start with an attack on America.? NK's ability to attack South Korea, Japan, Australia/New Zealand and other closer targets would bring us in just as much as an attack on the US. It might be wise to start thinking about ways to save the "skins" of other countries instead of "America first" and hang the rest of the world.
3
Almost as if they are baiting us. The do nothing congress and senate have still not protected our electrical grid from a nuclear air burst. A few large air blasts and all our electricity is out for years and years. We don't even make our own transformers anymore. They will all be blown out.
No gasoline can be pumped , water systems will shut down, computers in cars burned out, no cell phones, nothing delivered to markets.........
The N. Koreans, taking a cue from the Viet Cong must have vast underground complexes by now. They will pour out of these holes like ants after our retaliatory strike and wait with the Chinese and Russians for us to die off or else kill each other fighting for scraps of food.
And still our representatives DO NOTHING to protect us from an electromagnetic burst, either from a bomb or an overdue Coronal Mass ejection from the sun. Either one will send us back to the 18th century. How dumb can they be?
No gasoline can be pumped , water systems will shut down, computers in cars burned out, no cell phones, nothing delivered to markets.........
The N. Koreans, taking a cue from the Viet Cong must have vast underground complexes by now. They will pour out of these holes like ants after our retaliatory strike and wait with the Chinese and Russians for us to die off or else kill each other fighting for scraps of food.
And still our representatives DO NOTHING to protect us from an electromagnetic burst, either from a bomb or an overdue Coronal Mass ejection from the sun. Either one will send us back to the 18th century. How dumb can they be?
I remember this same debate back in the 1990s, when the left (and the NYT) laughed off missile defense as a waste of money, claiming any threat was "decades away." Clinton in particular did virtually nothing while in office.
Well, "decades away" has arrived.
The left=WRONG AGAIN on national security.
Let's hope it's not too late.
Well, "decades away" has arrived.
The left=WRONG AGAIN on national security.
Let's hope it's not too late.
7
Oh come off it Furrow
What did "W" do for 8 years, besides attacking the wrong countries. He didn't even kill Bin Laden? Obama had him taken out.
The right = Wrong as usual
What did "W" do for 8 years, besides attacking the wrong countries. He didn't even kill Bin Laden? Obama had him taken out.
The right = Wrong as usual
1
The concern was/is that it wouldn't work, not that it wouldn't be useful. They're saying it still does not work im real-world scenarios. I hope they're purposely understating missile defense capabilities. If they said the system worked well, North Korea would be more likely to launch a missile as a gesture. I think that's wishful thinking on my part.
The left/right stuff is stupid, really stupid given the high stakes of losing the international taboo against using nuclear weapons.
The left/right stuff is stupid, really stupid given the high stakes of losing the international taboo against using nuclear weapons.
I suggest giving the N.K.'s food and other aid. Kindness might work.
3
If Kim stopped spending 50% of his country's resources on the military and the other 50% on his own lavish lifestyle he'd have plenty for food and other aid.
6
The NK regime had to get help (or the actual missiles) from the Iranians or someone else to develop the solid-fuel rocket so rapidly. China?
1
China should be paying for our defense. It's only because both democrats and republicans are in bed with all the companies importing huge amounts of goods from China that the US doesn't hold China accountable for their client state. Imagine if Israel was threatening to bomb Chinas cities on a daily basis. China would obviously threaten the US for supporting Israel. But Trump was out maneuvered easy enough by China on trade by saying that they will work on North Korea. US tax payers should not have to pay billions to defend against a client state of a county we have a $350 billion dollar trade deficit with. Cut trade China and watch them clean up North Korea in less than a month.
2
Then Walmart would have empty shelves.
2
OMG they would have to source goods made in America, how awful.
Maybe, but you would have a job.
1
An easy way to solve this is to tell Kim that we will give him free tickets to Disney World if he promises not to bother us, and we tell Trump that Kim wants to build a few Trump resorts in NK for next tourist season, but he has to go there to check out the sites first.
3
Not all problems have solutions. Basically, human civilization jumped off of a cliff in 1945 and the only question was -- and is -- how long before the 'splat' happens. No one has ever figured out how to stop proliferation and the more nations that possess nukes the sooner the inevitable will happen.
People hate to hear that Humpty-Dumpty can't be put together again, but... he cannot.
People hate to hear that Humpty-Dumpty can't be put together again, but... he cannot.
4
We have become complacent that no mistake, desperate decision, etc will ever result in nuclear war.
North Korea is ignoring fact that they are risking their own survival. Why? What is to be gained by being obliterated? Insane! Illogical!
1
If anyone thinks the Chinese are not helping them they are delusional. The only thing that will work is an all out boycott of Chinese made goods. Trump could start a full out trade war or order a preemptive nuclear strike. Both would be disastrous and oh so grand.
2
Trump is old and doesn't really care about anything outside his oversize ego and his narcissism trip. So getting the USA into a nuclear war with North Korea doesn't really bother him. In fact, one thinks he would positively enjoy arrogating imperial power to himself in consequence, regardless of the fearful outcome...
1
The official US story is that in the case of a conventional war N Korea would be defeated . On the other hand if China joins in ,again, on the North's side its more likeley South Korea would join South Vietnam on the losing side of history.
Urgency in the U.S. for some, but not for the Russiapublican Party of Trump.
With the party of Trump controlling all branches of government people need to look to the leader of the free world (Chancellor Merkel) or someone competent, like Putin. Trump is an unreliable narcissist-driven pawn who is unable to see himself as being played.
With the party of Trump controlling all branches of government people need to look to the leader of the free world (Chancellor Merkel) or someone competent, like Putin. Trump is an unreliable narcissist-driven pawn who is unable to see himself as being played.
2
Unlike Iraq, North Korea does pose a clear danger to the United States. There is no question here about the existence of WMD. They clearly do exist. There is also no question about the purpose of these WMD. North Korea wants to be able to hit the US mainland with a nuclear strike.
We can have theoretical arguments about whether it is hypocritical for the US or any other country to be allowed to have nuclear weapons and yet deny that same right to North Korea. Of course the world would be better if no one had nuclear weapons. However, that is not the case. The genie has been let out of the bottle and there is no way to put it back in. We therefore have no choice but to manage each situation on its own merits.
So far, the countries that have acquired nuclear weapons have been rational actors, at least for the most part. Even Pakistan does not want to have its nuclear weapons fall into the hands of religious zealots. The difference with NK, however, is that they are not rational. Its one thing when they throw a temper tantrum every time they don't get their way and say they will go to war, or resume war. Although they could cause severe damage to South Korea, with NK's antiquated equipment there is a limit to what they can really do before US retaliation settled the issue for good. However with nuclear weapons, they are capable of causing catastrophic damage to the world.
The world cannot live with a madman pointing a gun to its head. This regime has got to go.
We can have theoretical arguments about whether it is hypocritical for the US or any other country to be allowed to have nuclear weapons and yet deny that same right to North Korea. Of course the world would be better if no one had nuclear weapons. However, that is not the case. The genie has been let out of the bottle and there is no way to put it back in. We therefore have no choice but to manage each situation on its own merits.
So far, the countries that have acquired nuclear weapons have been rational actors, at least for the most part. Even Pakistan does not want to have its nuclear weapons fall into the hands of religious zealots. The difference with NK, however, is that they are not rational. Its one thing when they throw a temper tantrum every time they don't get their way and say they will go to war, or resume war. Although they could cause severe damage to South Korea, with NK's antiquated equipment there is a limit to what they can really do before US retaliation settled the issue for good. However with nuclear weapons, they are capable of causing catastrophic damage to the world.
The world cannot live with a madman pointing a gun to its head. This regime has got to go.
Over the years, the American taxpayer has been soaked for tens of trillions of dollars by our "high tech" defense contractors... And now we are to believe that we can't detect and shoot down a missile launched from 7000 miles away by a third world country?
If this is true, just what have we been getting for our trillions and trillions? Money that could have solved our healthcare, Social Security, and education problems, to name a few...
If this is true, just what have we been getting for our trillions and trillions? Money that could have solved our healthcare, Social Security, and education problems, to name a few...
4
Trump will solve this problem once and for all. The strategy is to wait for NK to cross a line known only to DOD and Japan, and as and when NK gets closer to it, give fair warnings to China. When they finally do cross, PM Abe of Japan to make short polite wake-up call to Donald as ordered, and with it, set in motion punishing though highly targeted bombing of NK, designed specifically to obliterate NK's launch capabilities.
That's the script they're working out off in Washington, until then it's just all calm before storm. Nice week.
That's the script they're working out off in Washington, until then it's just all calm before storm. Nice week.
3
Maybe our military should reconsider its spending and thus its strategy - after all those billions, which the military complex was happy to accept without providing guarantees of success, and what appears to be increasingly unlikely signs of ever succeeding (or not in time if NK were to really launch within the next few years).
We may have to recognize that we will not be able to ensure invulnerability by interecepting their missiles, that we will lose some battles even if we win the war. This shift in mindset, that we could in fact be attacked right here at home, would significantly change our national attitudes towards war and peace.
We may have to recognize that we will not be able to ensure invulnerability by interecepting their missiles, that we will lose some battles even if we win the war. This shift in mindset, that we could in fact be attacked right here at home, would significantly change our national attitudes towards war and peace.
What better time for a burglar to break in than when the dog has become obsessed with and busy chasing its own tail. Maybe the burglar is doing us a favor by snapping the dog out of it, if that's possible.
Shouldn't we be at least trying to shoot down these tests which are carelessly landing in Japanese waters regardless of fishermen trying to make a living there. The attempts would at least give us empirical knowledge of what we need to improve. It would also demonstrate, hit or miss, that we've had enough of the Kid's unbridled attempts to intimidate us. which he appears to be successful at, since we haven't done anything about his tests except rattle sabres.
The US has used nuclear bombs twice. It threatened to use them again during the war on Korea, the wars on Vietnam and elsewhere. The US exercises war preparations against the North with 300,000 South Korean troops every year including practice nuclear bombings. North Korean leadership, viewing the continuing overthrow of one country after another by the US, has correctly assessed the existential danger it is in and has been since the 1950’s. The most powerful military in the world is threatening to incinerate North Korea and yet when NK begins to defend itself - if there is indeed any real defense against an attack by the US - the richest, most powerful military state shudders in its boots. Such a bully. There is nothing illegal or immoral about North Korea’s efforts to defend itself. There is everything illegal, immoral and self destructive about the US continuing to pose an existential threat to North Korea. There is a simple solution that begins with the US recognizing North Korea’s sovereignty. Now THAT would be an historical reversal. Short of that, the US is causing its own problems.
The most important duty of an American President is security, primarily from threats based abroad. It is one thing to have a President who believes a wall on our southern border will protect us. We can laugh, mock, argue with, and organize against such a policy; we can even praise such a policy, if we feel it is in our best interests. However, it is an entirely different matter, when we have a President who knows so little that he simply cannot develop a policy, let alone particular strategies and tactics, for preventing North Korea from developing deliverable nuclear weapons.
It was hard work, and as with all major, complex deals it involved some compromise, but President Obama was able to negotiate an enforceable agreement that, at the very least, is likely to have taken the issue of Iranian nuclear weapons off the real-world (not political) table for a decade. President Trump, unfortunately and dangerously, seems incapable of such. He is the opposite of another Republican, Teddy Roosevelt, whose motto was, "Talk softly and carry a big stick." Sadly for America and Americans on this Memorial Day, Trump talks loudly and carries a puny stick.
Likely in more ways than one.
Instead of refusing to honor our NATO commitments while lecturing the Germans and French about pulling their own weight, our President might lecture South Korea about defending itself so that, after 2/3 of a century, we might be able to remove the almost 30,000 sitting duck Americans stationed over there.
It was hard work, and as with all major, complex deals it involved some compromise, but President Obama was able to negotiate an enforceable agreement that, at the very least, is likely to have taken the issue of Iranian nuclear weapons off the real-world (not political) table for a decade. President Trump, unfortunately and dangerously, seems incapable of such. He is the opposite of another Republican, Teddy Roosevelt, whose motto was, "Talk softly and carry a big stick." Sadly for America and Americans on this Memorial Day, Trump talks loudly and carries a puny stick.
Likely in more ways than one.
Instead of refusing to honor our NATO commitments while lecturing the Germans and French about pulling their own weight, our President might lecture South Korea about defending itself so that, after 2/3 of a century, we might be able to remove the almost 30,000 sitting duck Americans stationed over there.
1
North Korea will continue on the current path in part because of the megalomania of it's leader. If North Korea gave up it's missile program they would essentially be ignored by the U.S. Chief in their minds is to be "important". I think without a doubt they would be defeated in short order (assuming China doesn't jump in on their side again) if war broke out- the problem is that South Korea, Japan, and perhaps even the United States, would suffer many losses. This is particularly true for densely populated South Korea. The wild card in all this is China. They are worried about the refugees that would flood across their border, and do not want a democratic South Korea on their border. Figuring out what would "placate" North Korea is a problem. I'm not sure there really is anything would make them give up their nuclear capabilities at this point. I believe our only hope is that China - and perhaps even Russia, start to feel threatened by the situation, and will join with the West to figure out how to deal with this guy. Otherwise, expect to see a more and more unstable situation.
China may use N. Korea as a suicide bomber.
The US has two, and possibly going on three, carrier battle groups within striking range of NK. It has moved our most advanced fighters -- the F-35 -- to the region and there are more than 100 F-16 fighters in South Korea for joint training. If that's not enough, George Friedman reports that the DoD has been conducting civilian defense training in Guam, where it is presumed that many of our bombers would hail from in a NK strike. The US does not upset civilians unless it is seriously planning to go to war, and the US typically telegraphs its intentions well before striking, generally with the hope that the targeted party comes to its senses.
The good news, if there is any, is that Trump doesn't figure much into any of this because it has been on the US drawing board for many years. The US simply cannot afford to have a nuclear armed NK emerge, and all pertinent US parties believe that the red line has now been crossed.
Either China will quickly force NK to the negotiating table where some real concessions will be required or we will soon awaken to news that a massive attack has been conducted by the US, the size, scope, speed and precision coordination of which the world has never before witnessed.
The good news, if there is any, is that Trump doesn't figure much into any of this because it has been on the US drawing board for many years. The US simply cannot afford to have a nuclear armed NK emerge, and all pertinent US parties believe that the red line has now been crossed.
Either China will quickly force NK to the negotiating table where some real concessions will be required or we will soon awaken to news that a massive attack has been conducted by the US, the size, scope, speed and precision coordination of which the world has never before witnessed.
1
At the moment, President Trump needs a war to take attention away from his utter inability to govern and from his efforts further to impoverish those who were unwise enough to vote for him. North Korea seems to be trying to help him to fill this need. It would be tragic for the world, however, if Trump were to start a war, but I feel certain that this would not stand in his way if he felt it were necessary for his agenda (whatever that is). His focus has been, is now, and will continue to be on himself and his own needs and desires, irrespective of the impact of their fulfillment on others.
1
Exercise restraint and seek mutual gains for all involved. Any decent, reasonable political or military leader knows peace is of the utmost benefit to all. Unfortunately, not all current players are known to be reasonable or decent, so it is more important ever for the responsible ones to maintain a strong hand on the rudder, no matter what it takes. Don't goad and don't tempt guys like Trump and Kim, either of whom could one day face such internal stress that war will seem like the best option.
