There is simply no question that we must act to stop NK from acquiring nukes, one way or the other.
Be assured, Iran is watching this VERY closely - and not far behind, every other enemy, or would-be enemy, of this country is doing the same. So are our allies, and those that would like to be our allies.
Failure in this goal would be catastrophic from 2 perspectives: First, NK would have its nukes, and would be free to improve them (as in developing reliable smaller nukes that could fit on a missile, and even developing fusion weapons) and also develop both longer-range and more accurate weapons with the necessary characteristics to reliably hit what they are aimed at. Second, any hope of lining up allies behind us in the coming (next several decades) conflicts with China and elements of the Moslem World would be dashed, as would our deterrence against those would-be enemies. Ronald Reagan’s large military build-up, and the willingness to use those forces, helped to collapse the USSR and to deter other enemies for over 20 years, but after 8 years of Obama’s utter weakness and the apparent turning of the entire Democrat Party into a cheering section - if not an actual 5th column - for our enemies, we MUST re-establish our primacy in military affairs and our credibility as the leader of the Free World. Failure is not an option.
So, given that, what will happen? To be sure, that is anyone’s guess. My own personal opinion is that there is a feeling around the world that we are on the way out, but not quite yet...this guy, Trump, sounds a lot like a REAL President when discussing foreign affairs and America’s place in the world. However, they also watch the media, they also talk to politicians on both side who despise Trump, and they sense that he may not have the staying power to make a difference. Now, I happen to disagree, but my disagreement has no impact on how foreign governments evaluate our political situation. As such, I think that some of them will take big risks for what they believe to be big payoffs - and that, therefore, Kim will not back down. He most certainly will NOT give up his nuclear program or his rocket program, even if he shuts his mouth for a little while. China will not do the heavy-lifting for the US - they first of all don’t WANT to and, second, they want to see if we have the WILL to take care of ourselves and our problems. So, someday soon, I think that we’ll be at war in Korea.
I do not think that China will actually lift a finger if we initiate the attack. Why?
1) If they try to intervene, it certainly won’t be for free.
2) If they try to intervene, their export-based economy will soon be looking at exports to the United States that will rival the total dollar volume of 2016 buggy whip sales.
3) If they try to intervene, the roughly $1 trillion of U.S. bonds that they have will be worth roughly the same as a bucket of warm spit, right after President Trump signs a bill to that effect, which would be passed by Congress in about 20 minutes.
Are the Chinese leaders SERIOUSLY going to risk war with the US, plus (best case) very, very serious damage to their economy, all for the lunatic leader of a country that cannot even feed itself? I’m thinking that the answer is “not a chance.” Of course, we’d have to let them know - and not only mean it, but follow through - that we will NOT be trying to take over NK for SK - that NK’s government will have to be replaced and its nuke & rocket programs completely ended (well, whatever is left after the USAF and USN get done with it), but after that we have no great interest in NK - so they will be able to swallow our destruction of NK’s armed forces a bit more easily.
I’m not hoping for a war, but I think that it is coming. FYI, the next New Moon is on August 21. We can’t keep our forces in a high state of readiness forever, and we have our maximum advantage on moonless nights, so draw your own conclusions.
Just my $0.02.
In this short time frame, North Korea doubtless already has nukes, and even little ones that would fit on one of their new, improved ICBMs that don’t fizzle on the launch pad.
If they doubted Donald Trump’s iron will, they probably aren’t doing that now.
It’s a big thing in the Orient to save face. Kim of his lonesome won’t be able to stop this march into “exactly one of us can win.”
Now here’s where if Vladimir Putin got wise, he’d spirit Kim off to some luxury resort in Russia with all the wine and drugs Kim could ever want, and take credit for installing a new Dear Leader, one that would be kinder than Kim.
I agree with most of your thoughts.
I don’t agree “the world” thinks America is on the way out. That might be the view of the Euro’s but certainly not the Asians on the pacific rim. The future of the world lies in Asia and the Pacific rim, and they know it. The future there is not based on the past but on the future of hundreds of millions of young people intent on being like Americans.
The recent amazing welcome of our President to Saudi Arabia and by extension to the GCC and the leadership of the Arab and thus the Moslem world is testimony to the fact. East of Suez is where the historic action is taking place. Europe is moribund, dead.
Trump either knows or senses this change in history and is making an effort to be part of it.
I could go on but will quit