HENRY A. KISSINGER: North Korea Throws Down the Gauntlet

NY Times ^ | June 4, 2009 | HENRY A. KISSINGER

[neverdem]

The Obama administration has so far dealt publicly with the North Korean challenge in an understated, almost leisurely, manner.

Emphasizing continued reliance on multilateral diplomacy, it has invited Pyongyang to return to the conference table, even while North Korea threatens military action and tests nuclear weapons and the missiles to deliver them — in the face of a declaration by all the major world powers that such actions are “unacceptable.”

The challenge goes far beyond the regional security issue. For America, it involves relations with an emerging superpower (China); relations with a re-emerging Russia; relations with key U.S. allies (Japan and South Korea); and a major escalation in the threat of proliferation to non-state parties.

The resumption of nuclear and missile testing by North Korea represents an abrupt reversal of a negotiating process that has been going, with only brief interruptions, for nearly two decades.

Since 2004, six-party talks in Beijing included all the countries (North and South Korea, China, Russia, Japan and the United States) directly threatened by North Korean missiles and nuclear weapons. For a while, it was argued that bilateral negotiations between the United States and North Korea would prove more effective.

That debate has become largely academic. Both approaches were pursued; both contributed to the stalemate inherited by the Obama administration.

I favored negotiations with Pyongyang and have occasionally participated in Track II dialogue with Korean officials outside...

--snip--

De facto acquiescence in a North Korean nuclear program would require a reconsideration of current U.S. strategic planning. More emphasis would need to be given to missile defense. It would be essential to redesign the American deterrent strategy in a world of multiple nuclear powers — a challenge unprecedented in our experience. The enhanced role of non-state actors with respect to terrorism would have to be addressed...

[neverdem]

Senile old fool ,you are fine until you jump on the Climate Change garbage,go back to drooling somewhere else

I had a similar reaction, but it's good that he put the White House on notice about North Korea. The White House didn't want to be bothered with foreign policy. They just wanted to hope for a miracle with the economy, energy and health care.

[thirst4truth]

A pack of utter self absorbed, but dangerous, idiots!! I worry about my American cousins a lot. CO

Its what they wanted, The American Idol President. It made them feel good voting for a black man. It made them feel all special that they weren't prejudice anymore. Besides he's cool, he smokes cigarettes and doesn't have to read 800 billion dollar spending bills, before signing. And he has 16 Czars. (at last count).

Can we make it through this? How many will die or be financially destoyed for feeling good about voting for the American Idol President?

[SunkenCiv]

Emphasizing continued reliance on multilateral diplomacy, it has invited Pyongyang to return to the conference table, even while North Korea threatens military action and tests nuclear weapons and the missiles to deliver them -- in the face of a declaration by all the major world powers that such actions are "unacceptable."

NK's action and the UN's failure to act weakens NK's hand with the Chinese and weakens the UN. Eventually, the Chinese will intervene in NK, probably sooner than later. This whole fiasco has embarrassed and enraged the Chinese gov't, and makes them look like pussies to the region.

[aposiopetic]

we know that Margaret Sanger’s work here in the United States and certainly across our globe is not done

I guess this means there are still those whom Sanger deemed inferior who have not been sterilized.

[Gritty]

Henry is very nervous and it shows. He sees the handwriting of terrible things on the wall. He is practically pleading for action.

0bama will do nothing except give more speeches. Eventually, American cities will vaporize, but that is probably OK with him if he and his thugs get to reign over the rubble and do what they want with the remains.

[jonrick46]

I sense that Kissinger is getting nervous. Every one I talk to is sensing that something is coming down and it will be big.

[lentulusgracchus]

Eventually, American cities will vaporize, but that is probably OK with him if he and his thugs get to reign over the rubble and do what they want with the remains.

That sort of leadership style was once the subject of a longish article in Atlantic Monthly, about 20 years ago. Three personality types in their sorter, or intelligence types. One was the dominative type you described, concerned only with relative positioning in the group. It's the dominant personality style in government and business since the Depression. The other two are more creative, results-oriented, and sociable.

The point of the article was, we have been living under a sort of tyranny of the mismotivated, and the country is suffering as a result, with inventions and copyrights declining as a share of world activity and so on.

[Quix]

Thanks.

Wonder what Kissenger says. will read the above.

Should be a clue as to the Oligarchy’s stance and games with NK.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Canadian Outrage]

That’s my question also - Can you make it through this? I don’t know. Now, there is an Amendment to remove Term Limits for Presidents? I knew this wouldn’t take long. He plans to be your Czar in Chief for life. Something very wrong is taking place in America. CO

[lentulusgracchus]

Odumbo

I think this is a huge mistake, figuring Obama for a dummy.

He has the support of an extensive Marxist network that has been planning for the chance to overreach the United States people for 50 years or more. They are disciplined and smart and dangerous.

Sharpen up, everybody.