Will the U.S. Preemptively Strike NK?And is a Diplomatic Solution Even Possible at this Point?

IWB ^ | Robert Carbery

[davikkm]

The unpredictable and increasingly dangerous North Korea celebrated the fourth of July by launching its own rocket into the air. But this was far from a firework sent to the sky to celebrate a country’s independence. The North Korean regime has successfully launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching Alaska but not the mainland.

At least, not yet.

North Korea is a growing threat to the U.S. as Trump and his generals ponder what to do. The latest weapons test caught American military officials off guard as it included a new type of missile fired from a mobile launch site. There is now growing concern that the Trump administration and its group of neoconservative generals are moving closer to taking military action.

General Vincent Brooks, the top American military commander in South Korea, said on Wednesday that the U.S. and South Korea were prepared to go to war with the North if given the order. This preemptive strike would be catastrophic for the peninsula, on which 28,500 U.S. troops are still stationed and where over 10 million South Koreans live in the city of Seoul, only 35 miles from the border.

[MUDDOG]

NK is actively developing nuclear weapons and ICBMs, and has threatened to use them.

It’s not just against us; NK has a record of aggression against South Korea and Japan.

The key is to predict what NK will do when they have developed the means to nuke us.

Kim is not just some comic figure. The record of NK against its own people shows that he and his predecessors are ruthless murderers, and Kim is strange. That’s not enough to start a war against him, but it weighs in the balance when trying to predict how NK will use its nukes and ICBMs.

We want to contain NK. At the least possible cost. If that can be done short of war, all the better. But if it takes a war, we better have a strategy to win with the least possible damage to ourselves and our allies.

[DoodleBob]

I hope I'm right, too. This madman don't strike me as one who is seeking martyrdom. I think, faced with the cold terror that the US got into his palace and can easily do it again, he'd take a hint.

All this is in contrast to President Stompy Foot. Remember that Sept 2016 NK nuclear test? What did Obama say?

"Upon hearing the news of the test, I had the opportunity to consult separately via phone with Republic of Korea (ROK) President Park Geun-Hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. We agreed to work with the UN Security Council, our other Six-Party partners, and the international community to vigorously implement existing measures imposed in previous resolutions, and to take additional significant steps, including new sanctions, to demonstrate to North Korea that there are consequences to its unlawful and dangerous actions.

Well, this didn't sound like the leader of the free world. It reminded me of...

I think NK bought into the fake news that Trump et al are dopey people. I believe they are about to be proven wrong.

[luvbach1]

We hate war but it looks like war. War is preferable to being nuked.

[luvbach1]

I think we’d be very pleasantly surprised at how quickly the US would take out the NK artillery aimed at Seoul.

You may be right but wouldn't it necessitate a massive attack on those batteries, coincidental with the obliteration of missile launch sites and support? Shock and awe X 10.

[MUDDOG]

Yep. The need for speed is so we take them out before they devastate Seoul. And that may only be possible if we make a massive first strike.

South Korea seems to be working closely with us, so it looks like they think it’s doable.

[DoodleBob]

Yeah yeah yeah. Maybe so. So far it's all just talk and tweets.

Understood (more on that later), but that is precisely my point. A proper NK strategy (any strategy, really) has an element of surprise, even misdirection. The US didn't tell the Axis powers to keep watch over Normandy, the Marines didn't announce the landing at Inchon, and Reagan didn't run the Psyops idea past the Kremlin first or call Khadaffi to ask "where's the baby's room?"

Indeed, I have it on good authority that the Tweets are classic misdireciton, designed to keep the media et al away from the REAL stuff. As for Winning, here is the most recent list of 180+ wins (as of May).

I will admit, I'd like for things to move faster. I'd like for tax cuts to be enacted NOW (from that will flow LOTS of good wins). But I also recognize this isn't a game of Monopoly. Candidly, the regulatory relief we've seen thus far doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves. But that's ok. I'm happy to sit back and give this Administration time, while I remember we dodged this...

[Ransomed]

I’d like to know what % of the military think they will be tried for crimes against humanity if there is regime change. It would make a big difference in how much fight they would put up if the leadership is somehow killed.

Freegards

[plain talk]

Understand. No whining from me about Trump. Love him. Just being consistent. When it comes to NK ... Trump - thus far - has just been all talk ... just like previous Presidents. I know he has only been in office a few months etc.

I like the fact he is NOT being a bull in a China Shop and is being thoughtful, cautious and presidential. He is far more patient than people give him credit for. He hasn’t even nuked anyone yet. :-)

[MUDDOG]

Good point.

If we learned anything from the aftermath of Gulf War II, it’s to keep as many NK military people in place as possible.

I’d also think China would want as little disruption as possible as well.

The problem is, NK is said to be such a closed society and executes people so readily, I don’t know if we can get the message through that we won’t go after them.

[DoodleBob]

He hasn’t even nuked anyone yet. :-)

[Hugin]

Seems to me it’s not about cheating but storing. All the energy used to put it into orbit is released at once at a specific point of impact. Like I said, look at the crater a small meteorite makes. We can certainly put objects of that size and weight into orbit.

[Brooklyn Attitude]

“NK is actively developing nuclear weapons and ICBMs, and has threatened to use them.”

Saber rattling designed to keep his starving people from eating him and to extort money to keep his govt alive.

“It’s not just against us; NK has a record of aggression against South Korea and Japan.”

The Norks have no capability to successfully invade SK let alone Japan.

“Kim is not just some comic figure. The record of NK against its own people shows that he and his predecessors are ruthless murderers, and Kim is strange.”

Kim is a tool of China. They tell him to bark when needed to see what the US will do. The Chinese may want to see how far we can be pushed before attacking. Starting a preemptive war with NK would be a huge mistake.

[HiTech RedNeck]

If you have fuel enough to send a rocket up, why not use it to shoot a bullet at a target at time of need from earth?

[HiTech RedNeck]

So let America say Enough.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The linchpin is still the Dear Leader system. Remove the keystone and the arch falls.

[JimRed]

A nuclear “accident” at NKs facility (with plausible deniability) would be preferable.

[JimRed]

Hello China? Is your conscience home?

Commies with consciences?