1
Why doesn't Mr. Trump go over to North Korea?
He could talk them to death, and perhaps in return he would get the rights to build Trump Hotels.
Perhaps the US's diplomat boy genius (AKA. Mr. Kushner) could outmaneuver boy idiot (AKA Mr. Kim)!
He could talk them to death, and perhaps in return he would get the rights to build Trump Hotels.
Perhaps the US's diplomat boy genius (AKA. Mr. Kushner) could outmaneuver boy idiot (AKA Mr. Kim)!
6
Maybe they'll let him stamp his name on that unoccupied pyramid thingy?
Only The Kim family has an ego to match Trumpo.
Only The Kim family has an ego to match Trumpo.
US Military Intelligence:
We're looking into it.
They can't yet fire missiles at the US.
They had better not fire any more missiles.
Our anti-missile system works.
Our anti-missile system works somewhat.
We better come up with a new missile system.
Why don't we get Israel to design an Iron Dome system for long range missiles?
The Donald: We're going to build an anti-missile system that's so great, it will be the best in the world!
We're looking into it.
They can't yet fire missiles at the US.
They had better not fire any more missiles.
Our anti-missile system works.
Our anti-missile system works somewhat.
We better come up with a new missile system.
Why don't we get Israel to design an Iron Dome system for long range missiles?
The Donald: We're going to build an anti-missile system that's so great, it will be the best in the world!
6
If the North Koreans continue to defy me I will have no choice but to ring their doorbells and run!
#realdonaldtrumpfakepresident
#realdonaldtrumpfakepresident
10
North Korea acts like the Korean war never ended. Indeed it hasn't since no peace treaty was ever signed. So, technically, we are still at war with the North.
But Trump's do nothing strategy, implied by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis on Sunday's Face the Nation, flies in the face of Trump's campaign promise to "make America great again."
On Face the Nation, Mattis said, "The president needs political maneuver room on this issue....We have made very clear that we are willing to work with China, and we believe China has tried to be helpful in this regard."
Yeah, sure. But, according to Politico, March 17, 2017, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson offered a somewhat veiled criticism of past U.S. policy in the region, remarking that two decades of "diplomatic and other efforts" had been unsuccessful in halting North Korea’s nuclear program, which the secretary referred to as an “ever-escalating threat.”
But Trump's do nothing strategy, implied by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis on Sunday's Face the Nation, flies in the face of Trump's campaign promise to "make America great again."
On Face the Nation, Mattis said, "The president needs political maneuver room on this issue....We have made very clear that we are willing to work with China, and we believe China has tried to be helpful in this regard."
Yeah, sure. But, according to Politico, March 17, 2017, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson offered a somewhat veiled criticism of past U.S. policy in the region, remarking that two decades of "diplomatic and other efforts" had been unsuccessful in halting North Korea’s nuclear program, which the secretary referred to as an “ever-escalating threat.”
10
certainly the past 8 years have been "do nothing" years with regard to restraining NK's nuclear and missile programs. so now the issues have escalated to a point where they are much more difficult to resolve. who's fault is that?
What are you talking about? There are three aircraft carrier battle groups in the vicinity of NK. Also various subs have been positioned. If this does not send a message to the little fat man, what will after eight-years or more of failed diplomacy? Can we risk Hawaii, South Korea, or Japan? Mr. Trump is open to diplomacy. Without a show of real strength at this juncture, diplomacy is useless.
FYI, there was never a peace treaty signed with Germany either.
As for NK, the reason it has become what it is today, laden with nukes and missiles is due to the very short-sighted US policy, that was based on using it as a perennial sword of Damocles above the heads of the Pacific Rim nations.
A belligerent NK is the perfect tool to cajole those countries into accepting the perennial US military occupation.
In fact, NK has become the key instrument in the US Pacific arsenal,incessant US attempts to defeat it - after the armistice of 1953.
As for NK, the reason it has become what it is today, laden with nukes and missiles is due to the very short-sighted US policy, that was based on using it as a perennial sword of Damocles above the heads of the Pacific Rim nations.
A belligerent NK is the perfect tool to cajole those countries into accepting the perennial US military occupation.
In fact, NK has become the key instrument in the US Pacific arsenal,incessant US attempts to defeat it - after the armistice of 1953.
Exactly, without patience, there is no wisdom.
5
Are these missile tests poisoning the seas? Who is selling
NK materiel and rocket fuel?
NK materiel and rocket fuel?
8
No, these tests are not materially poisoning the seas. Rocket fuels are pretty simple to make; NK is probably making its own.
Other higher-tech materiel and information is bought from all over the world, often illegally.
Other higher-tech materiel and information is bought from all over the world, often illegally.
It was Pakistan's Shah who provided the technology in the beginning.
The United States "in search of enemies". North Korea is not threatening us, neither is Iran, Syria, ISIS, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Venezuela or the other assorted countries we deem as our enemies.
As the old man in Washington said..."we have the best weapons in the world, why don't we use them"? He should have also added, 'we have young boys and girls to fight wars, why don't we use them too'!!??
As the old man in Washington said..."we have the best weapons in the world, why don't we use them"? He should have also added, 'we have young boys and girls to fight wars, why don't we use them too'!!??
11
North Korea is a rogue nation and the most Orwellian dictatorship we have seen in history.
They routinely engage in horrific acts against the world: they kidnap citizens of other countries (particularly Japan), counterfeit foreign currencies, export illegal drugs and arms, have both helped and profited from illegal trade in nuclear technologies, and of course routinely threaten South Korea and Japan.
They claim that they can land a nuclear weapon on the US today.
To claim that this does not threaten us is bizarre.
They routinely engage in horrific acts against the world: they kidnap citizens of other countries (particularly Japan), counterfeit foreign currencies, export illegal drugs and arms, have both helped and profited from illegal trade in nuclear technologies, and of course routinely threaten South Korea and Japan.
They claim that they can land a nuclear weapon on the US today.
To claim that this does not threaten us is bizarre.
1
"The United States in search of enemies." Very true.
Wait a minute. North Korea IS threatening us.
Why should North Korea give up it's nuclear weapons program and missiles while Israel, India and Pakistan retain their nuclear weapons and missile programs and Russia and America have 94% of the planet's nukes and missiles?
Since 9/11/01 a mere 0.75% of Americans have volunteered to wear the military uniform of any American armed force. While North Korea has the 4th largest military on Earth with the highest percentage of it's citizens in uniform of any nation state. North Korea is Sparta. America is part Athens and part Roman Republic. Secretary of Defense James 'Mad Dog' Mattis has led an inhuman Spartan-like life in the USMC having never had a close nuclear family and never having won a war nor sustained a peace.
Kim Jong Un reasonably and rationally wants to stay in power by any and all means necessary.
While Donald Trump dances with a Saudi sword while trying to destroy NATO and the EU on behalf of Russia and making more money for his personal, family and business interests. Trump did not know where his naval battle group was in relation to Korea and told his Filipino boyfriend Rodrigo Duterte where two American 'boomers' were in relationship to Korea.
No Trump family member is going to volunteer to wear an American military uniform on the front lines in harms way. And no one fears the likes of Cruz, Cheney, Cornyn, O'Reilly, Gingrich, Giuliani, DeMint, Corker, Limbaugh, Hannity, Hume, Kristol, Pence, etc.
Since 9/11/01 a mere 0.75% of Americans have volunteered to wear the military uniform of any American armed force. While North Korea has the 4th largest military on Earth with the highest percentage of it's citizens in uniform of any nation state. North Korea is Sparta. America is part Athens and part Roman Republic. Secretary of Defense James 'Mad Dog' Mattis has led an inhuman Spartan-like life in the USMC having never had a close nuclear family and never having won a war nor sustained a peace.
Kim Jong Un reasonably and rationally wants to stay in power by any and all means necessary.
While Donald Trump dances with a Saudi sword while trying to destroy NATO and the EU on behalf of Russia and making more money for his personal, family and business interests. Trump did not know where his naval battle group was in relation to Korea and told his Filipino boyfriend Rodrigo Duterte where two American 'boomers' were in relationship to Korea.
No Trump family member is going to volunteer to wear an American military uniform on the front lines in harms way. And no one fears the likes of Cruz, Cheney, Cornyn, O'Reilly, Gingrich, Giuliani, DeMint, Corker, Limbaugh, Hannity, Hume, Kristol, Pence, etc.
12
You write: "'Mad Dog' Mattis has led an inhuman Spartan-like life in the USMC having never had a close nuclear family and never having won a war"
He is hardly a Spartan if he has never won a war. As for the Spartan version of "close nuclear family", don't ask, don't tell (what "nuclear" means in this context)
He is hardly a Spartan if he has never won a war. As for the Spartan version of "close nuclear family", don't ask, don't tell (what "nuclear" means in this context)
Don't agree about Kim Jong Un being reasonable or rational , what would you call someone who starves the populace of NK , has family members executed, is that resonable and rational?
Who knows what the answer is to NK. But just ignoring it won't make it go away.
Something must be done and soon. It's disturbing to watch this crack pot totalitarian dictator progress. Who knew such a small country could be such a thorn in the backside of the U.S., the biggest military might in the world.
In the meantime were rag tagging around Afghanistan and Syria-why?
Something must be done and soon. It's disturbing to watch this crack pot totalitarian dictator progress. Who knew such a small country could be such a thorn in the backside of the U.S., the biggest military might in the world.
In the meantime were rag tagging around Afghanistan and Syria-why?
7
And how should the North Koreans (and others) feel about our "crack pot" leader with his unstable personality and whole forests of nuclear weapons?
Since the Armistice in 1954, the US have been ready to answer the North Koreans in kind, whenever they spouted their bellicose rhetoric. In doing so they are at least partially complicit in allowing successive Kim's to sink their talons ever deeper into North Korea and to deprive its people of any chance of a better life.
The present Kim is probably the most unhinged of the lot, but also the one who has inherited the means to build ever more sophisticated weaponry. He has shown he doesn't feel bound by any propriety and may prove wholly unpredictable. He is facing the most erratic US President ever, a man who thrives on grandiose statements and who changes opinions at the drop of a hat. This has the makings of an end-of-days blockbuster..., and not one where the heroes return to a ticker tape parade.
What way forward, then? Expecting China to intervene is futile. Not only do they hold far less sway than is usually assumed, any assistance they would be willing to offer, would come at an unacceptably high price. Something like accepting the PRC's claims to the various contested islands in the South China Sea...
So, how about détente? How about opening borders and extending a warm welcome? How about denying Kim Jong-Un the power of his words? How about showing him and his cronies that the US is indeed the exponent of Freedom?
If your going to be unpredictable, be it unpredictably so. Do the unexpected, not the dreaded.
The present Kim is probably the most unhinged of the lot, but also the one who has inherited the means to build ever more sophisticated weaponry. He has shown he doesn't feel bound by any propriety and may prove wholly unpredictable. He is facing the most erratic US President ever, a man who thrives on grandiose statements and who changes opinions at the drop of a hat. This has the makings of an end-of-days blockbuster..., and not one where the heroes return to a ticker tape parade.
What way forward, then? Expecting China to intervene is futile. Not only do they hold far less sway than is usually assumed, any assistance they would be willing to offer, would come at an unacceptably high price. Something like accepting the PRC's claims to the various contested islands in the South China Sea...
So, how about détente? How about opening borders and extending a warm welcome? How about denying Kim Jong-Un the power of his words? How about showing him and his cronies that the US is indeed the exponent of Freedom?
If your going to be unpredictable, be it unpredictably so. Do the unexpected, not the dreaded.
5
I'm not sure I understand what your strategy is. open up borders (to who? NK? I don't recall seeing that our borders are closed to them?) extend a warm welcome--to? what does that mean? "hi kim, come on over for a cup of coffee"?
This plan is more positive than: Time to Build that Bunker...
Truman shouldn't have fired MacArthur because he wanted to use the bomb on NK. Who knew that that some sixty some years later they would be threatening the US with nuclear weapons, ironic and scary because this guy is serious.
Either they will eventually use the missiles, or we will (war either way), or their government will collapse, or China will "intervene" (read: invade); no way this ends smoothly.
So perhaps we should just kick the can down the road a bit further? We didn't start the fire (Truman).
So perhaps we should just kick the can down the road a bit further? We didn't start the fire (Truman).
3
I think China wants it both ways. The want to use NK to threaten the US & SK but also don't want NK to provoke the US or SK into attacking them. They want the fear of a war in the region but not a real war in the region. Or maybe they don't know themselves what they really want.
That's the problem the can can't be kicked down the road anymore, the people of NK have had many decades of indoctrination , the few that might speak up are speedily eliminated, the others die of starvation, there is no escape, conform or die, that is their choice.
Too bad we aren't sitting off the N Korean coast in international waters practicing shooting down these missiles. It should be easier to hit them before their missiles gain full speed.
Does Mr. Kim not understand "mutually assured destruction" that in this case is really a one sided destruction of his country if he ever attempted to fire a nuclear warhead in our direction?
Does Mr. Kim not understand "mutually assured destruction" that in this case is really a one sided destruction of his country if he ever attempted to fire a nuclear warhead in our direction?
4
He doesn't care, remember Curtis Silwa referring to his father as Kim Jong mentally ill on his show , he was't too far off and shall we say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
a peace treaty is the only solution
2
Kim doesn't want peace. he wants to nuke america. what could you possible offer him in a treaty that he would want more than that? SK and china, maybe.
Taking down Kim will be nasty now, but 100X nastier if he develops intercontinental nukes, a few years out. So execute a classic, non-nuke, pre-emptive strike:
1. Negotiate with China to replace Kim with a harmless non-nuke pawn, by year's end.
2. Put SK on notice to evacuate Seoul by Dec, 2017, if China fails to act.
3. On Jan 1, 2018 at midnight roto-root the first 25 miles of NK to a depth of 150 feet with 2,500 Tomahawks and 500 MOABs.
4. Simultaneously take out NK's command and control with similar Tomahawk/MOAB barrage. SK, Japan, and NATO should participate in this with their theater air and sea assets.
5. Track Kim to his final hidey-hole and let Seal Teams do their usual thing with him.
Pre-emptive military action is as old as human history - and in cases like this its the only pragmatic choice. Too bad Neville Chamberlain was too silly and fey to understand this in 1938, and the world had to endure WWII as the result. Certainly, thousands will die, but our homeland will not become a nuclear wasteland, nor Japan's, nor SK's, if we act timely. And if we don't...
1. Negotiate with China to replace Kim with a harmless non-nuke pawn, by year's end.
2. Put SK on notice to evacuate Seoul by Dec, 2017, if China fails to act.
3. On Jan 1, 2018 at midnight roto-root the first 25 miles of NK to a depth of 150 feet with 2,500 Tomahawks and 500 MOABs.
4. Simultaneously take out NK's command and control with similar Tomahawk/MOAB barrage. SK, Japan, and NATO should participate in this with their theater air and sea assets.
5. Track Kim to his final hidey-hole and let Seal Teams do their usual thing with him.
Pre-emptive military action is as old as human history - and in cases like this its the only pragmatic choice. Too bad Neville Chamberlain was too silly and fey to understand this in 1938, and the world had to endure WWII as the result. Certainly, thousands will die, but our homeland will not become a nuclear wasteland, nor Japan's, nor SK's, if we act timely. And if we don't...
