As the world now knows, North Korea has openly conducted a nuclear test. Some experts have questioned its success, but whether fully accomplished or not, the Communist state's intention is clear - to brandish nuclear bombs as an offensive weapon.
Writers from around the web have commented on the launch, from those who worry greatly, to others who virtually discount it, to yet others who write about larger implications and its relevance to American politics. Collectively, it seems, almost every viewpoint can be found.
Without too much rehashing, then, I'd like to offer my own perspective. America, I believe, can live with a nuclear North Korea. It's far from ideal, but we can likely manage the situation with proper deterrents, similar to those used against the Soviet Union.
What the U.S. also *must* do, though, is learn from its North Korea mistakes, so to stop a much more dangerous repeat with Iran.
Throughout the 1990s, as North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il announced his nuclear aspirations, President Clinton responded diplomatically, signing a non-nuclear pact with him that naively demonstrated America's trust in his promises of peaceful intentions. Of course, however, Kim lied through his teeth, commencing atomic development the moment the ink was dry. The end result, to say the least, has been that a vicious anti-American state has gained power, its democratic neighbors Japan and South Korea feel existentially threatened, the entire region risks an unstable nuclear arms race, and terrorists have gained a potential WMD supplier. To call these developments a gigantic risk to the free world is an understatement.
And if we think that's bad, we could be headed for deja vu all over again with Iran, unless America and the West approach the fanatical Mullahs much more strongly. We cannot risk such weapons in the hands of rulers who aim to be even more tyrannical than Kim.
The lesson, therefore, couldn't be more clear: Autocratic regimes cannot be trusted in negotiations, and any ruler who openly declares a desire to attack the United States holds a perfectly serious intent. Negotiating with Iran is an absolute capitulation to the Mullahs' goals. America's only choice is to push for regime change and/or attack the Islamic republic's nuclear facilities. These measures may seem harsh and risky, but they utterly pale compared to the world war that could occur otherwise.
President Clinton's foreign policy greatly failed with North Korea. President Bush has the chance to correct such mistakes. For the sake of the entire free world, he must immediately get moving.
Yeah, well, good luck on that one. The only way Iran will be attacked is if they impede the flow of oil instead of augment it as they are currently doing. Iran can crap all over the Straits of Hormuz where all the Mid-East oil shipping passes through, and block off that oil supply. This would cost Big Oil plenty and Big Oil is currently running this country aka George Bush. Why do you think he keeps running his mouth to keep the voters happy but never actually does a damn thing?
Rastaman
www.islamanazi.com
Posted by: Rastaman | October 12, 2006 at 12:59 PM
You know, I wouldn't be surprised if Iran actually tried such a move. They're so overeager to harm the U.S. that they might even attempt something entirely self-destructive in order to do it.
Even without a military attack, though, there are some other ways America could pressure them: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52425
Posted by: Solid Surfer | October 13, 2006 at 12:03 AM
Look, they want a nuke test. We got extra nukes. The least we can do is help them out with their problem!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
PS: Rastaman, you haven't noticed that both Korean tests failed and the Iranians have had problems with their centrifuges crashing due to contaminated uranium hexafloride??
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
And while Bush does nothing all the Jihadis are dying on their own??
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Keep the LEFTARD Propagand bites coming there BOY!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Posted by: KuhnKat | October 14, 2006 at 12:31 AM
Did the North Korean tests actually fail? It seems at this point like some are saying yes and some are saying no.
Posted by: Solid Surfer | October 15, 2006 at 08:56 PM
Either they failed or the North Koreans managed to build sub Kiloton weapons on their first try. Something that took the US quite a few years to do.
The only tests I have seen that even indicate the explosions contained nuclear material is alledged radioactivity in atmospheric sampling!! Without extensive forensics to check for fission byproducts, that is not a good indicator. We MIGHT get more info this week!!
Posted by: Kuhnkat | October 15, 2006 at 09:38 PM
The Friends of Korea claim that the NK were trying for a 4 kiloton blast. They FAILED!!
I am eagerly awaiting the next test to see if they can do better!!
Even if they nail this one, it will be a few more tries before they can shrink the mess down to nose cone package size.
Can't WAIT to hear the Dhimmicrat and other excuses !!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Posted by: KuhnKat | October 17, 2006 at 10:44 PM
Apparently Kim now regrets the nuclear test: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061020/ap_on_re_as/nkorea_kim_nuclear
And we should feel so sorry for him. Yeah, right.
Posted by: Solid Surfer | October 20, 2006 at 01:24 AM