Of course he does, the issue is who it was created by...
Posted on 03/30/2009 11:54:49 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
Appearing on Fox News on Sunday, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the United States "was not prepared to do anything about" North Korea's rocket launch, which is expected to take place in the coming days. Gates' latest comments differ from what he said on Feb. 10, that the U.S. could intercept North Korea's missile "if necessary." On Mar. 19, Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, said the U.S. is "fully prepared" to shoot down the missile and added that the U.S. military has the capability to do it.
Judging from the situation so far, the U.S. administration appears to have decided it would be difficult to take any measures against a North Korean missile launch other than discussing it with the UN Security Council. And the Security Council is unlikely to impose new sanctions on North Korea, so the most plausible outcome could be a low-level censure, such as a declaration by the host country of the council criticizing the launch.
This would be very disappointing for a large number of South Koreans, who had hoped the U.S. administration would either prevent the satellite launch by engaging in strong diplomatic efforts, or be followed by a concerted international move demonstrating the resolve not to condone such acts.
This would spread the view among both North and South Koreans, as well as the international community, that the U.S. has no magic formula either. Fundamentally, it would exacerbate confusion and suspicions over the Obama administration’s North Korea policy.
After meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Washington on Mar. 11, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the ultimate goal was to get rid of North Korea's nuclear program and added that the U.S. had many options to deal with a North Korean missile launch. Clinton said efforts would still be made to resume the six-party talks, which have been stalled since October 2007.
But the U.S. Defense Department appears to have a different view. Gates said Sunday the six-party talks had made no progress and that this was a source of significant concern. He also voiced skepticism about a purely diplomatic solution, saying he believes the success rate is higher when economic sanctions are used, whether they target North Korea or Iran.
As demonstrated by those contrasting comments, the broad framework of North Korea policy within the Obama administration has yet to be formulated clearly. The basic direction, a consultation system for North Korea affairs within the administration and a cooperative network with Congress, all remain unclear, while the State Department has yet to appoint an assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs. This is all happening while the Obama administration reviews North Korea policy.
As if it were catching the Obama administration off its guard, North Korea is seeking to up the ante by staging the so-called satellite launch, which is a ploy, according to Secretary Gates, to develop an inter-continental ballistic missile. With no significant leverage at its disposal, South Korea is simply sitting by with its eyes fixed on Washington.
This helplessness cannot continue indefinitely. Seoul and Washington need to hurry up and produce a set of basic principles and at least a rough blueprint of how they intend to deal with North Korea over next four years. If there is not enough time to do this at the Apr. 2 summit in London, they need to set up another meeting as soon as possible. If they fail to do this, there will be no end to North Korea's antics.
That's one philosophy, and it doesn't work of course for someone who gets a thrill out of the new leased car every couple of years. To each their own.
It is fun to see the communists and socialists join the common sense members of Japanese parliament in a unanamious vote to tell off the North Koreans.
Of course, to vote otherwise in this current nationalist environment here in Japan would be akin to admitting one self as 非国民。 (anti-Japanese).
Of course he does, the issue is who it was created by...
Yes, set up another meeting...
“Does Obama Have a North Korea Policy?”
Does Obama know that North Korea is not one of the 57 States???
I've owned quite a few BMW 2002s, and am now on a M318is.
Since 1984, I've had all my BMWs on the racetrack instructing other BMW owners in BMW-CCA car club track events. It's quite a car, including those made in Spartanburg, SC. (So they can be "American"). :)
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Our allies in Seoul have our fearless leader figured out.
He has never done any heavy lifting but he has succeeded beyond expectations. His psyche tells him that he doesn't have to do anything, things will work out anyway.
His policy is: He is going to let North Korea nuke Hawaii ...then claim the rocket blew up his birth records!
Thanks for the ping.
Like Europe, South Korea wakes up and realizes the US no longer has the will desire or capability to be the world's parent.
We now eliminate threats by changing our terminology. We are not willing to stop North Korea so we give them our “permission” to proceed. grim LOL.
Obama and ACORN will figure something out.
Exactly! Hey South Korea! We're a little busy these days... you're on your own. Good luck and write us soon!
Did the vote tally actually display that way, or were the numbers “photoshopped in” for the benefit of Western readers?
Distressingly, there may be a grain of truth to that.
What is the teleprompters policy?
The words haven’t appeared yet on the Teleprompter, but when they do, Zero will be right there to let us know!
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