North Korea

[Spinoza]

Don't see the Clinton angle here. This goes way back to the Chinese and Soviets in the 80s.

And, missile defense or not, this is cause for alarm. The guy's a nut. A nut with WMDs doesn't really seem like something I'd want to trust to anti-nuke systems, and it isn't something I'd try to spin into party bashing, on either side. Seems a little more serious than that.

I envy any individual who can say more in a few brief sentences, than I am able to muster with numerous paragraphs and various intoxicated jibberish.

When I read your post...... I could not help but wonder how successful any American "anti-nuke" system might be at stopping a North Korean nuke missile from traveling only a few kilometers from North to South Korea.

And would it not be something indeed...... If both sides of America's political aisle found the potential deaths of a million or so "nuked human beings" of any persuasion...... To be just a tad more important than any so very obvious political mischief?

[Soonerdawg]

Hey, the ignore feature works. It just let me know an a-hole posted, but there is nothing there. I like the ignore button.

[TYLERTECHSAS]

Spinoza, I have agreed with a few of your posts, at least those concerning Israel of late, but not this one. Failure of Clinton to handle the N.Korea Pres./ nuke issue as well as dealing and killing OBL years ago are the main reasons we are still having to talk about these clowns today.

BTW, so much for your qoute "And would it not be something indeed...... If both sides of America's political aisle found the potential deaths of a million or so "nuked human beings" of any persuasion...... To be just a tad more important than any so very obvious political mischief?" As you can see below, the DEMS and Sen. Harry Kerry are already hitting that it is BUSH's fault concerning the N.Korea problem. Yeah right! So much for the DEMS allowing the world to see a united American front on these major world issues. They should be ashamed!



Oct 9, 10:09 PM EDT

Democrats Assail Bush's N. Korea Policy

By LIZ SIDOTI
Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/JULIA MALAKIEtcdacmd="cc=wdn; dt";U.S. Video

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats seized on North Korea's brazen act to criticize President Bush's record in confronting the communist regime, contending the administration's focus on Iraq ignored legitimate threats.
Democratic Sen. John Kerry, the president's rival in 2004 and a potential 2008 candidate, assailed Bush's policy as a "shocking failure," and said, "While we've been bogged down in Iraq where there were no weapons of mass destruction, a madman has apparently tested the ultimate weapon of mass destruction."
One month before midterm elections, North Korea's reported nuclear test provided Republicans an opportunity to shift the focus from their embarrassing - and politically explosive - congressional page scandal to national security, an issue the GOP considers its strength.
Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Senate's second-ranking Republican, accused Democrats of playing partisan politics with a nuclear weapons threat. "Listening to some Democrats, you'd think the enemy was George Bush, not Kim Jong Il," he said.
AP_Tacoda_AMS_DDC_addPair("SECTION", "POLITICS")AP_Tacoda_AMS_DDC("http://te.ap.org/tte/blank.gif", "1.0")http://te.ap.org/tte/blank.gif?0.910...CTION=POLITICS
Seizing on North Korea's actions to argue Republicans are stronger on security than Democrats is riddled with pitfalls and leaves the GOP's standard-bearer - Bush - as well as his rank-and-file vulnerable to criticism.
The president long has faced complaints that he has failed to sufficiently address North Korea and the threat has festered on his watch.
In the nearly five years since Bush labeled North Korea part of an "axis of evil" with Iran and Iraq, Kim Jong Il's government has withdrawn from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, announced it has nuclear weapons, refused to return to six-nation talks and launched seven missiles into the Sea of Japan, including a long-range Taepodong-2.
On Sunday, North Korea said it conducted its first-ever nuclear test.
Buy AP Photo Reprints
"The Bush administration has for several years been in a state of denial about the growing challenge of North Korea, and has too often tried to downplay the issue or change the subject," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
"We had the opportunity to stop North Korea from increasing its nuclear power, but George Bush went to sleep at the switch while he pursued his narrow agenda in Iraq," added Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat in a tough campaign in New Jersey.
Republicans, in turn, sought to deflect the criticism by lodging some of their own. They voiced their frequent claim that Democrats are weak on security - and dredged up Democratic votes they said illustrated their point.
House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, accused Democrats of standing in the way of work on a missile defense program. "It is now clear that such a position would weaken America's national defense and put Americans in danger," he said.
"Sherrod Brown's far left national security positions more troubling in light of North Korean missile test," the Senate Republicans' campaign committee said in a release that claims Brown voted a dozen times since 1993 to cut funding for ballistic missile defense.
Mindful of the tricky political subtext, some Republicans issued more carefully worded statements or refrained from attacking Democrats altogether.
GOP Sen. Rick Santorum, facing a bitter re-election battle, said in a barely veiled reference to Democrats - "North Korea's actions cause great concern. This is no time for inexperienced, weak leaders."
House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and others directed their anger at the North Koreans, with the speaker calling the test "a desperate act of a criminal regime."
The GOP's campaign to convince voters that Democratic rule is dangerous for the country was sidetracked when Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., resigned amid revelations that he sent sexually explicit electronic messages to teenage males who once worked as House pages. That set off infighting among Republicans - and knocked the party off its strong-on-safety message.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
Purchase this AP story for reprint.

