Posted by
arandomguy on Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:02:55 AM
President Bush issued a statement today, in which he said the United States would make every effort to stop North Korea from transferring their nuclear know-how to Iran, al Qaeda, or other terrorist organizations. He also said that the communist regime would face "grave consequences," if they proliferated to terrorists.
Unfortunately, he failed to point out how exactly the US would respond, and what we would do to alleviate the threat if nuclear weapons were sold to terrorists. When asked questions by reporters, he dodged answering, saying that North Korea would just face "grave consequences," if they sold nuclear technology to terrorist groups.
I think Bush should tell us (the American people) exactly what he means to do. Obviously, he has pushed for UN sanctions, that passed unanimously. Unfortunately, because the UN resolution does not have a clause in it that allows for military enforcement of the document, it is unlikely that its demands will ever be implemented. So, it is reasonable to assume that the US has another strategy.
I think Bush should tell us what it is. He should say - launching a nuke is an act of war, and though we're not ready to make war just yet, let it serve to a warning that if North Korea continues on their chosen path, there will be military retaliation the next time there is a threat deemed against the United States.
This doesn't seem unreasonable to me. The US needs the NK threat alleviated. However, we are not prepared to make war just yet. So, I think its safe to issue a warning to North Korea - and then back up that warning by putting our planes and bombs into position - that any further hostile action will be seen as an act of war, and will provoke a US response.
The response doesn't have to be extremely powerful. Several planes with precision-guided bombs will take out key NK targets in a matter of hours, and the US could successfully set back the North Korean nuclear program, as well as the North Korean government. North Korea doesn't have nearly the force to resume a ground war - so the US and South Korea is pretty much safe - plus the DMZ is the heaviest minefield in the world.
This is one thing the American people are frustrated about with the Bush administration. Now, I understand the need to keep some things secret, especially about National Security, and especially about war. But would it really hurt the Bush Administration to tell the American people a little bit about what our strategy in North Korea will be in the future if the UN resolutions don't hold? It would also deliver a clear and harsh notice to the North Korean government. Then we will see how mad Kim Jong Il really is. Will he be willing to risk war with the United States? Or will he back down? This is how diplomacy against rogue regimes like Kim's must be pursued. That, and with tons of US explosive ordinance.