[Jeff Head]

The PRC knows all of this and will use the N. Koreans, and IMHO, is using the N. Koreans, to agitate, test, and measure our (and the West's) repsonses so that the ChiComms themselves can increase their power and influence in the region. I firmly believe that they do the same with the Islamofascists in Iran and Pakistan to the extent that they can. IMHO, that is more of what this is all about than anything else.

All warfare is deception - Sun Tsu

[wagglebee]

I believe you are correct. However, I do not believe that the Chicoms want a war with the US. They realize that their economic success is directly tied to trade with us.

There is no question that they want to be the dominant power in the Pacific Rim. This is not good for us; however, for multiple reasons (Clinton's duplicity, ever-expanding Chinese imports, etc.), I am not sure if we can do anything short of an all out war to stop this. At this point in time, I don't think that either the US or the Chicoms want or can risk a war and what we are in is another Cold War.

Like it or not, I think we are stuck with the situation we are in with the Chicoms, at least for the foreseeable future. However, we can probably coerce them into dealing with their psychotic North Korean lapdog.