We are only seeing the veritable "tip of the iceberg". We don't have access to accurate intell. What we do get I suspect is deliberate disinformation, designed to make the Axis members think that we are on the wrong track.
Me?, I think war is imminient. We will move on NK AFTER we receive assurances that China won't move on Taiwan. Look to Russia to be the "Hammer of deterence" there. France will piss and moan about American "Colonial" efforts, all the time supporting NK and Iran.
Most of this is obvious, just under the surface. The Polito-critters KNOW this. That is one of the contributory causal actions to the circus that is the electoral cycle this time.
Most that read this don't know me from Adam, but those that have been on FR for more than a month know that I havr been right more than I have been wrong
Semper Fi
I agree with you here, I think we're a lot closer than anyone higher up is letting on. Bush is playing it cool, but he's also ready for this poker game to turn into a gunfight at any second.
We will move on NK AFTER we receive assurances that China won't move on Taiwan.
If China wants Taiwan, they can take their best shot; it'll be an expensive ass whuppin they won't soon forget. We won't let them have it, and they can't take it from us. The U.S. Navy is more than capable of swatting down a 'people's invasion', even if the rest of our military is fully engaged fighting against North Korea.
Even without the intervention of the U.S. Navy, it's a roll of the dice whether or not they could take it. Their best odds are in setting up a naval blockade, which would take weeks to become effective. They don't have weeks. America is in a fairly triggerhappy and outward looking mood. With as bad as we got beaten around the head and shoulders with Liberia, there's no way that Taiwan would go unnoticed.