McCain on pre-emptive strike on North Korea: 'We have to consider that option

Nah, he subscribes to the Scotty school of thought-
Scott- "Captain, how much longer do we have to put up with the Klingons calling the Enterprise an old rustbucket?"
Kirk- "Easy Scotty, we have to be diplomatic"
Scott- "To my mind, the best diplomat is a fully-charged phaser bank"..

 

Well if anyone can do it then there would be no problem, because NK's nukes would never get off the ground - sorted! After the first of the recent misfires there were reports that the US was somehow hacking into the launch software, so there's a crumb of comfort if such a thing can be done; KJU would then be well and truly stymied if he got stroppy?

 

McCain is a ccmplete brainwashed idiot no matter which way you look at it...time he shut his mouth, retired, and went fishing or something.

 

If the US had 100% certainty of successful DPRK missile post-launch interference, would this preclude the pre-emptive strike option?

 

Korean war never ended, and Kim's granddad started it.

 

No, because achieving that level of certainty would be viewed as a threat to China and Russia.

 

Of course it would - what possible reason would the US have to needlessly launch a first strike? It's what I meant by saying it would be the perfect answer to the problem.

 

Congress can only declare a war. Declare is different than initiate, levy, or engage in war.

 

So what official act ended the war? What were the terms?

 

The fact that you pin this on "conservatives" makes you part of the problem

 

We stopped fighting.

 

When my grandmother was a young woman there were less than a dozen men who could kill her and everyone she knew with one word, within minutes. Later, my mother was at the mercy of a few dozen men who could do the same (leaders of nuclear armed nations and others who could potentially initiate nuclear combat like generals and sub commanders). As I live my life today, hundreds of people could initiate a process that would kill me and everyone I know within 30 minutes.

In the face of the above threat, you claim there are people out there trying to generate fear? What the hell are they doing that is scarier?!

Placing our hope in the effectiveness of nuclear deterrence strategy is suicide.

 

Wars don't conclude of their own accord. I'm having trouble thinking of one that ended without an agreement that includes terms. Can you?

 

Take a deep breath and relax. All the other fear mongering about Trump has not panned out, why do you try to blame Trump for something that isn't going to happen?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Armistice_Agreement

The armistice stopped the fighting, but there was no peace treaty signed so technically, the war never ended.

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War

I don't think we ever had a formal declaration of war.

 

The very nature of war dictates that it only ends with complete annihilation of the enemy or terms. It can begin unofficialy, it cannot end unofficialy.

Technically Kim's grandad was annihilated. The armistice was and is an agreement between the US and China to stop shooting. Kim is irrelevant when considering when this war will end

 

Are there lots of liberals who are saying we MUST take military action, no matter the risk?

 

Isn't is wonderful how the Republicans have long since eschewed any of the respect they used to feel for people of independent mindsets who were not afraid to buck the "Party LIne"? You people would make William F. Buckley vomit and I believe Dwight Eisenhower would smack you right in the mouth

 

My god. They shelled an island. Clearly that means they'll murder an entire city on a whim.

 

If NK does go ballistic, then yes, we should strike.

However, that will never happen, but it's always good to have a plan.

 

What, is your search engine broken???
Technically, there was no treaty signed.
In reality - where all but the GOP reside - the war ended in 1953.

 

Warmonger, I have big doubts on your label.
Why would a man like Trump change the pkatform on which he stood, that being less war, less global involvements to whete he is today?
Simply because once President he is given the run down on the situations with the middle east and that chubby fat kid.
To confirm that, Obama warned/briefed Trump that North Korea was going to be Trumps biggest challenge. Thats because Obama (nice guy, no firmness) left it to him.
Finally, if Trump was a "warmonger" he would have spread the chubby kids guts to the Chinese border by now. But my guess is the US military green machine has told Trump there is no rush on their part. Diplomatic channels could still save the day along with the fear if God just over the border.

Leverage doesnt mean warmongering.

Sacrificing one million people now rathet than 9 million in 4 years time is logical decision making...sad and awful as it seems.

In such a situation if Trump does go to war and the loss of life is contained and Koreans are united AND they find half built ICBM's I hope for the sake of honesty those labelling him warmonger will admit they were wrong.

And in fairness if they have no nukes at all I'll admit error (who knows for sure?). But are your claims worth the gamble? When Seattle falls will some regret the war that never eventuated in 2017 wasnt started????

 

Kimmy likes rockets and guns. Thats his reason for war

 

Agreed. But a target if the USA mainland isnt the only concern. Allies like japan and SK are currently in easy reach as is Guam. And Australia and Hawaii is in Kims dreams. What about Anchorage? Thats mainland USA! Snuff him out. The world has to take tougher stands against tyrants...earlier than historically has been the case

 

Kim needs to tone things down, I don't think he can, or maybe he doesn't realize he could. Fear of attack has justified his inherited power by which the military are maintained in a disposition to immediately attack and considerable sacrifices are made by the population.

The enemy has been able to maintain a credible defence without as much sacrifice, it's citizens are much more prosperous and enjoy comparative luxury despite their military deployments and readiness.

Kim must conceal his enemy's prosperity hence his "hermit kingdom", if North Koreans realized the magnitude of the things they do without it is likely he would have difficulties.

China's embrace of capitalism, the Soviet collapse, the slew of former "socialist" republics that have forsaken the course North Korea adopted in the Cold War, coupled with the advances all of them have experienced with globalization -deprive North Korea with any ideological premise to justify the sacrifice either.

Kim is in an untenable situation; gradually North Koreans are getting information their enemy is doing much better than they are, his capacity to keep pace with his enemy's military is weakening as China appreciates the absence of that ideological premise and the expense required.

As these general global trends continue it is evident this situation cannot continue. China should coach Kim to gradually revise his posture, they ought to offer non-military support to develop the North, condition financial assistance for industrial rather than military development.

I think Kim is too scared of losing absolute control, that he prefers what has worked for his predecessors, but doesn't realize he can't maintain this with the global changes.

If Trump ever got to meet Kim he should tell him the US and South Korea are fine with his control of the North, that there's no intent in invading them, that he can gradually devote more resources to improving conditions in North Korea without fear. Tell him the US is afraid of China or doesn't want to give up the chance of exploiting the vast markets there, that China's special relationship with DPRK forecloses any possibility the US will ever attack.