10
Impressive satire - well done!
Because the State Department divided Korea into two zones of influence,
because the US did not give South Korea what it needed to defend itself from North Korean aggression by the Summer or 1950 and because Truman would not utterly defeat the North Koreans and Chinese we now face the stark reality that North Korea may "nuke" the US of A.
Liberals voted down President Reagan's attempt to begin an Anti-Missile Program. They still try to convince us that North Korea will never launch
Nuclear Tipped Missiles at South Korea, Japan or the US of A.
This appeasement will only lead to nuclear war.
WAKE UP America before it is too late.
because the US did not give South Korea what it needed to defend itself from North Korean aggression by the Summer or 1950 and because Truman would not utterly defeat the North Koreans and Chinese we now face the stark reality that North Korea may "nuke" the US of A.
Liberals voted down President Reagan's attempt to begin an Anti-Missile Program. They still try to convince us that North Korea will never launch
Nuclear Tipped Missiles at South Korea, Japan or the US of A.
This appeasement will only lead to nuclear war.
WAKE UP America before it is too late.
8
Who is on first here? Is it not by now a known fact that there is always one very important clue on personage and activity that is missed. Before 911 the defense powers were caged and not allowed to transmit importance between the various divisions. Please let this not happen once again. It took one unread email for our enemies to succeed with Benghazi.
3
Keep in mind that this topic of anti-missile technology is just corporate welfare.
Nike-ZEUS (1950s), Spartan-Sprint (1960s), Star Wars (1980s), etc. etc. The military-industrial complex has been working on anti-missile technology for SIXTY YEARS, and it still doesn't work.
My point is merely that if anyone thinks anti-missile technology will actually protect the US from North Korean nuclear warheads, he is sadly mistaken.
Nike-ZEUS (1950s), Spartan-Sprint (1960s), Star Wars (1980s), etc. etc. The military-industrial complex has been working on anti-missile technology for SIXTY YEARS, and it still doesn't work.
My point is merely that if anyone thinks anti-missile technology will actually protect the US from North Korean nuclear warheads, he is sadly mistaken.
North Korea's leaders are not mad to want nuclear weapons; having them allows greater independence and strength in international relationships, and they are cost-effective. This is why Israel wanted them, why Iran wants them. Real "MAD" - mutual assured destruction - is the best deterrence against their use, but not much good against their use as a threat. The U.S. armada would pose less threat to North Korea if we were worried that a Syrian style conventional weapons cruise missile attack would be countered with a nuclear attack on Honolulu, after which, all the options are bad. Should we attack them now, before they have the ability to hurt us with nuclear weapons? Would we get them all? Could they start over? What would China do? What if they launched a counter attack? What if they had the ability to use one nuclear weapon in the counter attack? No one knew North Korea was this complicated? This is why Presidents previously relied on the State Department for advice.
1
For all the insane bluster and blatherings of Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump, one thing remains perfectly clear; any pre-emptive strike on North Korea would have major catastrophic results, not only on our allies South Korea, Japan and other nations in the region -- but first and foremost on China, who wouldn't take any attack on or near its borders sitting down.
That is why in the end, it is up to China to rein in North Korea's provocative actions, an option which it has, as one of the few trade partners with the "Hermit Kingdom".
Without any such action on China's part, the situation is only bound to escalate, with results too horrific to calculate.
That is why in the end, it is up to China to rein in North Korea's provocative actions, an option which it has, as one of the few trade partners with the "Hermit Kingdom".
Without any such action on China's part, the situation is only bound to escalate, with results too horrific to calculate.
4
But who knows what China really wants.
China is gathering strength and biding it's time.
The primary duty of an American President is security, primarily from threats based abroad. It is one thing to have a President who knows so little, that he believes a wall on our southern border will protect us. We can laugh, mock, argue with, and organize against such stupidity. It is an entirely different matter, when we have a President who knows so little that he cannot develop a strategy and tactics for preventing North Korea from developing nuclear weapons that can be transported by truck, boat, plane, or missile.
It was hard work, and as with all major, complex deals it involved some compromise, but President Obama was able to negotiate an enforceable agreement that, at the very least, took the issue of Iranian nuclear weapons off the real-world (not political) table for a decade. President Trump, unfortunately and dangerously, seems incapable of such. He is the opposite of another Republican Teddy Roosevelt whose motto was, "Talk softly and carry a big stick." Trump, sadly for America and Americans on this Memorial Day, talks loudly and carries a puny stick. Likely in more ways than one.
It was hard work, and as with all major, complex deals it involved some compromise, but President Obama was able to negotiate an enforceable agreement that, at the very least, took the issue of Iranian nuclear weapons off the real-world (not political) table for a decade. President Trump, unfortunately and dangerously, seems incapable of such. He is the opposite of another Republican Teddy Roosevelt whose motto was, "Talk softly and carry a big stick." Trump, sadly for America and Americans on this Memorial Day, talks loudly and carries a puny stick. Likely in more ways than one.
5
"It was hard work, and as with all major, complex deals it involved some compromise, but President Obama was able to negotiate an enforceable agreement that, at the very least, took the issue of Iranian nuclear weapons off the real-world (not political) table for a decade."
Laughable. The deal is so weak the Iranians violated it before the ink was dry. Do your homework..
Laughable. The deal is so weak the Iranians violated it before the ink was dry. Do your homework..
1
We must plan for the possibility that NK will not be stopped from getting long range missiles. NK will soon, if they do not already, have the capability to explode EMP devices over North America that we know, from direct experience with airburst tests, would overload our national electrical grid destroying it and all electronic devices. Without the grid we would be unable to rebuild it or replace electronics for years. We would be reduced to mass starvation and be unable to defend ourselves.
Besides defending against attack, hardening our electrical systems against EMP and stockpiling key replacement components will also protect against recurrent atrong natural EMPs from solar flares that are known to occur periodically (for a historical example look up the Carrington event).
We must thicken and strengthen our anti-missile defenses and harden our national grid electrical system so that it will not be destroyed by one or two EMP devices.
Attacking NK with a first strike is immoral. Taking steps to defend ourselves is feasible and moral.
Besides defending against attack, hardening our electrical systems against EMP and stockpiling key replacement components will also protect against recurrent atrong natural EMPs from solar flares that are known to occur periodically (for a historical example look up the Carrington event).
We must thicken and strengthen our anti-missile defenses and harden our national grid electrical system so that it will not be destroyed by one or two EMP devices.
Attacking NK with a first strike is immoral. Taking steps to defend ourselves is feasible and moral.
26
Folks, this is nuts. No possessor of nuclear-weapon ICBMs will waste them on the provocation of very-high-altitude EMP attacks ... particularly a small-state aggressor with limited capabilities facing a nation with the largest military, and over 3,000 nuclear warheads in current inventory.
I have no idea why the NY Times thinks this deserves an "editor's pick" -- this either shows that whoever is making these picks knows nothing about the topic, or simply prizes crazed trolling.
The reality is that North Korea will not overtly attack the US unless one of the Kim Jong's becomes truly insane, but that the possession of nuclear weapons will increase the North Korean crime against the world, the US included.
Do not preclude the idea that North Korea will sell nuclear weapons to world terrorists.
I have no idea why the NY Times thinks this deserves an "editor's pick" -- this either shows that whoever is making these picks knows nothing about the topic, or simply prizes crazed trolling.
The reality is that North Korea will not overtly attack the US unless one of the Kim Jong's becomes truly insane, but that the possession of nuclear weapons will increase the North Korean crime against the world, the US included.
Do not preclude the idea that North Korea will sell nuclear weapons to world terrorists.
I don't know anything about Mr. John Schilling other than what is written here, but it is a valuable lesson when one tends to rely on experts who purport to have all the answers. This man, who clearly follows NK very closely, just admitted that his estimate of their military capabilities was utterly and completely wrong. If it were me, I'd think about becoming an expert on something else right about now! Maybe the Mexican nuclear program?
5
The U.S. should ignore North Korea's advancement in missile technology and nuclear capabilities. The U.S. should leave negotiations with North Korea to others like China and South Korea. If left alone the possible threat to the U.S. from North Korea's missiles and nukes will just go away, like cancer does among the human race.
6
Just so, Tired.
We hear nothing about this country unless admin needs a distraction and contractors need more deals.
If there is any country we ought to disregard, it's this one.
We don't need to fear them. As someone once said, what we need to fear is fear. Enough with the phony mongering.
We hear nothing about this country unless admin needs a distraction and contractors need more deals.
If there is any country we ought to disregard, it's this one.
We don't need to fear them. As someone once said, what we need to fear is fear. Enough with the phony mongering.
3
ToH,
Where are you getting your rationale from ?
North Korea tells its people everyday that the US is the enemy.
Remember the Korean War is still ongoing for the North.
When nuclear missiles from North Korea head toward the US then what
will you say or do ?
Where are you getting your rationale from ?
North Korea tells its people everyday that the US is the enemy.
Remember the Korean War is still ongoing for the North.
When nuclear missiles from North Korea head toward the US then what
will you say or do ?
Exactly, without patience there is no Wisdom.
.
.
The first question should be: Is the NY Times ill-informed, mislead or a mouthpiece for the neo-liberal/neo-conservative alliance intent on starting another war to obscure the growing poverty in this country? The NYT got easily fooled about WMD in Iraq. It has championed persons who like wars too much.
When the press is so disliked it is not the time for it to promote another war. It should guard its credibility so much more, ask more questions. The anti-Russian hysteria it is creating is already damaging its fading reputation. Trump is likely the worst President this country has ever had, but the press, with its exaggerated attacks on him, is undermining the opposition to his tyranny. Few Trump voters will admit they are becoming disillusioned by him to a biased inaccurate press that has for so long stood for the establishment so many Americans rightly despise.
When the press is so disliked it is not the time for it to promote another war. It should guard its credibility so much more, ask more questions. The anti-Russian hysteria it is creating is already damaging its fading reputation. Trump is likely the worst President this country has ever had, but the press, with its exaggerated attacks on him, is undermining the opposition to his tyranny. Few Trump voters will admit they are becoming disillusioned by him to a biased inaccurate press that has for so long stood for the establishment so many Americans rightly despise.
4
No.
The NYTimes is mostly correct in regards to this issue. The DPRK is dedicated to developing and perfecting nuclear weapons and will not stop just because bad accounts of their actions are written up in the press everywhere or because of sanctions. The DPRK is a perfect example of how relentless and single-minded humans can be.
Unless the whole ruling clan of North Korea is thrown out or a real discussion with the DPRK is started, this situation is not going away or getting better.
The NYTimes is mostly correct in regards to this issue. The DPRK is dedicated to developing and perfecting nuclear weapons and will not stop just because bad accounts of their actions are written up in the press everywhere or because of sanctions. The DPRK is a perfect example of how relentless and single-minded humans can be.
Unless the whole ruling clan of North Korea is thrown out or a real discussion with the DPRK is started, this situation is not going away or getting better.
4
Timshel -- what are you claiming? North Korea has tested a series of nuclear bombs underground -- the seismic evidence of this is incontrovertible.
It's true that they have not been very powerful; the strongest about 1/2 to 2/3ds as powerful as the Nagasaki and Hiroshima weapons: the latter being the simplest (and very heavy and bulky) implosion solid-core plutonium design.
Nobody believes their recent claims of a "thermonuclear" weapon. Nonetheless, they clearly have atomic bombs.
As to the press, or Trump, or anybody ... who wants a war? But do you want to live under the threat of the Kim Jong dynasty and its blackmail forever?
It's true that they have not been very powerful; the strongest about 1/2 to 2/3ds as powerful as the Nagasaki and Hiroshima weapons: the latter being the simplest (and very heavy and bulky) implosion solid-core plutonium design.
Nobody believes their recent claims of a "thermonuclear" weapon. Nonetheless, they clearly have atomic bombs.
As to the press, or Trump, or anybody ... who wants a war? But do you want to live under the threat of the Kim Jong dynasty and its blackmail forever?
1
Lee Harrison: Our government lied to us about the Gulf of Tonkin, WMDs in Iraq, and so on. And then the mainstream press, as it has for years, dutifully supported our government without challenging what they were told, and we then got mired down into the longest wars in our history on false bases.
I am asking the press to be more skeptical of what it learns from government sources, and to keep asking questions, including other explanations of what is going on. In the age of Trump even greater skepticism is warranted. Past history and the continuing lack of honesty in the press about many issues has not made for faith in what they report.
There are many courageous reporters, unbowed by editorial and owner pressure, still trying to get the truth out. Trusting what we are told by the mainstream media makes us accomplices to their suppression.
I am asking the press to be more skeptical of what it learns from government sources, and to keep asking questions, including other explanations of what is going on. In the age of Trump even greater skepticism is warranted. Past history and the continuing lack of honesty in the press about many issues has not made for faith in what they report.
There are many courageous reporters, unbowed by editorial and owner pressure, still trying to get the truth out. Trusting what we are told by the mainstream media makes us accomplices to their suppression.
The distraction from the root of the NK problem continues. When will people realize that NK and China are one weed. NK is the section of the weed above ground, China is the root of the weed.
NK has grown it's military capabilities with most if not all of it's assistance coming from China. China is able to support and enable NK, in addition to building military islands in the SCS, due to China's growing economic power over the last two decades. China was able to achieve this economic power though the use of slave labor and lax to no environmental regulations.
"American" based companies such as Apple, GE, Boeing and many others sacrificed the American people for higher profit margins than what they were already achieving. There was no longer the need for these "American" companies to deal with pesky unions for safe working conditions and fair wages or those EPA regulations that ensure we have clean air and safe drinking water. This was all done with the blessings of our Democrat and Republican "Representatives".
Today we have our third iteration of a brutal family regime which is close to launching nuclear missiles that are capable of reaching the west coast of the USA. Somehow it is fitting that the "home" of Apple in Cupertino CA. and "home" of Boeing in Seattle WA. are well within range of these nuclear capable missiles.
Until we get to the root of the problem, this anti-missile system is just another tool to remove the top of the weed but leave the roots intact.
NK has grown it's military capabilities with most if not all of it's assistance coming from China. China is able to support and enable NK, in addition to building military islands in the SCS, due to China's growing economic power over the last two decades. China was able to achieve this economic power though the use of slave labor and lax to no environmental regulations.
"American" based companies such as Apple, GE, Boeing and many others sacrificed the American people for higher profit margins than what they were already achieving. There was no longer the need for these "American" companies to deal with pesky unions for safe working conditions and fair wages or those EPA regulations that ensure we have clean air and safe drinking water. This was all done with the blessings of our Democrat and Republican "Representatives".
Today we have our third iteration of a brutal family regime which is close to launching nuclear missiles that are capable of reaching the west coast of the USA. Somehow it is fitting that the "home" of Apple in Cupertino CA. and "home" of Boeing in Seattle WA. are well within range of these nuclear capable missiles.
Until we get to the root of the problem, this anti-missile system is just another tool to remove the top of the weed but leave the roots intact.
4
Like a malignant tumor, the level of frustration over the increasing ability of North Korea to perfect it's nuclear arsenal (both in lethality and delivery systems) continues to grow.
Thinking back to 1992 and to what did NOT occur thereafter in efforts to limit NK in its nuclear ambitions, it is a sad commentary that we have arrived at a point where we now HOPE that our defensive measures will exceed a 50% or more success rate.
