BOOM!

[Moonliner]

Late reports are that North Korea tested a nuclear device today.

If true, I guess that rather puts a nail in the Presidents policy to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

[wendybeth]

We're all much safer now. Really.

[scaeagles]

Ah...if you want to talk about blame, I could go into how they got the tech and materials needed to build the weapon, but that would just be dem bashing, I suppose. And there is no conjecture about it.

[Alex]

Good for them. The sooner we move beyond the folly of non-proliferation the sooner we can react to the real world.

[Alex]

The "good for them" part was sardonic.

But I do think pretty much global proliferation is inevitable unless we are willing to commit to a policy of invading and toppling every government that tries for it.

Since we aren't willing to do that (and shouldn't, in my view) what we are going through with North Korea and Iran (and in the past with other countries) is just a form of kabuki that is a lot of motion with no meaning.

[wendybeth]

Ah...if you want to talk about blame, I could go into how they got the tech and materials needed to build the weapon, but that would just be dem bashing, I suppose. And there is no conjecture about it.

Wow, only two posts in- you're on a roll, Scaeagles!

[DisneyFan25863]

Honestly, I think this means nothing. Let them have all the nukes they want. As crazy as Kim may be, I think he understands the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction. It prevented us from going into nuclear war in the Cold War, and I think it will work here, too.

[wendybeth]

I dunno, DF- I don't think the concept of MAD means a hell of a lot to Kim. He's not your usual dictator, and these are weird times. As someone who lives in an area that these missiles can hit, it's a cause for concern, but not alarm. Those days are long gone- it's anything goes these days. If something happens, it happens and we have to deal with it. I just want to know how to blame the Repubs for this. ;)

[scaeagles]

From what I understand, most of North Korea already looks like its been hit by a few dozen nukes already.

[Gemini Cricket]

Using Bush logic, I'm confused about something. Bush said bombing/liberating Iraq was going to deter other rogue nations in the axis of evil from being a threat to our country and the world. This does not seem to be the case. Kim Jong Il seems to be emboldened.

[Moonliner]

Ah...if you want to talk about blame, I could go into how they got the tech and materials needed to build the weapon, but that would just be dem bashing, I suppose. And there is no conjecture about it.

I'm not clear, you trying to argue against the idea that Bush had as a central policy of his administration (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/transcripts/bushtext_012004.html) the prevention of North Korea developing nuclear weapons, or are you just trying to distract from his policy failures by pointing blame in some other direction?

However, I do find it encouraging that all the worlds major powers, including China, have strongly denounced this action by North Korea. I hope this administration can take advantage of that global consensus and work with the world community to force changes in North Korean policy and not fritter away the support of the global community like they did after 9/11.

[sleepyjeff]

At least no one can argue that they don't have weapons of mass destruction.

[Moonliner]

At least no one can argue that they don't have weapons of mass destruction.

Well not so fast there... It looks like there is some discussion that this "event" might not (http://asia.news.yahoo.com/061009/ap/d8kl919g0.html)have been nuclear in nature....

[DisneyFan25863]

I dunno, DF- I don't think the concept of MAD means a hell of a lot to Kim. He's not your usual dictator, and these are weird times. As someone who lives in an area that these missiles can hit, it's a cause for concern, but not alarm. Those days are long gone- it's anything goes these days. If something happens, it happens and we have to deal with it. I just want to know how to blame the Repubs for this. ;)

If they've JUST achieved the ability to create a nuclear weapon, I doubt they have the ability to pack it into a small enough container to go on a ICBM. I'm guessing it would have to be dropped by a plane (think Hiroshima) to get anywhere near the US, and I'm betting that plane would be shot down before it got anywhere near our border.

And as crazy as Kim is, he probably doesn't want to die.

[scaeagles]

I'm not clear, you trying to argue against the idea that Bush had as a central policy of his administration (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/transcripts/bushtext_012004.html) the prevention of North Korea developing nuclear weapons, or are you just trying to distract from his policy failures by pointing blame in some other direction?

No....no denial there. But how did NK get the tech? It all has to do with the previous admin believing Long Jong Il-ver when he said he would only use nuke power plants for power, so the US gave them tech and (if I recall) supervised the building the nuke plants.

[wendybeth]

Perhaps said prior administration might actually have had the manpower and world support to spank lil' Kim for misbehaving- instead, he knows we're stretched far too thin to do anything about it now. We may have lipservice from other nations, but I seriously doubt they will back us up in the long run. At least not the UN, worthless piece of merde institution that it is.

[tracilicious]

No....no denial there. But how did NK get the tech? It all has to do with the previous admin believing Long Jong Il-ver when he said he would only use nuke power plants for power, so the US gave them tech and (if I recall) supervised the building the nuke plants.


Heh heh. He said long jong. Heh heh.

(Sorry. Carry on.)

[Prudence]

Thanks, WB. Now I'm picturing the Dear Leader in some sort of wacky latex jumpsuit.

[wendybeth]

He's just weird enough to do it, too.