[Abominable Gorilla]

When I read your post...... I could not help but wonder how successful any American "anti-nuke" system might be at stopping a North Korean nuke missile from traveling only a few kilometers from North to South Korea.

It isn't launched from America.

KEI (Kinetic Energy Interceptor) is a multistage rocket that does not contain an explosive. The idea is to be moving so fast that you hit the nuke in the boost stage and knock it back down. Because the nuke is still in the boost stage, you have a good chance of not setting off the detonation. This only works if you happen to have the countermeasure nearby where the nuke is launched. In this case, we do.

Besides, I don't think the North Koreans are interested in nuking South Korea. It's too close. You wouldn't use a hand grenade to stop a burglar from robbing your house, would you?

[champion110]

It isn't launched from America.

KEI (Kinetic Energy Interceptor) is a multistage rocket that does not contain an explosive. The idea is to be moving so fast that you hit the nuke in the boost stage and knock it back down. Because the nuke is still in the boost stage, you have a good chance of not setting off the detonation. This only works if you happen to have the countermeasure nearby where the nuke is launched. In this case, we do.

Besides, I don't think the North Koreans are interested in nuking South Korea. It's too close. You wouldn't use a hand grenade to stop a burglar from robbing your house, would you?

I hope you are right, AG. I do worry about the size of the explosion on this last test (if it was indeed really a nuclear test), though. It was small and contained. A small detonation like that would be perfect for using it against your close neighbor. I haven't checked the news yet this morning, so I am unsure if we have figured out exactly what it was yet.

[PawDawg]

The bunch in Washington better forget politics for a while and work on this mess.

It's not who N.Korea may nuke, it's who they may sell to. When we see what China does we will know how to react.

[champion110]

The bunch in Washington better forget politics for a while and work on this mess.

It's not who N.Korea may nuke, it's who they may sell to. When we see what China does we will know how to react.

I agree. We both know that "politics" won't stop through this all, but we may have a HUGE problem on our hands that will make Iraq look like a blip on the screen.

[CARTEK]

The concern is not about a launched weapon; however, their is a real concern for a suitcase or trunk sized device turning up in the wrong hands (can you say Iran) and in turn making its way to Israel or New York City.

[Champ967]

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen ..."

[TYLERTECHSAS]

The bunch in Washington better forget politics for a while and work on this mess.

It's not who N.Korea may nuke, it's who they may sell to. When we see what China does we will know how to react.

Ditto!

[TYLERTECHSAS]

The concern is not about a launched weapon; however, their is a real concern for a suitcase or trunk sized device turning up in the wrong hands (can you say Iran) and in turn making its way to Israel or New York City.

Right again! This Pyongyang clown, along with the Iranian Pres., needs to be permanently taken care of via special clandestine measures.

[TYLERTECHSAS]

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen ..."

AMEN! And the signs of the times are everywhere.

[Soonerdawg]

AMEN! And the signs of the times are everywhere.

And, if you believe in the prophesy of the Bible, it is exciting. By the very definition of that belief, Jesus Christ is in control of history. We get to relax in that knowledge and enjoy our lives as God wants for his children.

[champion110]

And, if you believe in the prophesy of the Bible, it is exciting. By the very definition of that belief, Jesus Christ is in control of history. We get to relax in that knowledge and enjoy our lives as God wants for his children.

The risk is not God's plan for the world. The risk is man taking actions to harm others in the belief that it is God's plan.

[Soonerdawg]

The risk is not God's plan for the world. The risk is man taking actions to harm others in the belief that it is God's plan.

I see what you are saying. People do horrible, horrible things in God's name. Shamefully, I've been guilty of it myself, just not to the extent of some crazies. We have all sinned and come short of the Glory of God. Thank you for pointing that out.

What I meant was that these things are not happening without God's knowledge. (I know it is a double negative - They are happening with God's full knowledge). Jesus Christ controls history. He's not worried, nor am I. Our country has elected people to take care of this mess, I pray for our leaders, and I go about my business. I am nothing but a spectator, and I will stay relaxed about the whole thing.

Now, someday, in the near future, one of my children may have to go to war. My elder son wants to be in the Marines someday. My relaxed mental attitude will be tested to the full extent if, and when, that happens. But my intention is to maintain that attitude. We will see.