In a nuclear exchange, there is not ANY margin for error. Moreover, is there any reasonable doubt that at some point the North will develop a thermo-
nuclear capacity?
It may sound like heresy on my part, but perhaps we should be thinking about how we recognize North Korea as a nuclear power. A response that the North Korean leadership acts irrationally and should be removed, is itself not reasonable.
Let's be honest with ourselves. Efforts over the last 25 years (i.e., 1992 to the present) have been an abject failure. What is the downside of trying a new policy tied to our present efforts?
Thinking back to 1992 and to what did NOT occur thereafter in efforts to limit NK in its nuclear ambitions, it is a sad commentary that we have arrived at a point where we now HOPE that our defensive measures will exceed a 50% or more success rate.
In a nuclear exchange, there is not ANY margin for error. Moreover, is there any reasonable doubt that at some point the North will develop a thermo-
nuclear capacity?
It may sound like heresy on my part, but perhaps we should be thinking about how we recognize North Korea as a nuclear power. A response that the North Korean leadership acts irrationally and should be removed, is itself not reasonable.
Let's be honest with ourselves. Efforts over the last 25 years (i.e., 1992 to the present) have been an abject failure. What is the downside of trying a new policy tied to our present efforts?
3
Engineering over there seems very good indeed. They have now focused our attention. There's a need to ratchet down belligerence and start talking.
2
KJU will talk only when it is his interest to talk.
The United States should simply attack all large NK communications facilities and all sea ports in NK. Not just attacking most of them. but every single radio or satellite facility. The United States should destroy the Kim Jong Party and every other government-like location along with every facility that generates electricity within NK. The U.S. could send NK back into the middle-ages and without using our nuclear weapons.
This could only be done after advising NK that any further nuclear or missile test will be viewed as an attack. Any attack or test would then lead to complete destruction of all facilities needed to continue as a modern nation.
Using the might of the U.S. economy and military to utterly destroy NK as an industrial nation completely with no option given to allow surrender. Then the U.S. could help the people of NK rebuild a democracy.
This could only be done after advising NK that any further nuclear or missile test will be viewed as an attack. Any attack or test would then lead to complete destruction of all facilities needed to continue as a modern nation.
Using the might of the U.S. economy and military to utterly destroy NK as an industrial nation completely with no option given to allow surrender. Then the U.S. could help the people of NK rebuild a democracy.
1
1) What makes you think the people of NK want a democracy?
2) How many South Koreans will die if we attack NK? 10,000? 50,000?, 100,000?, a million? Just collateral damage, right?
2) How many South Koreans will die if we attack NK? 10,000? 50,000?, 100,000?, a million? Just collateral damage, right?
1
What I find curious in all of this saber rattling with North Korean is any talk of trying to deescalate the the tensions between NK and the rest of the world.
In understand the root cause of all this tension, but these were events that occurred over fifty years ago.
It should be said, in plain and direct language, that we are not looking for a confrontation with North Korea, but any attack on the United States or its allies will be met with overwhelming force. I am sure the the North Koreans are aware that any atomic battle they create will result in most of North Korean no longer existing.
And let's take it from there. If the North Koreans want to live in a bubble, so be it, but I am sure that their existence is in their hands and they understand that. Let's see if we can establish some common ground.
In understand the root cause of all this tension, but these were events that occurred over fifty years ago.
It should be said, in plain and direct language, that we are not looking for a confrontation with North Korea, but any attack on the United States or its allies will be met with overwhelming force. I am sure the the North Koreans are aware that any atomic battle they create will result in most of North Korean no longer existing.
And let's take it from there. If the North Koreans want to live in a bubble, so be it, but I am sure that their existence is in their hands and they understand that. Let's see if we can establish some common ground.
4
Nuclear weapons will make them a worse blackmailer and rogue nation than they are.
What "common ground" do you think can be established?
The North Koreans do not "want to live in a bubble." Their terrible dictatorship needs things from the rest of the world, among them the technology for advanced weaponry, but also computers and electronics, and then all the toys their nomenclatura wants.
The North Korean dictatorship will collapse if a true world embargo could be made effective -- and almost all the issues of making an embargo effective depend on China doing so. China wants North Korea to continue as a weak dependent buffer state; it absolutely does not want the Koreas to reunite (under either political form). It has been advantageous to China for North Korea to be a minor rogue nation, as long as its roguery was directed at the west.
China is confronted now by the question of whether it wants its little monster to get bigger, and the surprising unpleasantness of its decisions either way.
What "common ground" do you think can be established?
The North Koreans do not "want to live in a bubble." Their terrible dictatorship needs things from the rest of the world, among them the technology for advanced weaponry, but also computers and electronics, and then all the toys their nomenclatura wants.
The North Korean dictatorship will collapse if a true world embargo could be made effective -- and almost all the issues of making an embargo effective depend on China doing so. China wants North Korea to continue as a weak dependent buffer state; it absolutely does not want the Koreas to reunite (under either political form). It has been advantageous to China for North Korea to be a minor rogue nation, as long as its roguery was directed at the west.
China is confronted now by the question of whether it wants its little monster to get bigger, and the surprising unpleasantness of its decisions either way.
1
Why is it that only the US seems concerned with NK holding the world hostage? When will the rest of the world take this seriously and force China to abandon its ally for the sake of world stability? The reality is that China has provided NK with virtually everything they have wanted and continue to do so!
If China continues to support NK in spite of the dire threat posed to the rest of the world, then all countries should immediately boycott everything Chinese and force them to make a choice. The only viable solution to the NK situation is immediate regime change and the eventual unification of the Korean peninsula.
If China continues to support NK in spite of the dire threat posed to the rest of the world, then all countries should immediately boycott everything Chinese and force them to make a choice. The only viable solution to the NK situation is immediate regime change and the eventual unification of the Korean peninsula.
7
Eventual reunification of the Koreas is absolutely what China does not want. They do not want that with either of the two regimes as the winner.
China is aware that North Korea's nuclear weapons threaten China as much as any other nation. China has been content to let North Korea become more menacing and a bigger rogue state through the years, because it has seen the problems and threats North Korea makes as hurting its opponents more than China.
It is clear that China is reassessing it's position on North Korea, as it is nuclearizing, though it is not yet clear to what degree or end.
What baffles me in these hand-wringing discussions over North Korea is that nobody seems to be willing to say the obvious: a nuclear North Korea will provoke South Korea and Japan into nuclearizing, with the possibility of other asian nations following. Both Japan and South Korea have large nuclear industries -- Japan even built a civilian plutonium reprocessing facility (Monju). It has been a failure as a civilian fuel process, but could be adapted quickly to bomb plutonium production, given a production reactor.
China cannot possibly see that as a benefit to China's security.
China is aware that North Korea's nuclear weapons threaten China as much as any other nation. China has been content to let North Korea become more menacing and a bigger rogue state through the years, because it has seen the problems and threats North Korea makes as hurting its opponents more than China.
It is clear that China is reassessing it's position on North Korea, as it is nuclearizing, though it is not yet clear to what degree or end.
What baffles me in these hand-wringing discussions over North Korea is that nobody seems to be willing to say the obvious: a nuclear North Korea will provoke South Korea and Japan into nuclearizing, with the possibility of other asian nations following. Both Japan and South Korea have large nuclear industries -- Japan even built a civilian plutonium reprocessing facility (Monju). It has been a failure as a civilian fuel process, but could be adapted quickly to bomb plutonium production, given a production reactor.
China cannot possibly see that as a benefit to China's security.
2
NK is a real concern that will test America’s relationships and influence, or it will be a war with large areas of destruction across the different regional countries. It would likely go nuclear at some point.
After Trump’s tour its clear he is aligning America with Dictators and Authoritarians, while marginalizing Allies that have historically shared America’s values of democracy and liberty.
Whatever bizarre rational Trump could possibly have for so blatantly/publicly turning his back on America’s only true friends, who have always had America’s back, we need to look at what Trump’s new relationships will bring to the table to help us with NK. In short, NOTHING! They will all smile, do nothing, and declare open season on anyone who dissents.
A major war is increasingly unavoidable with Trump. It is after all straight out of the Putin playbook for dictators; create a crisis that will allow you to take control away from democratic institutions that are checks and balances. A war with NK, or Iran, would do exactly that and create the opportunity for an authoritarian takeover of the Republican Party, which is already halfway there.
This will bring in a new world order, where we are all granted the illusion of liberty and democracy, but only as long as we agree to knee in subservience to those with wealth and power. Just look to Russia, Turkey, Philippines, and Venezuela. China is a best case scenario.
Trump will start his war before the 2018 midterm elections, watch for it
After Trump’s tour its clear he is aligning America with Dictators and Authoritarians, while marginalizing Allies that have historically shared America’s values of democracy and liberty.
Whatever bizarre rational Trump could possibly have for so blatantly/publicly turning his back on America’s only true friends, who have always had America’s back, we need to look at what Trump’s new relationships will bring to the table to help us with NK. In short, NOTHING! They will all smile, do nothing, and declare open season on anyone who dissents.
A major war is increasingly unavoidable with Trump. It is after all straight out of the Putin playbook for dictators; create a crisis that will allow you to take control away from democratic institutions that are checks and balances. A war with NK, or Iran, would do exactly that and create the opportunity for an authoritarian takeover of the Republican Party, which is already halfway there.
This will bring in a new world order, where we are all granted the illusion of liberty and democracy, but only as long as we agree to knee in subservience to those with wealth and power. Just look to Russia, Turkey, Philippines, and Venezuela. China is a best case scenario.
Trump will start his war before the 2018 midterm elections, watch for it
16
How many missiles has the US sent to Afghanistan? How many missiles did the US sent to Vietnam? How many missiles did the US sent to Iraq? How many missiles has the US sent to Syria? How many nuclear bombs has the US? Which is the only nation that has used nuclear bombs against civilians? Which is the only nation that has 800 military bases around the world? Which is the only country that has threatened to invade North Korea? Which is the only country which has invaded over a dozen countries in the last 70 years? The US of A. Now we know why the only security a nation has to discourage US invasion is to have nuclear arms, just has the US has. It was the US that threated the World with pre-emptive strikes.
4
I wonder what country would be occupying the former Australia if the US had decided to stay home after Pearl Harbor and let East Asia fend for itself.
Just exactly when in the era after the Korean war has the US threatened to invade North Korea?
Do Canada and Mexico have nuclear weapons? Do you think the citizens of these nations live in mortal fear that the US will invade soon, or threaten them with nuclear weapons?
What about Australia?
Do Canada and Mexico have nuclear weapons? Do you think the citizens of these nations live in mortal fear that the US will invade soon, or threaten them with nuclear weapons?
What about Australia?
1
Given that the US is the most prominent target of North Korean threats, it hardly seems a good time for our esteemed president to be short changing our long standing and effective strategic partnership with the NATO alliance.
But, then again, our esteemed president has mostly managed to find the worst possible time for most everything. So, we have no reason to be surprised.
But, then again, our esteemed president has mostly managed to find the worst possible time for most everything. So, we have no reason to be surprised.
4
Time and again it needs to be reminded that the root cause of the conflicts in Korean peninsula is not simply the ambition of North Korea, but that the families, the relatives, the fellow countrymen, and the land were severed mercilessly by the victors of World War II, which was no doubt a worst human right violation in our modern history.
It was over 70 years ago. What has the United Nation done to undo the wrong? Practically none! All it did was sided with the super powers and tried to perpetuate the wrongful division.
At this juncture, strangely, a genuine peace may be reachable through negotiations under the leadership of the newly elected President Moon. Hopefully no preconditions (including the UN resolutions) will hinder his effort.
It was over 70 years ago. What has the United Nation done to undo the wrong? Practically none! All it did was sided with the super powers and tried to perpetuate the wrongful division.
At this juncture, strangely, a genuine peace may be reachable through negotiations under the leadership of the newly elected President Moon. Hopefully no preconditions (including the UN resolutions) will hinder his effort.
1
And without US intervention, all of the Korean peninsula would have been united under Kim Il Sung. Instead of being the 12th largest economy and a prosperous democracy, what is now South Korea would have been part of the worlds largest concentration camp. Your Korean nationalist fantasies seem to ignore the historical fact that Korea did not exist in 1945, and the Soviet Union was already prepared to take the whole peninsula. You forget the Russo-Japanese War had largely been fought over control of Korea, and that the USSR saw the opportunity in 1945 just as Imperial Russia eyed Korea in 1905. In 1945 Korea was going to be occupied and dominated by somebody... at least the South was occupied by a power who sought to turn it into a prosperous ally.
You expect a genuine peace ... on what terms?
Hopefully president Moon will see to it that for “a genuine peace” there will be no nuclear bombs remain in NK and at the same time there will be no THAADS remain in SK.
330 billion for a 67% failure rate (in ideal conditions). That's a lot of roads and bridges we don't have. That's a lot of homelessness. That's a lot of uneducated young people. That's a lot of people waiting at the VA. Maybe we should increase defense spending more, yeah, let's double down.
11
Corbin -
330 billion is a drop in the ocean compared to the money lost to the exporting of US manufacturing and production to China over the past two decades. Now we are talking trillions of dollars, with a T.
To quote part of your comment "That's a lot of roads and bridges we don't have. That's a lot of homelessness. That's a lot of uneducated young people. That's a lot of people waiting at the VA."
Thank our state Representatives and Senators for kowtowing to these executives, aka job creators, of "US" companies who US ship manufacturing to a communist dictatorship, China, which in turn is enabling another dictatorship in NK and it nuclear ambitions.
And these people are supposed to represent us? That's a lot of gumption.
330 billion is a drop in the ocean compared to the money lost to the exporting of US manufacturing and production to China over the past two decades. Now we are talking trillions of dollars, with a T.
To quote part of your comment "That's a lot of roads and bridges we don't have. That's a lot of homelessness. That's a lot of uneducated young people. That's a lot of people waiting at the VA."
Thank our state Representatives and Senators for kowtowing to these executives, aka job creators, of "US" companies who US ship manufacturing to a communist dictatorship, China, which in turn is enabling another dictatorship in NK and it nuclear ambitions.
And these people are supposed to represent us? That's a lot of gumption.
North Korea has openly declared war on the United States by promising a Pre-emptive Nuclear strike without warning.
DPRK has Nuclear Weapons, ICBMs and a stated intent to use these on America (or anyone who upsets their lunatic leader)
Appeasement is NOT an option. Negotiations have failed for 63 yrs.
America has given China a chance to take away Kim's toys - but have neither the intent to carry out this action nor understood how close they are to a Nuclear conflict.
Russia could do more and is potentially in harms way if America is forced to strike.
The ONLY course of action is a co-ordinated destruction of the entire country in a pre-emptive Nuclear strike. This action is being set up right now with a 3 carrier strike force in the North West Pacific.
DPRK has Nuclear Weapons, ICBMs and a stated intent to use these on America (or anyone who upsets their lunatic leader)
Appeasement is NOT an option. Negotiations have failed for 63 yrs.
America has given China a chance to take away Kim's toys - but have neither the intent to carry out this action nor understood how close they are to a Nuclear conflict.
Russia could do more and is potentially in harms way if America is forced to strike.
