Posted on 03/26/2010 8:05:15 AM PDT by BradtotheBone
News flash:
The latest report says that the ship had been completely sunk.
You are correct; the war never ended.
And it is a shame that NK is recognized as a “country.”
Damn. Is there any doubt this was deliberate?
Yes, there are still a couple of other possibilities...
1) Ships don’t routinely spontaneously blow up the way they did from 1880-1945 (Cordite cooking off and what not) but there’s still a lot of explosives and flammable material on board; Jane’s states this class of vessel carries 12 Depth Charges, and these would be stored at the stern.
2) A mine is still a possibility, despite the stern explosion. Mines don’t have to be contact; in addition to magnetic, there are pressure and acoustic-triggered mines, which might not have gone off till most of the ship had passed over.
Navel Operation's Command Issued Order to Fire when in Doubt
On March 26, responding to the sinking of SK Navy's frigate ‘Chonan, ‘ Navel Operation's Command Issued Order to Fire when in Doubt.
a lot of deaths,...loss of a major asset,...
doesn’t sound like the “sunshine policy” is going to survive this.
Sorry, i forgot,..this will be successfully mediated sorta like current administration’s efforts in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. I feel better knowing obama is near that red phone.
At least a number of lives were lost in the drink, somewhere around 40 at least.
That is entirely possible, but all I have to say to that is "Remember the Maine!"
God what a nightmare.
Thanks so much for update and info...invaluable to us over here.
Syngman Rhee was born Mar 26, 1875, if it mean anything (N Korea sometimes does things at anniversaries/holidays).
I’m sure Obama is working furiously to get the U.N. to craft a strongly worded letter. And that will probably denounce S. Korea for violating n. Korea’s waters.
Some news media here pushed tired old angle that, if NK is really involved, it was because hardliners in the military attempted to thwart Chia Head's 'more pragmatic' approach. This is an ridiculous suggesting by overeducated airheads called experts. Doing this without Chia Head's approval would earn hail of bullets aimed at one's upper torso by firing squad.
However, these media types made up this quote to interject their own stupid opinion. Didn't say who was the source of this comment.
I think SK should reflect on why NK hates them and see if they can find some insight into their own cause for this inevitable event — 9/11 Groupthinkers Anonymous
Bump
It is always 3 Am under the "Resolution" Desk in the Oval Office of the White House!
Red Alert (Update): South Korean Ship Sinking
Stratfor Today » March 26, 2010 | 1532 GMT
A South Korean ship has been sunk in the vicinity of the maritime border with North Korea. While details are sketchy, initial reports suggest that some South Korean naval ships had been involved in combat with an unidentified ship in the area immediately preceding the incident. Other reports suggest that the ship was struck by a torpedo. Yet another indicates a stern explosion.
Tensions between the two Koreas have always been at least moderately high, but previous governments in the South have tended to seek a rapprochement. That warming has cooled significantly in recent months; on result has been occasional naval skirmishes.
There are three issues to keep in mind when evaluating the potential for an inter-Korean conflict. First, the South Korean army, air force and navy are far better equipped and run than the North’s, despite the North’s numerical superiority when it comes to men in uniform. Stratfor has little doubt that the South could ultimately prevail in a military conflict.
But – and this is the second issue – it would come at a massive cost. The North maintains many thousands of artillery emplacements within range of Seoul. So while the South’s military is superior by most measures, the North could quite easily decimate the South’s capital and largest city. Roughly one in four South Koreans live in Seoul.
Third, the South Koreans are not alone. Despite recent shifts in American military posture, the United States still maintains 25,000 troops in South Korea – so an inter-Korean conflict immediately escalates to a global issue.
- that’s some pretty dire languange in there considering its coming from Stratfor
Thanks for the good work.
Keep us posted.
In the words of Joe Biden, “This is a big f*#king deal”.
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