Question???????

RE: NK is an irratation but not a threat.

???

what in the 50’s or the uss peublo ?

rabie :9

RE: NK is an irratation but not a threat.

Didn’t they get their asses kicked a bit once before by NK?

RE: NK is an irratation but not a threat.

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 28-12-02 AT 06:43 PM (GMT)]the US isnt going after NK because it is far less risky, and probably more effective to just let them be.

first of all, as ppl have already mentioned, 2 of the 4 strongest powers in the asia pasific region(SK and japan) are actively invalved in the containmanet of NK. china and russia, the other two major powers also has no interest in seeing a nuke race in their front yards.

china is NK’s most important ally, and beijing can control NK as washington could israel. beijing has just as much, if not more to loose then the US if NK does go fully nuclear, and so will use all of its influence to prevent it. but china likes to do things much more suttlely then washington, beijing does not like to be pressured into doing sth, and does not like it to look they are pressuring others into doing sth either. by leaving the situation as it is, the US hopes that china can quietly clean up this mess.

but if washington does too much sabre rattling, beijing may be pressured into not acting, as doing so would make china look weak both at home and abroard. also, it is a good idea for america to keep its focus on iraq, as too many questions over NK may waver the public’s willingness to go to war with iraq first.

although it is often a reciepy for desastor, the ‘sweep it under the carpet and forget abt it’ stratigy now being used by the US seems to be just what the doctor ordered for this special situation.

its not often that the bush administration gets an important peice of foreign policy right, so lets give them some credit for this one shall we.

RE: Question???????

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 27-12-02 AT 01:59 PM (GMT)]I don’t think Iraq is a real threat to Israel. The only threat to Israel is GWB himself.

You’re right Rabie, is it the American policy to trigger as many wars as possible on different fronts? AFAIK the war in A’stan is not finished yet.

RE: Question???????

USA will not attack N.Korea not because they can’t but because they dont have the balls, nor its in their national interest to do so i.e OIL!! what does North Korea have thats valuable to the West/USA/UK.

N.Korea as well as having 900,000 soldiers has the potential to create 55 bombs a year, this scares the USA but any conflict against them will bring in China who N.Korea are closely aligned to politically.

don’t get me started on Iran!!

RE: Question???????

Could it be NK are a bit far from Isreal ..so there’s no rush to deal with them?Iraq on the other hand -could be the most likely enemy with significant forces to challenge the promise land -as a result of that-Iraq must go.

RE: Question???????

Yes…China will definately pressurize and support NK to go on with its nuke progrrames. But you have to remember USA has the taiwan standof created….so CHina too wont take any drastic steps. NK has also been firing missiles at japans doorstep…..which can really worsten the situation.

RE: Question???????

There are four distinctions between North Korea and Iraq:

1. NK already has nukes (albeit only 1 or 2) whereas Iraq doesn’t. Attacking a potential nuclear power is very different to attacking an actual nuclear power.

2. Two allies of the US (South Korea and Japan) have an active policy of containment for NK. There is a tripartite agreement between the US, Japan and South Korea to develop two nuclear reactors in NK, of a type not easily used for a weapons program. The reactors are funded mainly by the US. In return, NK agreed to have it’s other reactors monitored. What has happened recently is that NK has ripped out the monitoring cameras and threatened to reactivate one of the research reactors.

3. One of the most powerful nations around (China) is next door to NK. China is willing to exert a little pressure on NK to reform. However, any use of force would turn this around 180 degrees.

4. An “ally” (Pakistan) has helped (even post 11/9) a memmber of the “axis of evil” (NK) in WMD research – a fact always glossed over by the US. An attack on NK might have an alarming response from Pakistan.

RE: Question???????

kev is right – there are bigger fish to fry (and the method of “frying” is a diffrent question).

we have already mentioned north korea and what they have pointing at the peole of south korea and japan (approx 170 million people). IMHO what about good ol osama bin laden ??? what aobut peace in the middle east (ie israel and palestine)

a question of priorites.

however i will aplude this atempt at action as prehaps its better than just inaction ?

rabie :9

RE: Question???????

tomel,

I think shame is a commodity that no Government ever feels. Iraq will be attacked for the most inane of reasons while other countries around the world are allowed to become ever more dangerous. Saddam can’t use weapons he doesn’t have, so the emphasis should surely be on monitoring his ability to produce and store such weapons for future use. Then deal with the problem when they know he is close to acheiving his aim.

Rabie has a point about first use. Other countries have WMD’s and have agreed to no first use, America among them, and, of course, being the only country to have used atomic weapons in anger. There are other countries which now poseess nuclear weapons who are far more dangerous than Iraq.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Question???????

Sigh…US admin top brass surely have no shame……

RE: Question???????

dare i say what is wrong with them having (but not using them first) WMD’s ???

all it means is the USA can’t meddle with their affairs (oh dear what a shmae }> )

rabie :9

RE: Question???????

I agree, its an excuse to attack Iraq – We are yet to see proof of Iraqi’s having WMD’s. Instead it should be N.Korea and Pakistan that should be in the US cross hairs- Pakistan being the country that has proliferated N. Weapons to N. korea in return for missile technology and now it seems they even offered the same to Iraq.