The ONLY course of action is a co-ordinated destruction of the entire country in a pre-emptive Nuclear strike. This action is being set up right now with a 3 carrier strike force in the North West Pacific.
The first question should be: Is the NY Times ill-informed, mislead or a mouthpiece for the neo-liberal/neo-conservative alliance intent on starting another war to obscure the growing poverty in this country? The NYT got easily fooled about WMD in Iraq. It has championed persons who like wars too much.
When the press is so disliked it is not the time for it to promote another war. It should guard its credibility so much more, ask more questions. The anti-Russian hysteria it is creating is already damaging its fading reputation. Trump is likely the worst President this country has ever had, but the press, with its exaggerated attacks on him, is undermining the opposition to his tyranny. Few Trump voters will admit they are becoming disillusioned by him to a biased inaccurate press that has for so long stood for the establishment so many Americans rightly despise.
When the press is so disliked it is not the time for it to promote another war. It should guard its credibility so much more, ask more questions. The anti-Russian hysteria it is creating is already damaging its fading reputation. Trump is likely the worst President this country has ever had, but the press, with its exaggerated attacks on him, is undermining the opposition to his tyranny. Few Trump voters will admit they are becoming disillusioned by him to a biased inaccurate press that has for so long stood for the establishment so many Americans rightly despise.
For the sake of the entire world, we should take Jared off of ALL his current assignments and put him at the helm of solving the N Korean problem.
Jared would start by establishing a back channel with Kim. This, according to the president's generals, would be a good thing for the nation.
Jared could then be the first presidential son-in-law ever to sit down with a N Korean leader. Ivanka should accompany Jared and lay in place early plans for Trump products and properties to permeate Pyongyang after Trump's presidency has ended.
This pampering might be the only way to bring Kim around. If Jared needs Dennis Rodman to throw into the mix, so be it. Kellyanne should go too. After the groundwork is in place, Dad-in-law should make his first N Korean state visit. The rest will be history. Problem solved.
Then on to Russia. By the time the peacemaking is over Gorsuch should have enough travel bans in place so that the whole entourage may never make it back.
Aren't holidays fun!
Jared would start by establishing a back channel with Kim. This, according to the president's generals, would be a good thing for the nation.
Jared could then be the first presidential son-in-law ever to sit down with a N Korean leader. Ivanka should accompany Jared and lay in place early plans for Trump products and properties to permeate Pyongyang after Trump's presidency has ended.
This pampering might be the only way to bring Kim around. If Jared needs Dennis Rodman to throw into the mix, so be it. Kellyanne should go too. After the groundwork is in place, Dad-in-law should make his first N Korean state visit. The rest will be history. Problem solved.
Then on to Russia. By the time the peacemaking is over Gorsuch should have enough travel bans in place so that the whole entourage may never make it back.
Aren't holidays fun!
I don't understand why the NY TIMES would place this article in the Politics section. You think national defense is a political issue?
All these North Korean advances in missile technology are part and parcel of an effort to insure their regime's survival, not to actually use them in anger. The U.S. leaders should ease off on their alarmist statements, and give the new South Korean President a chance to put his program on the North into action. History shows how bluff and bluster can lead to a place where no one wants to go, which in this case would be a resumption of the Korean War.
2
" insure their regime's survival, not to actually use them" survival? from what threat?
The only thing that will happen if we attack NK is that SK will become part of NK. Negotiations are the only way forward.
4
Negotiations have been ongoing since 1985. North Korea has repeatedly broken its word (according to the IAEA and UN). . link https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/dprkchron . Negotiations have failed.
Cowboy, it is frightening to contemplate that NK has become such a powerful threat that in a military confrontation they could possibly prevail over SK. But what would be left of both countries---rubbles? No winners here.
I think you have it backwards
Where is the engineering coming from for all of these breakthroughs that North Korea has been having? China, Iran? It seems like they suddenly became successful.
4
North Korea has always been a vassal state of China and would have no nuclear weapons at all had China not allowed it. Much of the technology was/is from Pakistan. Pakistan's technology is from China.
Some comments reflect a belief that we have a viable low-risk, first strike option here. NK has been preparing itself for war against the US and its allies for decades. They have massive conventional forces (and probably chemical weapons) dug in just miles from the DMZ as well as throughout their country. Plenty are protected deep underground including mobile missile launchers with solid fueled rockets. These could be deployed in minutes, far faster than we could realistically respond. That's not to mention weapons on NK submarines or hidden on 'commercial' fishing vessels.
Even a strike to decapitate the regime is very risky. Remember the difficulty of finding mobile SCUD missile launchers during the Iraq war and the multiple ineffective attempts to kill Sadam Hussein with precision bombs early on (but we did manage to kill a lot of innocent civilians).
It is far more difficult to preempt the NK threat than some imagine, and a miscalculation on our side risks massive casualties in a renewed Korean War.
Even a strike to decapitate the regime is very risky. Remember the difficulty of finding mobile SCUD missile launchers during the Iraq war and the multiple ineffective attempts to kill Sadam Hussein with precision bombs early on (but we did manage to kill a lot of innocent civilians).
It is far more difficult to preempt the NK threat than some imagine, and a miscalculation on our side risks massive casualties in a renewed Korean War.
12
Its terrible when a opponent, who hasn't done anything us, wants to defend itself now isn't it?. Now we have NK surrounded with destroyers, aircraft, subs, THAAD and some 50K troops and NK should just lay down and obey our commands?.
There is no low casualty first strike option. The potential for massive casualties in South Korea, and possible casualties in Japan even, are high. That is the result of decades of failure to act assertively and if necessary aggressively on our part. Negotiating with suicidal tyrants be it Hitler, Kim, or the mullahs in Iran is a no win venture. Now they have had the time to develop more weapons and become an even greater threat.
@Mosin Nagant. I'm glad you recognize the potential for mass casualties with a first strike. I think it's a foregone conclusion. On the other hand, I disagree that the problem could have been solved with the earlier adoption of a more assertive strategy. Bill Clinton had a nuclear freeze agreement with inspections in exchange for various forms of aid. Unfortunately, with NK the negotiations start once the agreement was signed, and I had my doubts they would comply. However, G. Bush came in with his 'axis of evi'l talk, walked away from the agreement, and then invaded Iraq. The die was cast and later solidified after Mummer Gaddafi in Libya turned over his nukes and later was ousted with US help. Negotiations now with NK are much more likely to be a stalling tactic or result in giving large concessions for minimal gains.
There was never a time when a more aggressive stance on our part wouldn't have risked escalation and all out war. NK survival has always been at stake. Up to the present there has been hope that successive leaders might moderate, or that a faction would stage a coup. It now seems things are hardening and either we're forced into a bloody confrontation or we accept a semi-MAD reality there.
There was never a time when a more aggressive stance on our part wouldn't have risked escalation and all out war. NK survival has always been at stake. Up to the present there has been hope that successive leaders might moderate, or that a faction would stage a coup. It now seems things are hardening and either we're forced into a bloody confrontation or we accept a semi-MAD reality there.
The fundamental question for the US is whether we can allow NK to effectively hold us hostage to a potential devastating nuclear attack on our homeland. They already hold that capability (along with the threat from massive numbers of conventional and chemical weapons) over South Korea and Japan. Once established, NK will undoubtedly try to extort yet more concessions to feed the ego of KJU and solidify his role as supreme leader and local deity.
China needs NK as a buffer against the US and its allies. It's also worried about a collapse of the NK regime and a massive refugee crisis. Coincidentally, it has also become valuable leverage vis a vis China's interests in controlling the South China Sea and its bilateral trade relations with the US. China has an interest in moderating the apparent NK threat in exchange for western concessions. It does not have an interest in eliminating the threat - just establishing a barely tolerable equilibrium.
There's no US military option that doesn't risk the lives of millions on both sides of the Korean DMZ. That risk envelope continues to expand with every NK missile and nuclear test. And at the center stand two immature, overweight egomaniacs with flamboyant hairdos.
What did we do to deserve this?
China needs NK as a buffer against the US and its allies. It's also worried about a collapse of the NK regime and a massive refugee crisis. Coincidentally, it has also become valuable leverage vis a vis China's interests in controlling the South China Sea and its bilateral trade relations with the US. China has an interest in moderating the apparent NK threat in exchange for western concessions. It does not have an interest in eliminating the threat - just establishing a barely tolerable equilibrium.
There's no US military option that doesn't risk the lives of millions on both sides of the Korean DMZ. That risk envelope continues to expand with every NK missile and nuclear test. And at the center stand two immature, overweight egomaniacs with flamboyant hairdos.
What did we do to deserve this?
7
Good analysis. Our mistake, if any, was kicking the can down the road. China and its vassal grow stronger each day. We are doing the same with Iran. Sadly we are turning our children's future into one of another World war, this time a nuclear one by our inaction.
N.K.'s goal is not to launch nuclear arms at the US but to provoke Korean War II so they can reclaim the peninsula and re-unite Korea. All those factories and skilled labour become a tantalizing bonus.
Because the S.K. government has been absolutely stupid since the end of the "Police action" and let Seoul continue to grow and be the centre of business along with growing a huge population, it is within range of thousands of artillery tubes and short range missiles. Seoul will be bombarded and ruined long before those tubes and launchers are destroyed. The important ports at Incheon will be destroyed quickly and some old ships will likely be scuttled in its treacherously hard to navigate channels.
As always the real problem is China. They refuse to put their beeayatch on a short leash and continue to support NK for no reason other than their fear of US supported SK. Really? About time they got over that fear unless their real goal is to have the US waste resources on readiness to support SK.
Because the S.K. government has been absolutely stupid since the end of the "Police action" and let Seoul continue to grow and be the centre of business along with growing a huge population, it is within range of thousands of artillery tubes and short range missiles. Seoul will be bombarded and ruined long before those tubes and launchers are destroyed. The important ports at Incheon will be destroyed quickly and some old ships will likely be scuttled in its treacherously hard to navigate channels.
As always the real problem is China. They refuse to put their beeayatch on a short leash and continue to support NK for no reason other than their fear of US supported SK. Really? About time they got over that fear unless their real goal is to have the US waste resources on readiness to support SK.
4
Obama had 8 years to solve the issue and did not solve it.
Koreia has not developed the missus this year with Trump president. Obama is guilty of the situation having come to that point.
Will the United States wait to see what Korea will do?
Trump needs to sort it out soon enough. We can not shed much more.
Koreia has not developed the missus this year with Trump president. Obama is guilty of the situation having come to that point.
Will the United States wait to see what Korea will do?
Trump needs to sort it out soon enough. We can not shed much more.
2
Every president since Ike has had 70 years to solve the issue and didn't. Don't lay this at the feet of Obama. And I doubt trump will either
I have not seen any discussion or analysis of a decapitaion blow to take out the North Korean leadership. There must be a contingency plan for this. Perhaps it has been ruled out due to the fact that the ensuing confusion would be unpredictability dangerous.
All signs point to an American buildup in preparation for an attack on North Korea. This is going to happen within months unless another solution is found.
Unfortunately for the South Koreans who will inevitably be sacrificed in this attack, America comes first. I hope everything that can be done to help these people will be pre-positioned.
All signs point to an American buildup in preparation for an attack on North Korea. This is going to happen within months unless another solution is found.
Unfortunately for the South Koreans who will inevitably be sacrificed in this attack, America comes first. I hope everything that can be done to help these people will be pre-positioned.
4
So, now we have arrived at the inevitable moment when we learn whether Trump can handle a true crisis. Lord help us . . .
Perhaps he should just sign a lousy arms treaty and give them a few hundred billion dollars? That worked so well for containing Iran.
I thought we didn't need a military. Or any new military spending. Or any wars, unless they are in Syria. Or any wars in Syria that are led by Trump. Hard to keep up but hey maybe you're pro military today because of Memorial Day. You'll be singing a different tune if we decide to spend more, or do anything about DPRK because it's all about the theory, isn't it. Love to point out all the failings and mistakes of our country and imminent threats and sleeping at switches. This doomsday stuff if for headlines and clicks, suddenly everyone is afraid of North Korea when they have been violating every rule in the book since...forever. Through Clinton, Bush, and Obama. But it was wrong when Bush added them to the Axis of Evil. Technocrats. Trump will bungle it in your eyes no matter what he does. Precision strikes will be too weak and only designed to score political points, right? Invasions and/or carpet bombing will only cause civilian crises and humanitarian disaster, right? Now if Obama did something we'd find a way to cheer it, like that sweet line in Syria that no one ever crossed. Viva nuclear Iran and North Korea. Then it'll be a big I told you so.
1
We should just use THAAD and shoot down one of these puppies. This whole thing about N Korea's army being a threat is utter nonsense. They will mass defect when the first shots are fired. Either war or regime change is inevitable here. We should help the latter along by making Kim a laughing stock rather than a threat.
1
Seven thousand miles separate North Korea from California... If our high-tech multi trillion dollar military cannot detect and destroy a relative beginner's missile with a seven thousand mile cushion - What the heck are we paying for?
6
Well, let's do the math. 7000 miles at 4 miles a second is just a little less than half an hour. I guess we're paying to improve that 33% chance that our high-tech military can shoot it down with no advance warning. Diplomacy sounds more and more attractive with these odds - which explains why all presidents since George H Bush have opted for negotiations. Trump's cage rattling antics and his disdain for anything the State Department does puts us all at risk.
this is what taxpayers are paying for http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/9315/this-is-how-america-keeps-watc...
NK's missile launches are commercials to sell weapons to ISIS and the like. Does anyone think that ISIS would hesitate for a second to launch a missile at a soft target? They have no qualms about killing anyone in the west, children included, by any means. NK needs money which ISIS gets from selling narcotics made with the poppies they grow. Not a very far fetched theory. Just one bomb and you can kiss your 401K value goodbye, doesn't matter where it hits.
24
Can we please focus on critical issues, like Jared Kushner communications with Russia.
9
Oh yes, that's way more dangerous than NK'S ability to deliver long range nuclear weapons. or for them to sell them to isis.
i guess this is the daily drum banging banging out it's one tune "forget Russia Forget Russia" funny i can not hear it quite yet. make more drums
3
Kim probably has succeeded in showing missile development has advantages in bargaining with the USA. We have yet to bite the bullet here, but we are going to be blackmailed into helping the N Korean economy. There is the possibility that negotiation over how this is done might make N Korea a functioning country instead of a supporter of cyberattacks and exporter of arms.
4
Nonsense. Supporting NK would topple it as well.
North Korea is China's straw man, hence the extreme caution with which we approach the problem. Previous administrations, understanding this, chose instead to ignore the threat, which has now become nearly intolerable. That said, the Trump Administration has signaled its intention to resolve this issue. It remains only to be seen what price China will exact for its acquiescence. Trump will be roundly criticized at home no matter what he does but no one will remember that Obama, Bush & Clinton could have taken corrective action earlier, and at a lower cost.
6
How exactly? I see no solution without Chinese help short of a full nuclear bombardment of the whole country.
1
The Chinese have been "helping" us ever since they attacked our troops in the Korean War. North Korea is China's vassal state, and they play the card well while feigning to have no "control".
This is all about food, oil and regime survival. When NK has nuclear warheads capable of hitting the west coast of the US, our ability to protect South Korea exists only on paper, and in reality drops to about zero. NK will leverage this for food and oil, and everyone will give in. Preventing NK from gaining this capability is the only way out of the poker game assuming there is still time and ability on our side, something which isn't clear. "A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!"
