[Eric in the Ozarks]

I guess I thought it was the Red Chinese that darned near ran the US off the peninsula, armed the NK's and fed them for 50 years. Their fingerprints are all over the "crisis."

[L,TOWM]

OK, that's a little easier to take than the Russian influence I've been debating on this thread, but I'm not convinced of the PRC influence either.

I'm can't completely disagree with the idsea of a chineese collar on this puppy, but I don't know if there is a leash or how effective that leash is on the dog. The PRC is in a better position than we are to grasp the mindset and unpredictability of their little neighbors. Giving my dog analogy a little more play, a great dog that barks and growls on command can be useful, but if that dog gets rabid, the last thing I want to do is let it loose on the neighbors. After the rabid beast gets put down, some one might want to have some intense conversation with ME.

The stuff I have read is that the ability of ANY nation to influence the DPRK has diminished over the last twenty years. The DPRK has been mostly a burden and an embarrassment to the hard core ideological commies, and an anachronism to the Chineese and the Russians. Most of the background on the DPRK stresses the level of isolation, even from their neighbors, the PRC. It is also difficult to believe that the PRC

Now, if the PRC has been feeding the DPRK since 1950, why are so many of the North's citizens starving? Why would the DPRK launch a missile over Japan, when the PRC has been earnestly trying to make nice with the Nipponeese for the last 20 years? It is also difficult to believe that the PRC would countenence ANY action that would lead to nationally produced and controlled Nuclear Weapons becoming politically acceptable in Japan.

Beyond the distraction factor (perhaps letting the PRC have a shot at Taiwan), what would the pay off be for the PRC? If this is being manipulated by the PRC, would'nt it then require a war, and then be pretty obvious who prodded the DPRK into a war with us when an intricate military operation by the PRC just "happens" to occur at the same time we are tied up with Iraq and the DPRK?

No, I still think this is a joker loose in the deck, and that the PRC, Russia, Japan, and ROK are trying like hell to get the DPRK to sit down to talks and see reason. If the PRC and Russia were backing up the DPRK's statements that they will only talk to us, well, I would see it then. They are backing our position of regional talks quite well, actually.

[Just mythoughts]

The Red Chinese were the bodies who came but it was Stalin who was the director. Soviets were in control, in the 1990's Russia had no money that is why Clinton made us N. Korea's sugar daddy. We for the most part, have been feeding them, and provided their nuclear wares, since the 90's, Russia's main influence is diplomatic to this day.

Chinese do what is necessary to keep the Koreans in N. Korea. There is no doubt that China and Russia work together when it suits their purpose, they each have long term goals and putting their thumb down on US is that goal.

Why does N. Korea demand to meet only with US no one else? Why did Russia send China more military hardware this past week? $$$$$$$$$$

There are web sites that lay out much information about the Korean War.