Mondale backs pre-emptive missile strike (against North Korean missile)

AP ^ | June 23, 2006

[West Coast Conservative]

Former Vice President Walter Mondale said Friday he supports a pre-emptive U.S. strike against a North Korean missile, saying the U.S. should tell North Korea to dismantle the missile or "we are going to take it out."

"I think it would end the nuclear long-range dreams of this dangerous country," said Mondale, who was the 1984 Democratic presidential nominee and a former U.S. ambassador to Japan.

The tensions are over North Korea's apparent preparations to test-fire a Taepodong-2 missile, which is believed to have a range of up to 9,300 miles. That would make it capable of hitting much of the U.S. mainland.

Mondale, 78, said North Korea already has nuclear weapons and its ambition to develop a long-range missile is "one of the most dangerous developments in recent history." It's so dangerous, he said, because of the nation's isolation from the international community and its unpredictable leader, Kim Jong Il.

"Here's this bizarre, hermit kingdom over there with a paranoid leader getting ready to test a missile system that can hit us," Mondale said.

Former President Clinton's defense secretary, William Perry, also advocated a pre-emptive strike in The Washington Post, but National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley brushed aside Perry's suggestion. Mondale spoke about a pre-emptive strike during an appearance on WCCO-AM in Minneapolis.

Mondale and President Jimmy Carter took office in 1976 and were defeated by Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980. Mondale lost as the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984. He was appointed ambassador to Japan in 1993 and is now practicing law in Minneapolis.

[Lando Lincoln]

Seems to me that the DNC is having fringe Democrats making these statements. Sort of a "just in case" statement if something goes sour - such as, it launches, has a warhead; or it is fantastically successful; or we try to shoot it down and fail; etc..... Also, it could be a ploy to show that Dems are not "soft" on national security.

[Zathras]

I've got to look out the window to see what color the sky is on the planet I live on!!
Yep, its still blue.

[John Lenin]

These idiots only bing attention to the failure of the Clinton administration. Keep talking morons.

[Eagles Talon IV]

LOL, Libs are so hawkish, as long as they aren't holding any elected office.

[BenLurkin]

They say it now because they know no one will do it.

That way they pretend to be tough without taking any risks.

[Spktyr]

Actually, in the case of Seoul, they don't need a nuke.

They have 250,000 artillery tubes and missile rails pointed at it within range.


This is why we can't pre-emptive strike NK - unless we're willing to write off Seoul, South Korea, and everyone who lives there along with the SEA economy. Of course, the Dems know this and they know that our economy would suffer as well, so they're trying to get a preemptive strike to happen, IMHO.

If it can't be a Democrat that gets NK to agree to peace, they're willing to kill thousands or millions just so they can get back into power. They proved that in New Orleans, they're showing that now.

[Obadiah]

You mean like they did in Vietnam and the Iraq war?

[evets]

Dot it for Paul! For Paul!

[catholicfreeper]

You know this might not be popular but its time to think about this a little bit. I am not saying that a strike might not be necessary but this better be well, well, though out

I was watching Fox roundtable and other shows and they raised some issues.

This will be the first time the we have ever attacked a Nuclear Power. That should be appreciated. There could be some consequences here that could get out of control. With a closed Society as North Korea are we sure who is really in control, what factions are sharing powers and if indivduals there can control them.

I am sure the Bush admisnstration has their best minds on this but don't be suprised that we might have to suck this one up and proceed down other lines of engagement and stragety

[gondramB]

>>Interesting how the pacifist dems can egg us on to acts of war, but not support the follow through.<<

Yeah... simply having a long range missile is not sufficient justification for an attack. If it were then we should attack a bunch of countries and they would all be entitled to attack us.

[sinkspur]

What is it with these idiot Democrats trying to out-macho each other?

They sure are anxious for Bush to be the one to punch North Korea in the nose. Then they can sit back and trash him for starting WWIV.

[slowhand520]

This is an obvious Dem ploy. Change the subject from "disarray and indecision on Iraq" to a "monolithic approach" to make it seem they have a plan for N Korea. Just watch, the next step will be from the Dems to say "What's the administration's plan". The media wing of the Democratic party will carry the water all the way through

[Crawdad]

Mondale spoke at my college commencement in 1982 in Tuscaloosa. All he talked about was what fields/professions we should go into. I swear he thought it was a high school graduation.

[dighton]

Dukakis to follow up on the ground.

[Edgerunner]

If ANY demoncrat believes it's a good idea to destroy the NK missile, then I say we shouldn't unless the missile would fall on American soil!

[kellynla]

notice these Lefties get reeeeeel macho after they are out of office...

[Dosa26]

Actually, in the case of Seoul, they don't need a nuke. They have 250,000 artillery tubes and missile rails pointed at it within range.

It's not a quarter million, but it is enough to reduce Soul to Grozney in hours.

[angcat]

Seems ol Bubba is always laughing at funerals. What a cavone!

[engrpat]

Democrats are always the same: with y'a in the beginning but not there at the end. All for war until the shooting starts then they want to pull out. What a bunch of jerks.

[Abathar]

If this isn't posted over at the DUmmies site I'm going to put it there, just to see them get their panties in a twist...