Replies

"Thinking that way makes as much sense as assuming W has his head in the sand because he's not engaging in public saber rattling."

My comment wasn't aimed specifically at President Bush, nor was it specific to this crisis, but I'll certainly respond to what you said. I don't think President Bush has his head in the sand, but I do think that he, and about 200 other people in Washington are looking at other people and saying, "deal with it [the North Korean crisis]", which leaves it unresolved after 2+ years of an admitted nuclear North Korea. That's an admitted nuclear North Korea developing nuclear capable ICBMs with the entire US well within range, by the way.

I don't want saber rattling - I want a massive US strike force quietly assembled and readied for a decapitation strike against North Korea, followed by a massive invasion to take Pyongyang. I want to see huge numbers of subs and stealth bombers in the area to knock out Tae-po Dong IIs before they launch, and a bunch of Aegis cruisers off the coast to take out the launch vehicles if any do manage to launch. I want South Korean troops covering our backs and our supply lines, I want Pyongyang taken, and I want it all by the end of the year.

What's the message that sends? Threaten the US with nuclear weapons and lose control of your country. 3 million people in your armed forces offer no protection, nor do 8 to 10 nuclear weapons. Threaten the US, and you're done.

If that's the message those actions send, what message is sent by us ignoring this crisis while North Korea continues right along with building nuclear weapons and the missiles to deliver them to our cities?

Nice idea, but a LITTLE problem you didn't mention...

Red China.

You throw that much US force into the area, that close to the Chinese border, and the Chinese will have a royal fit...and likely launch a counter-offensive. Open war with China? Bad mojo there.

However, if the unthinkable happens, and NK actually launches and destroys a US city (and being in Seattle, I'm in a prime target area for them), then we quietly (through gritted teeth) inform the Chinese to ignore the barrage of ICBM's headed in their direction. They aren't for them.

I know the idea is to pre-empt any such launch, but you have to know what to do if it DOES happen.