5
Obviously, the North Koreans feel the need to reach weapons parity with us, since we have just reached "out of control ruler" parity with them.
57
My grandfather fought in the Korean War and World War II. With today's technology, there may be catastrophic annihilation before any declaration of war is enacted. Trump is too busy distracting us with his election theft, plans for his wall, stealing healthcare from our elders and schools from our children - and deregulating toxic stuff to destroy our air/water/soil - so I, a soldier's granddaughter, nominate Phil Levitt, who had the smartest diplomatic approach in this article's comments, as Secretary of State (as a real one, not an oil and gas, Arctic driller.)
4
I wonder if someone might have figured out a better way to spend $330 billion dollars on an alternative solution, such as buying North Korea. Was this ever thought of, let alone discussed with the stakeholders? The tagline that the defense industry supports putting more money into anti-missile defenses (which simply don't work, the point of the article) says it all.
21
Why not give China 60 days to force regime change, and if they do not, we should very much consider a pre-emotive strike on Pyongyang and the DPRK's missile capabilities. It would be ugly, but it would be better than having them obliterate Los Angeles.
3
Pyongyang or LA? I don't know. That's a tough choice.
North Korea has no coherent rational for threatening an attack on the United States or its allies. Its simply uses its threats to extort money.
The United States’ continued surrender to North Korea’s extortion will never resolve the threat - a threat that is rapidly becoming very serious and very real.
North Korea has substantial offensive armaments within range of Seoul, South Korea. Albeit, most of this is legacy offensive equipment, its volume alone would create unacceptable damage, even with significant equipment failures.
If the United States does not already have satellites literally staring at North Korea’s offensive weapons placements, it certainly needs such equipment pinpointing every weapon installation, and tracking same in real time.
The Pentagon needs a plan that removes all North Korea legacy armaments, and all weapons capable of reaching outside of North Korea, combined with real-time location of every mobile missile launching vehicle, every missile installation and every communication and defensive incoming detection installation. All of these weapons and facilities can be removed with U.S. conventional stealth weapons, before North Korea has an opportunity to utilize any weapons against any U.S. allies.
Destroying North Korea’s land based missiles, and its nuclear weapons enrichment and manufacturing facilities could require the use of more robust weapons, including nuclear.
The United States’ continued surrender to North Korea’s extortion will never resolve the threat - a threat that is rapidly becoming very serious and very real.
North Korea has substantial offensive armaments within range of Seoul, South Korea. Albeit, most of this is legacy offensive equipment, its volume alone would create unacceptable damage, even with significant equipment failures.
If the United States does not already have satellites literally staring at North Korea’s offensive weapons placements, it certainly needs such equipment pinpointing every weapon installation, and tracking same in real time.
The Pentagon needs a plan that removes all North Korea legacy armaments, and all weapons capable of reaching outside of North Korea, combined with real-time location of every mobile missile launching vehicle, every missile installation and every communication and defensive incoming detection installation. All of these weapons and facilities can be removed with U.S. conventional stealth weapons, before North Korea has an opportunity to utilize any weapons against any U.S. allies.
Destroying North Korea’s land based missiles, and its nuclear weapons enrichment and manufacturing facilities could require the use of more robust weapons, including nuclear.
2
The US hasn't given money to NK, so what makes you say they are successfully extorting?!?
1
And might as well do South Korea while you're at it. They'll be in the fallout zone anyway.
The US has given over $1 billion in aid to NK since 1995. 60% was given to help stave off starvation and 40% was given in energy resources. The trade off was the agreement that plutonium plants would be dismantled and the US would provide technical assistance for this.
Here is a link to the CRS Report for Congress, with timelines and tables, on U.S. assistance to NK updated in 2008.
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RS21834.pdf
The US has thousands of whiz bang agriculturalists. Be nice if we could work something out, but perhaps this isn't a deadly enough idea and besides, it would be far too cheap a solution....too swords in to plow shares-ish sounding, anyway. Somehow it seems more possible than hitting a fired bullet with another fired bullet.
Sadly, we have the wrong president to solve this problem without throwing more good money after bad and without many, many lives being lost.
Sadly.
Here is a link to the CRS Report for Congress, with timelines and tables, on U.S. assistance to NK updated in 2008.
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RS21834.pdf
The US has thousands of whiz bang agriculturalists. Be nice if we could work something out, but perhaps this isn't a deadly enough idea and besides, it would be far too cheap a solution....too swords in to plow shares-ish sounding, anyway. Somehow it seems more possible than hitting a fired bullet with another fired bullet.
Sadly, we have the wrong president to solve this problem without throwing more good money after bad and without many, many lives being lost.
Sadly.
1
Looks like China is unable to help America about North Korea nuclear problems. Just forget about China and take care North Korea problems by our own military might. We should do it immediately. North Korea is a paper tiger!
3
What could possibly go wrong?
2
My guess is there will be a massive cruise missile assault on the North Korean Peninsula .. hundreds if not thousands launched from the the 38 parallel land bases- ships, subs and B-52. It's the only way to do it- quickly with massive shock and awe. Probably set for this December. May God forgive us.
2
Frankly many of their citizens would be far better off with your proposal. Let em starve, fester, and stew in militancy and anti-everyone sentiment is the alternative.
Is this a joke ??? north Korea declaring war on the US... all this news is to get us to BUY MORE ARMAMENTS which we don't need
4
Seoul and Tokyo, now on the front line! Hawaii, Oak, and Guam, to be hit in the second wave. LA, SF, and Seattle next--bye, bye west coast libs! Crank up Talking Heads "Life in Wartime"! LOL
1
Reagan's Star Wars plan redux. it did work great for his defense contractor cronies and donors.
and now, once again, coming to you from the mysterious East, a new Commie threat, able to distract from real problems both domestic and international, and the greatest excuse in the world to beggar our fellow Americans.
pay no attention to that man behind the curtain! his problems will magically vanish when he becomes what all Republican presidents long to be: a war president.
boo-yah!
and now, once again, coming to you from the mysterious East, a new Commie threat, able to distract from real problems both domestic and international, and the greatest excuse in the world to beggar our fellow Americans.
pay no attention to that man behind the curtain! his problems will magically vanish when he becomes what all Republican presidents long to be: a war president.
boo-yah!
11
As time goes by with our new president it becomes more apparent than ever that we had a do-nothing president asleep at the switch for eight miserable years. This idea of our defenses now needing to catch up is a farcical mistake. Ronald Reagan had the right vision with his attempt at a Star Wars Initiative (SDI). Congress made sure that this went no where. Now we are stuck with a rogue country bent on putting us in the sights of a hundred nuclear tipped ballistic missiles.
6
China, Korea and Japan need to deal with this.
9
Another mess left by Obama. He kicked the can down the road which resulted in further missle development by North Korea.
5
And what about W? He ignored Korea and got us into a useless, endless war in the middle east. And realisticly, what could either have them done? Start yet another war? South Korea and Japan would have to pay the price. At least Obama is waging cyberwar.
Another mess left by every previous administration. Obama kicked the can down the road, prior to which Bush kicked the can down the road, prior to which Clinton kicked the can down the road, prior to which Bush kicked the can down the road, prior to which Reagan kicked the can down the road, ect.. All of this resulted in further missile development by North Korea, going all the way back to the fact that peace was never established after the armistice was signed in 1953.
3
North Korea called Trump's bluth as he prepares to go golfing and cancelled due to rain. This is the alternative normal in America.
4
What should Japan do now? Negotiate with Isreal to defend them?
5
It is extremely unfortunate that Trump is president now. We do need to remove the NK despots even though the costs will be high because the only certainty is that tomorrow the costs will be higher. The day after tomorrow, the costs will be even higher and, eventually, NK will be very dangerous to the US. Right now, there is still an opportunity to hit them with such ferocious and immediate power that they will buckle rapidly.
I doubt we can remove North Korean despots directly ... at any price we or our allies want to pay.
What "costs" are you willing to pay? YOU, and perhaps your family? The North Korean threat is to attack South Korea, costing a lot of lives: some American service people, many more civilian Koreans. You don't care about those costs it seems?
The US does face difficult choices here -- so does South Korea, and in fact so do China, Japan, and even Australia and other Asian countries.
With some luck a cooperation by China we may be able to force North Korea to stop testing nuclear weapons and ICBMs and possibly submit to IAEA inspections, without war. That is the height of my hopes here.
It is however a reality that despots tend to be overthrown when their bluff is called. The Kim Jong dynasty surely know that.
What "costs" are you willing to pay? YOU, and perhaps your family? The North Korean threat is to attack South Korea, costing a lot of lives: some American service people, many more civilian Koreans. You don't care about those costs it seems?
The US does face difficult choices here -- so does South Korea, and in fact so do China, Japan, and even Australia and other Asian countries.
With some luck a cooperation by China we may be able to force North Korea to stop testing nuclear weapons and ICBMs and possibly submit to IAEA inspections, without war. That is the height of my hopes here.
It is however a reality that despots tend to be overthrown when their bluff is called. The Kim Jong dynasty surely know that.
It is not striking the US that is the problem: it is North Korea striking South Korea and Japan. Both countries are members of Nato, and covered under Article 5. Unless Mr. Trump decides not to abide by Article 5, we will be at war with North Korea if North Korea strikes either nation. This may be why our transactional/transactionist president is hedging his bets, instead of engaging in serious diplomacy. By doing so, he is provoking North Korea. It may be useful to be a gambler when you are are in the construction and money making business. But it is not when you have the power to destroy countries and peoples.
5
Neither South Korea nor Japan is a member of NATO, which incidentally stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
7
Neither Japan nor South Korea are part of NATO. Are you aware that NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and both of them are nowhere near the Atlantic?
They are members of the Major Non NATO agreement which entitles them to a significant amount of support, but not automatic mutual defense. I only hope Trump has someone to explain this to him.
They are members of the Major Non NATO agreement which entitles them to a significant amount of support, but not automatic mutual defense. I only hope Trump has someone to explain this to him.
7
Excuse me? Japan and SK are certainly NOT members of NATO. Why spout off without knowledge?
3
Not sure why folks here re so nervous about being. Used in a war with NK. As long as we hit them with overwhelming force, none of their weapons will reach the US and few will go anywhere. The risk of a third party entering the fray is non existent bc there is still mutually assured destruction to "protect" us there. The reality is that if Eisenhower had nuked Stalin before they stole the bomb tech (he had a four year window), the world might very well be a better, safer place today (albeit quite different). NK is no Russia but the principle applies. Rip that bandaid off. It will also be the best deterrent to other dictators.
3
So you would trade in 30-40 million North/South Korean lives, millions of nearby Chinese, make the entire region radioactive, to avoid using an approach that worked with the Soviets, the Russians, the Chinese, Pakistanis, Indians? That has never failed?? I like the direct and humane thinking.
4
Using nuclear weapons against NK is literally the craziest course of action Trump could take. Nuking Stalin, our WWII ally, would also have been crazy, but Eisenhower was sane, humane, and extraordinarily knowledgable.
Unfortunately, in the age of Trump, it's now normal to think, "it's so crazy, it just might work".
Unfortunately, in the age of Trump, it's now normal to think, "it's so crazy, it just might work".
7
It’s just a matter of time before North Korea (NK) has the capability to launch an intercontinental missile. And it appears to be not so distant in the future. When thinking of NK my thoughts always turn to China. What will China do? Will they pressure NK to hold off further development under the threat of sanctions? Just how far will they go to keep NK in check? No good answers. The U.S. under Trump is in a terrible situation. Our diplomacy is in shambles, Tillerson is not visible, Trump’s rhetoric is potentially explosive and the Defense Department is under complete control by military personnel both current and former.
This situation going on now in NK makes our terrorism threats pale in comparison. We haven’t had a threat like this since the “Cold War” and it can only worsen. Until cooler heads prevail in the White House and some serious discussions take place with China we’re going to see this threat escalate. And if armed conflict takes place one can only imagine where it will take us.
And what is most fearful is the two leaders of NK and the U.S. Both potentially uncontrollable if there is further escalation.
This situation going on now in NK makes our terrorism threats pale in comparison. We haven’t had a threat like this since the “Cold War” and it can only worsen. Until cooler heads prevail in the White House and some serious discussions take place with China we’re going to see this threat escalate. And if armed conflict takes place one can only imagine where it will take us.
And what is most fearful is the two leaders of NK and the U.S. Both potentially uncontrollable if there is further escalation.
34
Besides that none of what you say is true you talk like the past 8 years under Obama didn't happen. Maybe talk about how we have now inherited a crisis that was glossed over by Obama AND his predecessor. China could help but does nothing despite our pleas. Time to move past them directly to the source of the problem. I think Trump was right to tell China "if you won't handle this we will". Squash that criminal bug.
1
Black Swan events are always inevitable. We have that now with two unstable nuclear leaders. Weapons of mass destruction must be completely eliminated otherwise they will eliminate us. This is inevitable.
3
Baba Ganoush,
North Korea has been a totalitarian regime since the early 1950's, that's 67 years ago. And they have been developing a nuclear device since the early 60's. Point I was trying to make is diplomacy is best and we have not seen much of that lately from this Administration. Your comment "squash that criminal bug' is tough talk but millions of lives will be lost in South Korea if military action takes place and we have 26,000 American troops at the DMZ and most of those lives will be lost.
North Korea has been a totalitarian regime since the early 1950's, that's 67 years ago. And they have been developing a nuclear device since the early 60's. Point I was trying to make is diplomacy is best and we have not seen much of that lately from this Administration. Your comment "squash that criminal bug' is tough talk but millions of lives will be lost in South Korea if military action takes place and we have 26,000 American troops at the DMZ and most of those lives will be lost.
Yes, North Korea is a problem. It's a big one. And I can easily imagine that in an effort to make cash to continue running their country, they will soon be selling missile technology and perhaps even nuclear material to the highest bidder.
21
NK is the land of poor options. Trump is woefully unprepared and temperamentally unsuited to lead the world's foremost superpower. What could possibly go wrong?
49
Why not a bold diplomatic initiative?
1. Peace treaty with full recognition of both North and South Koreas, with their securities guaranteed by the US, China, and Russia.
2. Elimination of all nuclear weapons from the Korean peninsula.
3. End of economic sanctions against North Korea.
1. Peace treaty with full recognition of both North and South Koreas, with their securities guaranteed by the US, China, and Russia.
2. Elimination of all nuclear weapons from the Korean peninsula.
3. End of economic sanctions against North Korea.
17
And throw in $300 billion in development aid, and stop pretending we can develop an anti-missile weapon. Or that somehow we can defeat them militarily. If you will recall, we tried that before.
1
Why not? Well, there's the reason that every one of those ideas have been repeatedly rejected by NK in negotiations over 50 years . . .
Will North Korea stop kidnapping people from foreign countries? How about murders overseas? Counterfeiting the currencies of other countries? Selling illegal drugs and arms? Engaging in illegal nuclear weapons-technology sales and purchases? International bank fraud and computer crime?
And you really think that the Kim Jong dynasty would take that deal you offer, without some countervailing threat if they did not?
And do you think that Russia or China would be guarantors ... why?
And you really think that the Kim Jong dynasty would take that deal you offer, without some countervailing threat if they did not?
