I'm Sorry. Were We Supposed To Be Impressed?
North Korea erupted in a petulant rage today. In an effort to remind the world of its "military superiority," North Korea had its day in the sun with its missile launches. Yes, I said launches. Don't worry. They failed. Miserably.
A defiant North Korea test-fired a long-range missile Wednesday that may be capable of reaching America, but it failed seconds after launch, U.S. officials said. The North also tested four of shorter range in an exercise the White House termed "a provocation" but not an immediate threat.
The audacious military tests by isolated communist nation came despite stern warnings from the United States and Japan — and carried out as the U.S. celebrated the Fourth of July and launched the space shuttle.
None of the missiles made it as far as Japan. The Japanese government said all landed in the Sea of Japan between Japan and the Korean Peninsula.
"We do consider it provocative behavior," National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said.
President Bush has been in consultation with Hadley, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. The State Department said Rice will start conferring tonight with her counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.
Hadley said the long-range missile was the Taepodong-2, which failed 35 seconds after launch. Experts believe the Taepodong-2 — Korea's most advanced missile with a range of up to 9,320 miles — could reach the United States with a light payload.
We launch the Space Shuttle back into space after a year-long wait to correct more mistakes, and North Korea launches the missile it's been brandishing for over two weeks. Needless to say, we succeeded, and they didn't. And I'm sure the ridicule that he will be informed of here in the US isn't going to make him a pleasant man.
Seriously though, the launches were provocative. The SCUDS fired in Japan's direction were clearly a threat towards a longtime adversary. And that is likely what the White House means when it calls the launch "provocative." The Taepodong-2 launch showed the world that they are a bit behind in the technological field. Not too far behind, but it'll make the world think twice about giving this sawed-off, psychotic nutter any notice the next time he makes threats.
The easiest way to deal with North Korea is seal it off. No one trades with them. No one acknowledges them. They get no true diplomatic recognition other than in the dictator's club known as the United Nations. But the rest of the world needs to cut all ties and all relations to this nation. North Korea, right now, is weaker than the Soviet Union was at the end. They don't have the industrial or technological base--right now--to be "self-sustaining." They need outside help still, and continue to receive it from a number of sources, including China; its eldest brother, and closest ally.
Should we be worried? Worried isn't the right word. Concerned, vigilant, attentive, yes. "Worried?" Yes, but not really. Like the Democrats keep blowing their toes off with stupid moves, Kim Jong-Il just blew off his whole damn foot. Anytime a nut like Kim Jong-Il has nuclear weapons, it should be concerned. We are--very much so--regarding Iran's Ahmadinejad, and his defiance of requests to end his nuclear program. The difference is that Ahmadinejad will use his, and North Korea just likes to hoist theirs up every once in a while to remind the world that they're still around. (Yes, yes, but you're still short, and I'm not just talking about height here.)
Regardless, they failed. And the world yawned. After a couple of weeks of everone holding their breath, we saw that it really was much ado about nothing. We can relax, go back to our families, friends, and barbecues; watch fireworks and listen to the music accompanying them (if you're lucky). We're still safe. North Korea is still just a desolute Communist regime under the control of a guy that is an absolute nut. We'll keep half-an-eye on him, but the world has far more immediate dangers that have our attention.
We'll just have our machine call his machine. They'll do lunch.
Publius II
North Korea erupted in a petulant rage today. In an effort to remind the world of its "military superiority," North Korea had its day in the sun with its missile launches. Yes, I said launches. Don't worry. They failed. Miserably.
A defiant North Korea test-fired a long-range missile Wednesday that may be capable of reaching America, but it failed seconds after launch, U.S. officials said. The North also tested four of shorter range in an exercise the White House termed "a provocation" but not an immediate threat.
The audacious military tests by isolated communist nation came despite stern warnings from the United States and Japan — and carried out as the U.S. celebrated the Fourth of July and launched the space shuttle.
None of the missiles made it as far as Japan. The Japanese government said all landed in the Sea of Japan between Japan and the Korean Peninsula.
"We do consider it provocative behavior," National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said.
President Bush has been in consultation with Hadley, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. The State Department said Rice will start conferring tonight with her counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.
Hadley said the long-range missile was the Taepodong-2, which failed 35 seconds after launch. Experts believe the Taepodong-2 — Korea's most advanced missile with a range of up to 9,320 miles — could reach the United States with a light payload.
We launch the Space Shuttle back into space after a year-long wait to correct more mistakes, and North Korea launches the missile it's been brandishing for over two weeks. Needless to say, we succeeded, and they didn't. And I'm sure the ridicule that he will be informed of here in the US isn't going to make him a pleasant man.
Seriously though, the launches were provocative. The SCUDS fired in Japan's direction were clearly a threat towards a longtime adversary. And that is likely what the White House means when it calls the launch "provocative." The Taepodong-2 launch showed the world that they are a bit behind in the technological field. Not too far behind, but it'll make the world think twice about giving this sawed-off, psychotic nutter any notice the next time he makes threats.
The easiest way to deal with North Korea is seal it off. No one trades with them. No one acknowledges them. They get no true diplomatic recognition other than in the dictator's club known as the United Nations. But the rest of the world needs to cut all ties and all relations to this nation. North Korea, right now, is weaker than the Soviet Union was at the end. They don't have the industrial or technological base--right now--to be "self-sustaining." They need outside help still, and continue to receive it from a number of sources, including China; its eldest brother, and closest ally.
Should we be worried? Worried isn't the right word. Concerned, vigilant, attentive, yes. "Worried?" Yes, but not really. Like the Democrats keep blowing their toes off with stupid moves, Kim Jong-Il just blew off his whole damn foot. Anytime a nut like Kim Jong-Il has nuclear weapons, it should be concerned. We are--very much so--regarding Iran's Ahmadinejad, and his defiance of requests to end his nuclear program. The difference is that Ahmadinejad will use his, and North Korea just likes to hoist theirs up every once in a while to remind the world that they're still around. (Yes, yes, but you're still short, and I'm not just talking about height here.)
Regardless, they failed. And the world yawned. After a couple of weeks of everone holding their breath, we saw that it really was much ado about nothing. We can relax, go back to our families, friends, and barbecues; watch fireworks and listen to the music accompanying them (if you're lucky). We're still safe. North Korea is still just a desolute Communist regime under the control of a guy that is an absolute nut. We'll keep half-an-eye on him, but the world has far more immediate dangers that have our attention.
We'll just have our machine call his machine. They'll do lunch.
Publius II
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 6:39 PM
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