And do you think that Russia or China would be guarantors ... why?
Kim Jong Un surely knows that if he attacks the U.S. or its allies his country will be devastated. However, if the U.S. acts preemptively it will give him the excuse he needs to launch missiles at any and all targets. North Korea would even be seen in a sympathetic light if a preemptive strike results in civilian casualties.
Beyond covert sabotage efforts, sanctions and Chinese diplomatic pressure, in other words, the policy followed by Barack Obama there is little that we can do without making the situation worse.
Beyond covert sabotage efforts, sanctions and Chinese diplomatic pressure, in other words, the policy followed by Barack Obama there is little that we can do without making the situation worse.
19
Many here in Japan believe Russia and certain factions in China are helping the DPRK develop its weapons of mass destruction program under the table, which is why it's progressing so quickly. Russia, in particular, because it's a way to get back at the U.S. for sanctions and China so it can wrest major concessions from the U.S. as the situation with the DPRK worsens in exchange for "rescuing" the U.S.
It's also thought that the real imminent danger to the U.S. is an EMP weapon detonated over the continentental U.S. via the DPRK satellites now routinely passing over U.S. territory.
Lastly, any thoughts that MAD doctrine has any influence on Kim Jong-un's thinking are sadly misplaced because he need only scoot across the nearby border with China and disappear long before any retaliatory strike against DPRK territory as he cares only for his only well-being and would gladly sacrifice his people if his demise is ever nigh due to U.S. actions.
It's also thought that the real imminent danger to the U.S. is an EMP weapon detonated over the continentental U.S. via the DPRK satellites now routinely passing over U.S. territory.
Lastly, any thoughts that MAD doctrine has any influence on Kim Jong-un's thinking are sadly misplaced because he need only scoot across the nearby border with China and disappear long before any retaliatory strike against DPRK territory as he cares only for his only well-being and would gladly sacrifice his people if his demise is ever nigh due to U.S. actions.
19
Why does it strike me that this whole exercise has "MONEY-GRUBBING MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX" written all over it? I hope that they paint these poorly performing missile interceptors with just those words....
"Huge amounts of cash have been spent on this challenge: more than $330 billion by the estimate of Stephen I. Schwartz, a military analyst at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, Calif. Yet neither the high cost nor the poor performance has dampened enthusiasm in Congress or at the Pentagon — or among military contractors — for deploying missile defenses. The Defense Department hopes to spend billions more dollars on the interceptors, including perhaps on a new site on the East Coast.
Since the Bush administration began moving the system into operational mode in 2004, it has had a failure rate of 56 percent in tests against mock warheads. While the official tally is five misses in nine attempts, critics say that a test in 2006 was only a partial success, since the interceptor struck just a glancing blow."
"Huge amounts of cash have been spent on this challenge: more than $330 billion by the estimate of Stephen I. Schwartz, a military analyst at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, Calif. Yet neither the high cost nor the poor performance has dampened enthusiasm in Congress or at the Pentagon — or among military contractors — for deploying missile defenses. The Defense Department hopes to spend billions more dollars on the interceptors, including perhaps on a new site on the East Coast.
Since the Bush administration began moving the system into operational mode in 2004, it has had a failure rate of 56 percent in tests against mock warheads. While the official tally is five misses in nine attempts, critics say that a test in 2006 was only a partial success, since the interceptor struck just a glancing blow."
We need to stop all spending on social programs such as health. education, infrastructure and the environment and spend every penny on weapons of mass destruction so that we can defend what little will be left of America that makes it worth living in..
4
We should also spend the next fifty years constantly freaked out over the possibility of war with NK, as we did with the USSR. What a glorious time to be a member of the military-industrial complex.
3
The problem with the post-Trump environment is that it is impossible to tell what is snark from what is meant to be serious . . .,
Of course, what wasn't mentioned in the article is the fact that should North Korea launch a threat against the USA, or one or more of its allies, it would spell total annihilation for North Korea as a nation state. It would essentially be the equivalent of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-in, holding a gun to his own head and pulling the trigger.
9
@Mike B. Unfortunately, there's a long list of attacks and 'incidents' involving NK over the years, some of which involved significant numbers of fatalities. We have even had US planes fired on and one intelligence collecting ship, the Pueblo, commandeered on the high seas in 1968 and never returned. The line to cross that demands massive retaliation is somewhat squishy, and wherever it's drawn carries the risk of massively more casualties among our allies before we'd prevail.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_border_incidents_involving_North...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_border_incidents_involving_North...
China is obviously not going to help or intervene. I doubt anyone really could. What I can't understand is that someone in the entire world is not capable of rendering him ineffective. This would be a better solution than go to war with North Korea.
2
Our extremely unfortunate choice for president will hasten a nuclear confrontation. His inability to think past his own selfish interests will be our downfall. Thanks again Red States.
39
While I'm typically a proponent of the best defense is a good offense, let's take a breath and consider reality. IF North Korea ever managed to strike close to any portion of the U.S., we would annihilate their country. Russia and China understand this.
21
"IF North Korea ever managed to strike close to any portion of the U.S., we would annihilate their country. "
But what good would that do to the hapless millions of denizens of Los Angeles, Chicago, New York or Washington who might be the target of such a strike? After they have all been vaporized into nuclear ashes?
But what good would that do to the hapless millions of denizens of Los Angeles, Chicago, New York or Washington who might be the target of such a strike? After they have all been vaporized into nuclear ashes?
1
"Annihilating" North Korea implies a nuclear bomb, which, momentarily setting aside the moral implications of such an act, would seriously affect our ally, South Korea, as well as neighboring China. Other military responses simply rekindle the Korean War, which never ended. This would require a massive commitment of ground troops. As we know from our multiple Middle East ventures and Vietnam-era bombings of Cambodia, Laos, and North Vietnam, the air wars do not end in victory for the US. Again setting aside moral questions, and overlooking the horrific cost in human life, the huge deficit increase caused by the Iraq war might pale in comparison with the cost of fighting a tyrant who cares nothing about the lives of his people. Potentially China could side with North Korea again in the Korean War, Part 2, escalating the conflict to a scale we don't want to imagine.
"Annihilating" isn't the answer. Diplomacy, which costs very little and doesn't kill people or poison the earth, is the only solution. Yet our president proposes Significantly reducing all funding for diplomacy.
"Annihilating" isn't the answer. Diplomacy, which costs very little and doesn't kill people or poison the earth, is the only solution. Yet our president proposes Significantly reducing all funding for diplomacy.
1
are you willing to sacrifice Alaska and/or the Pacific Northwest in that trade?
So what did Mattis mean when he said we could not wait for N. Korea to get it's missile ready with a nuclear warhead before we take strong action? Did he mean a preemptive strike on N. Korea? Thereby starting another Korean war? Look what Bush and his minions did to destabilize the Mid East with his never ending war. Now Trump has placed our western allies in a place where they can't trust us through his stupidity and bungling on his trip and before. Wouldn't it be great if the 'great minds' in our government would work together to solve the N. Korean problem in a sane way. There must be some sane minds but leave Trump in Trump Towers while the 'minds' work.
38
War and armaments. What a good investment, right Donald? And, so much easier for you than negotiation and diplomacy, as those require verbal skills, imagination and mental stealth.
What a fitting moment to interject fear. Very strategic.
Meanwhile, keep the investigations going.
What a fitting moment to interject fear. Very strategic.
Meanwhile, keep the investigations going.
97
The last two administrations have floundered on diplomacy and negotiations, to no avail. North Korea has continued to charge ahead, improving its missile technology to the point where it is just a matter of time before they can reach the continental United States. Donald Trump is a buffoon, but it's important to understand that this is a very difficult problem that has little to do with him. And living in Seattle, believe you me North Korea will increasingly become a distraction to the citizens living here and in other West Coast cities.
. No reading between the lines is necessary."Star Wars" is not the solution Our best hope is deterrence. Kim is homicidal, but probably not suicidal. He could use some help with energy and food. Who can do that better than us? You have to humor a crazy person sometimes to prevent violence. That's not the same as selling out.
75
Kim doesn't care about his people or food. He's starved them in the past, and people have even starved to death. Semantics and word choice doesn't work with this lunatic!
The sword is mightier than the word!
The sword is mightier than the word!
Along with its cyber and antimissile efforts, the US must also accelerate its diplomatic efforts with China to end the North Korean nuclear threat. The key to this effort is recognizing that North Korea is just the tip of the iceberg concerning nuclear proliferation in East Asia. At least five other east Asian states besides North Korea are technically capable to develop a nuclear first strike capability today including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia and Singapore. Unless China more quickly and substantively engages with the US to close down North Korea's nuclear development program and denuclearize the Korean peninsula out of concern for its own security, then the strategic logic driving general nuclear proliferation throughout East Asia is very compelling indeed.
It is hard to believe that China does not see this risk, nor evaluate this risk to be at least as great a danger to its own security as any refugee and economic problems it would face if/when the North Korean regime collapses. The real question now is whether or not China still has sufficient leverage (and the will to use it) over North Korea in the near term to stop East Asian regional nuclear proliferation before it is too late. The US should now make clear to China that unless it acts to close down North Korea's nuclear threat then the US is no longer willing to block other East Asian nations developing their own nuclear deterrents to defend themselves against North Korean nuclear blackmail.
It is hard to believe that China does not see this risk, nor evaluate this risk to be at least as great a danger to its own security as any refugee and economic problems it would face if/when the North Korean regime collapses. The real question now is whether or not China still has sufficient leverage (and the will to use it) over North Korea in the near term to stop East Asian regional nuclear proliferation before it is too late. The US should now make clear to China that unless it acts to close down North Korea's nuclear threat then the US is no longer willing to block other East Asian nations developing their own nuclear deterrents to defend themselves against North Korean nuclear blackmail.
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I think this analysis Alan Slipher is right on point. The multilateral negotiations over the years have always had an underlying assumption that only China has the leverage to put NK out of business. But we've never been willing to take the strong actions necessary to get China to commit to that course.
From what I've read in the general press, there is a single 3" pipeline carrying essentially all of NK's oil supply from China. I remember from the early 2000's an occasion when the Chinese shut down this line for a few days, presumably to make the point with Dear Leader.
Given the horrible option of a US military strike, it seems better to finally actually employ all sources of leverage we have on China to force them to take the action that would result in the regime in NK crumbling in a few months. This would likely bring us eye-ball to eyeball with China and result in long-term damage to national relations, but, honestly, that may be the best available option.
From what I've read in the general press, there is a single 3" pipeline carrying essentially all of NK's oil supply from China. I remember from the early 2000's an occasion when the Chinese shut down this line for a few days, presumably to make the point with Dear Leader.
Given the horrible option of a US military strike, it seems better to finally actually employ all sources of leverage we have on China to force them to take the action that would result in the regime in NK crumbling in a few months. This would likely bring us eye-ball to eyeball with China and result in long-term damage to national relations, but, honestly, that may be the best available option.
1
I think the diplomatic route, while relatively low risk, is unfortunately likely to be low yield. NK is highly committed to elevating the nuclear threat to the US as a strong deterrent. They wouldn't use it except as a last resort, but as a saber it definitely rattles loudly. They've seen a US administration come in declaring there's an axis of evil in the world and then militarily dispose of Sadam in Iraq. And then Muamar Qaddafi gave up his nuclear program at our urging and was later toppled with our help. Why would they pass on a lifetime get-out-of-trouble card? Some combination of carrots (economic help, security guarantees) and sticks and even espionage are in order. This should include more pressure on China (in the form of a larger deal maybe that includes trade and ocean territory) and our allies SK and Japan (increasing civil defense and military exercises?). I know: maybe a pivot to Asia with a large multilateral trade deal tying us more closely to established and emerging counties might help. You know, like what Obama proposed years ago. Nah. Russia and China wouldn't like that.
Seems that N Korea, one of the most impoverished and dysfunctional totalitarian societies on the planet, has successfully put the US on notice and under existential threat of ballistic missile nuclear attack.
According to this piece no one knows with any credible certainty how long it will be before the Hermit Kingdom’s latest beloved leader manages to marry recently emerging solid fuel rocket capability with a nuclear warhead.
Notably there is no mention in this article about NK progress in building a suitably downsized nuclear warhead with significant yield — the most critical piece of a very dangerous offensive package.
Absent a similarly rapid breakthroughs in American efforts to develop a credible missile defense/intercept capability (yet very questionable), options for dealing with the overtly and stridently vocalized NK threat seem meager.
Placing US target rich naval assets (the so called armada) off the NK coast rather seems feckless.
Reliance on China to somehow aggressively rein in Kim Jong-un or stop the rapidly emerging offensive nuclear weapons program have produced no significant changes in the highly dangerous calculus.
Presently this highly volatile situation is clearly the most significant direct threat to US national security. No room here for bluster or inept posturing.
According to this piece no one knows with any credible certainty how long it will be before the Hermit Kingdom’s latest beloved leader manages to marry recently emerging solid fuel rocket capability with a nuclear warhead.
Notably there is no mention in this article about NK progress in building a suitably downsized nuclear warhead with significant yield — the most critical piece of a very dangerous offensive package.
Absent a similarly rapid breakthroughs in American efforts to develop a credible missile defense/intercept capability (yet very questionable), options for dealing with the overtly and stridently vocalized NK threat seem meager.
Placing US target rich naval assets (the so called armada) off the NK coast rather seems feckless.
Reliance on China to somehow aggressively rein in Kim Jong-un or stop the rapidly emerging offensive nuclear weapons program have produced no significant changes in the highly dangerous calculus.
Presently this highly volatile situation is clearly the most significant direct threat to US national security. No room here for bluster or inept posturing.
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North Korea is not a threat to the world. It is trying to protect itself. The USA is the threat to humanity.
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What happens when the North Koreans start selling solid fuel technology?
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Mutual assured destruction is still applicable. Yes, it is MAD! An enemy has only to destroy the centers of ten US large metropolitan areas to destroy the USA as we know it. Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. The disruption of only a subset of these cities would ripple throughout the globe. And, of course, ballistic missiles are not the only means of delivery of potent thermonuclear weapons which have been miniaturized for delivery by such missiles. MAD only works when the leaders are not...
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The timing is right on Memorial Day launch a first strike at NK and out an end to this madness once and for all.
Another Korean War???
New York (CNN) -- The Korean War began 60 years ago on June 25, 1950, and it still hasn't ended.
The Korean Armistice Agreement is the armistice which serves to insure a complete cessation of hostilities of the Korean War. The armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, and was designed to "insure a complete cessation of hostilities and of all acts of armed force in Korea until a final peaceful settlement is achieved."No "final peaceful settlement" has been achieved. The signed armistice established the Korean Demilitarized Zone (de facto a new border between the two nations), put into force a cease-fire, and finalized repatriation of prisoners of war.
New York (CNN) -- The Korean War began 60 years ago on June 25, 1950, and it still hasn't ended.
The Korean Armistice Agreement is the armistice which serves to insure a complete cessation of hostilities of the Korean War. The armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, and was designed to "insure a complete cessation of hostilities and of all acts of armed force in Korea until a final peaceful settlement is achieved."No "final peaceful settlement" has been achieved. The signed armistice established the Korean Demilitarized Zone (de facto a new border between the two nations), put into force a cease-fire, and finalized repatriation of prisoners of war.
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What defense flaws? Trump has often been criticized by Democrats for wanting to spend more on defense. Surely Obama had the right plans for defense and dealing with North Korea or the Times would have often complained.
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To me it looks like North Korea has essentially won the geopolitical game. I do not see a way to disarm North Korea anymore save for a war, and war at this point will devestate South Korea.
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I do not see a way to disarm the USA which has already caused so much death and destruction in the world.
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Give China two weeks to institutionalize its developmentally disabled and deranged North Korean child or else the civilized world - all Western and Asian democratic allies united - needs to remove the head of the North Korean snake.
China ? Hello ?
China ? Hello ?
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The U.S. has to put pressure on China and the USSR - period.
You have to cut the head off of the snake, and not the tail!
You have to cut the head off of the snake, and not the tail!
Why does everybody think North Korea has to launch from its own territory? A container ship or one of their submarines could launch a Pukguksong-2 within range of the United states with very little time for us to react. A further problem has been the fast track no oversight approach of the US which has led to sloppy manufacturing. Even the solder in the electronics has been found to deteriorate.
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$330 billion spent already on an ICBM interceptor missile program that has a 56 to 67% failure rate doesn't give us much confidence. We have to be right all the time - they need to be right only once.
Now throw in the X-Factor of Trump being commander-in-chief and we are probably in a failure rate of 80 to 90 %..
we are losing this race !!
Now throw in the X-Factor of Trump being commander-in-chief and we are probably in a failure rate of 80 to 90 %..
we are losing this race !!
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This goes back to 1994, when President Clinton, Secretary of Defense William Perry, and Secretary of State Warren Christopher made a decision to allow the DPRK's nuclear weapons development program to proceed. (Former Secretary Perry has recently defended that decision in a published article.) The basic reason for the decision was that a second Korean War was unacceptable. An implicit reason was that war would derail the Clintons' agenda of domestic democratization. The effect, not unconsciously, was to kick the can down the road.
We now see the results of that decision. A second Korean War looms -- this time with the enemy much, much stronger, America domestically weaker, and the American homeland now directly at risk. Thank you, Mr. Perry. Thank you, Mr. Christopher. Thank you, President Clinton.
We now see the results of that decision. A second Korean War looms -- this time with the enemy much, much stronger, America domestically weaker, and the American homeland now directly at risk. Thank you, Mr. Perry. Thank you, Mr. Christopher. Thank you, President Clinton.
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The Bush and Obama administrations also earned their share of the credit for allowing the DPRK to develop their nuclear offense to the operational stage, while failing to push forward our anti-missile defense system with the highest priority.
Obama will earn his special Kudos when Iran buys the final miniaturized nuke warhead technology from the DPRK and mates it to their intercontinental ballistic missile program, which was totally unconstrained under Obama's nuclear deal with Iran. Obviously, if the DPRK is permitted to perfect its nuclear ICBM, Iran will have it post haste, with international terrorists next in line to convert the miniaturized warhead into a deliverable "suitcase nuke" that can be smuggled into soft western targets in innocuous disguise.
Leading from behind often results in being a day late and a dollar short at the end. History suggests that when the body count is tallied, neither Bushes, nor Obamas will be high on the list.
Obama will earn his special Kudos when Iran buys the final miniaturized nuke warhead technology from the DPRK and mates it to their intercontinental ballistic missile program, which was totally unconstrained under Obama's nuclear deal with Iran. Obviously, if the DPRK is permitted to perfect its nuclear ICBM, Iran will have it post haste, with international terrorists next in line to convert the miniaturized warhead into a deliverable "suitcase nuke" that can be smuggled into soft western targets in innocuous disguise.
Leading from behind often results in being a day late and a dollar short at the end. History suggests that when the body count is tallied, neither Bushes, nor Obamas will be high on the list.
I guess the worst case scenario for NK is they launch and we will turn NK into rubble! Unfortunately that means that SK will suffer collateral damage! So will the rest of the world, that includes China! Not a pretty picture...
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True. But at the same time, do you honestly think Kim Jong-un is taking any of that into consideration?
It's one thing for the Europeans to decide to go their own way to plan their defense sans Trump. What is Japan to do now with a President of our country who has no respect for or understanding of the terms reliability consistency, continuity, stability? How much will Republicans allow the US to be weakened week by week before they any one use one of hundreds of laws broken (countless cases of perjury, emoluments breaches, security breaches), to uphold their own oaths and obligations to reliability for hundreds of millions of us?
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Well we wouldn't have this problem if your boy Billy Clinton hadn't allowed them to get the materials needed for nuclear weapons. And of course your other boy Barack Obama did nothing to stop them, in fact he did nothing for eight years but blame Bush!
This is clearly not true, and, whatever the case, irrelevant . . .
1
Interesting who you assign to be "my boy." (You have no clue. ) But you suggest what solves the problem is exactly what you criticize (and in the same comment, I might add) -go back and blame any Democrat you can find-even from 20 years ago. Do you blame the economy on the collapse immediately upon the end of Bushes 8 years? (Probably not unfortunate about our education problems) Perhaps you believe blaming democrsts protects you from dealing with the blame of more security breaches than 240 years of US Presidents and Defense professionals could have imagined (and this in less than 5 months)... How will your blaming protect you or anyone in the world from the vulnerability Now?
It seems unlikely that we'll ever be able to stop a chemically-fueled missile by throwing another chemically-fueled missile at it, especially given the reduced notice we will have. And, even if we manage to improve the lousy hit rate described in the article, all the DPRK has to do is launch lots of missiles (or use MRV technology) at the same time to overwhelm the system. High-energy laser development may improve the odds, but overwhelming the system is still a big issue.
Maybe trying to ease the conditions under which the DPRK would want to attack us would be a cheaper alternative to missile defense systems.
Maybe trying to ease the conditions under which the DPRK would want to attack us would be a cheaper alternative to missile defense systems.
5
China and Russia could do the same thing, but no one talks about attacking them? Why? Never is there a discussion of why NK would launch such an attack.
The best one gets is that there leader is a "mad man", but where is the evidence for such a statement.
They have been able to attack SK for years but they don't, because the loss to them would be unacceptable and the same would be true for an attack on the US.
The best one gets is that there leader is a "mad man", but where is the evidence for such a statement.
They have been able to attack SK for years but they don't, because the loss to them would be unacceptable and the same would be true for an attack on the US.
23
It's important to look at this through the lens of what happened this past week: There will be MORE profits coming from the players in the Middle East.
There will be FEWER profits coming from the players in NATO.
The more the pressure build with North Korea the more receptive the American public will clamor for, and approve more defense spending.
Follow the money: It's all about increasing war profits and making sure they are tax-free.
There will be FEWER profits coming from the players in NATO.
The more the pressure build with North Korea the more receptive the American public will clamor for, and approve more defense spending.
Follow the money: It's all about increasing war profits and making sure they are tax-free.
10
Hello...learn from history or forever be condemned to repeat its worst mistakes. Don't go too fast or too slow here.
1-Tell China that North Korea is a threat to the stability in the area, especially South Korea and Japan. If they don't stop North Korea's nuclear program, we will encourage South Korea and Japan to rearm and possibly even help them get nukes to defend themselves.
If China goes along with us, we will draw back our military strength in the area to a token force.
If China doesn't agree and if North Korea ever gets a long range nuclear ICBM to threaten us and if the regime is still unstable, the USA should consider taking the nukes out with force.
1-Tell China that North Korea is a threat to the stability in the area, especially South Korea and Japan. If they don't stop North Korea's nuclear program, we will encourage South Korea and Japan to rearm and possibly even help them get nukes to defend themselves.
If China goes along with us, we will draw back our military strength in the area to a token force.
If China doesn't agree and if North Korea ever gets a long range nuclear ICBM to threaten us and if the regime is still unstable, the USA should consider taking the nukes out with force.
2
Do I need to tell you that NK already possesses missiles that can strike Beijing with ease and they don't seem friendly at all from here.
13
I don't know about anyone else, but it sure doesn't seem to be a good idea to provoke North Korea right now. I don't see the gain. Sure there are human rights abuses, there are human rights abuses everywhere- they remain isolationist, why risk a nuclear warhead hitting the US, or multiple warheads? North Korea isn't threatening us.
Trump and Mattis have a stick - and they keep poking the hornets nest.
Well- looking back- for those that survive - it really won't matter much on how 'right' it was to provoke North Korea.
I'd settle issues with North Korea through support not threats. Help them move out of the regime. Kim Jong is pretty westernized, he very well may NOT like what he has inherited. There is a way forward so that all can benefit here, provoking use of nuclear weapons is NOT an option.
Prior to Trump? I've never in my life had to think- should I be looking for a flash ? what will it feel like- will it happen in seconds? And now ? Why ? Why is Trump provoking North Korea - along with Mattis who looks like he should try anti-depressants so something.
Mattis when asked- who keeps you up at night - Mattis responds 'no one, I keep other people up at night'
yeah- EXACTLY - he keeps ME up - wondering if his willy nilly use of military threats will pretty much end my life and ruin sustainable life IN the United States all for what ?
WHAT is the PRIZE ? What is the GAIN here to provoke North Korea?
It's so wrong we are even at this juncture of lunacy.
Trump and Mattis have a stick - and they keep poking the hornets nest.
Well- looking back- for those that survive - it really won't matter much on how 'right' it was to provoke North Korea.
I'd settle issues with North Korea through support not threats. Help them move out of the regime. Kim Jong is pretty westernized, he very well may NOT like what he has inherited. There is a way forward so that all can benefit here, provoking use of nuclear weapons is NOT an option.
Prior to Trump? I've never in my life had to think- should I be looking for a flash ? what will it feel like- will it happen in seconds? And now ? Why ? Why is Trump provoking North Korea - along with Mattis who looks like he should try anti-depressants so something.
Mattis when asked- who keeps you up at night - Mattis responds 'no one, I keep other people up at night'
yeah- EXACTLY - he keeps ME up - wondering if his willy nilly use of military threats will pretty much end my life and ruin sustainable life IN the United States all for what ?
WHAT is the PRIZE ? What is the GAIN here to provoke North Korea?
It's so wrong we are even at this juncture of lunacy.
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The United States is not provoking North Korea, rather North Korea is provoking the world. This is not a recent phenomenon, North Korea has been attempting to develop nuclear weapons for years. The United States is doing the only responsible thing it can and should do in response to rogue nuclear missile threats -- develop and deploy ballistic missile defenses.
6
...." Kim Jong is pretty westernized, he very well may NOT like what he has inherited."
His actions are opposite of your suggestion. Don't trust him.
His actions are opposite of your suggestion. Don't trust him.
4
"North Korea isn't threatening us." Really? While I might agree that pressuring North Korea, what you call "provoking", is probably not going to have any positive effect, I can't see how any informed person can make the claim that North Korea is not threatening the US, South Korea, and Japan. Military strength, threats, and provocation are the very core of North Korea's existence.
On a different note... I don't believe nations pursue a nuclear weapons capability in order to attack other nations (though terrorists certainly would), I believe they do so because it is what will stop most other nations from attacking them, and because it affords them more leverage in the international arena. So I'd be concerning myself more about the very real prospects of a tragic conflict on the Korean peninsula than fretting over an ICBM visiting your backyard BBQ.
And I don't believe there is any possibility what-so-ever of "nice-guying" North Korea into anything resembling normal international behavior. And forget China... she absolutely does not want a land border with a free Korea, so it is not in her national interest to go overboard in trying to make any peace between North and South.
On a different note... I don't believe nations pursue a nuclear weapons capability in order to attack other nations (though terrorists certainly would), I believe they do so because it is what will stop most other nations from attacking them, and because it affords them more leverage in the international arena. So I'd be concerning myself more about the very real prospects of a tragic conflict on the Korean peninsula than fretting over an ICBM visiting your backyard BBQ.
And I don't believe there is any possibility what-so-ever of "nice-guying" North Korea into anything resembling normal international behavior. And forget China... she absolutely does not want a land border with a free Korea, so it is not in her national interest to go overboard in trying to make any peace between North and South.
3
This will be Trumps ultimate distraction from Trump-gate--war, probably nuclear war, with North Korea.
67
I don't think Michael. Read my post. Trump has the ten or so personality disorders I mentioned but he is not psychotic or suicidal.
Demagogues want to survive at all cost.
Demagogues want to survive at all cost.
1
You made me think of a term
Distraction Gate !
heh but I too have considered if NK is some means to just take focus off of everything else.
Remember the movie Wag the Dog ? the President has sexual contact with some 13 year old FireFly girl when their 'pack' was visiting the White House? So they hire Dustin Hoffman as a movie producer to create a fake war on TV - that 'Albania' has a suitcase nuke - and US has to go to war with Albania- ALL just to distract the press and public from the firefly incident.
Distraction Gate !
heh but I too have considered if NK is some means to just take focus off of everything else.
Remember the movie Wag the Dog ? the President has sexual contact with some 13 year old FireFly girl when their 'pack' was visiting the White House? So they hire Dustin Hoffman as a movie producer to create a fake war on TV - that 'Albania' has a suitcase nuke - and US has to go to war with Albania- ALL just to distract the press and public from the firefly incident.
1
http://www.bea.gov/iTable/iTableHtml.cfm?reqid=9&step=3&isuri=1&...
January 15, 2017
Defense spending was 58.8% of federal government consumption and
investment in 2016. *
$732.2 / $1,244.5 = 58.8%
Defense spending was 22.3% of all government consumption and investment in 2016.
$732.2 / $3,276.7 = 22.3%
[ What did spending $732.2 billion on defense in 2016 actually accomplish in the way of defense? ]
January 15, 2017
Defense spending was 58.8% of federal government consumption and
investment in 2016. *
$732.2 / $1,244.5 = 58.8%
Defense spending was 22.3% of all government consumption and investment in 2016.
$732.2 / $3,276.7 = 22.3%
[ What did spending $732.2 billion on defense in 2016 actually accomplish in the way of defense? ]
31
If only only one or two out of ten incoming missiles are intercepted, that still reduces the resulting devastation proportionately. Unless it becomes impossible to accomplish at all, efforts and expenditures must continue to protect likely targets until the threat is reduced or eliminated.
2
I thought that when weak Obama was replaced by tough Trump NK would back down and hide in a corner shaking in their boots. Looks like we were duped
125
Strong men and strongmen are two very different things.
2
What do you want Trump to do Jim....start a nuclear war? over a situation that does not yet threaten America?
While one can argue that Obama could have been more forceful (read my post), but too go either too fast or too slow here is the wrong way. Learn from history.
Trump is a bigoted, admitted sexual predator, rabble rousing, pathological liar, ego maniac and demagogue who would not know what to do if the solution was handed to him on a silver platter...He is an establishment snake oil salesman, posing as a populist.
While one can argue that Obama could have been more forceful (read my post), but too go either too fast or too slow here is the wrong way. Learn from history.
Trump is a bigoted, admitted sexual predator, rabble rousing, pathological liar, ego maniac and demagogue who would not know what to do if the solution was handed to him on a silver platter...He is an establishment snake oil salesman, posing as a populist.
1
This is the kind of inevitable development early anti-nuclear war activists imagined in their wildest dreams--the process of "drift and thrust" C. Wright Mills identified in The Causes of World War III in 1958. "Hitting a bullet with a bullet." Duck and cover.
23