What Obama Should Do About North Korea

N. Korea's version of GW Bush has painted himself in a corner here, the obvious big differences being:
1. He doesn't have the resources America has.
2. The country he talks about to his citizens actually DOES have WMD's and we've been flying them all over the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea.

Of course, any kind of attack spells certain suicide but when it comes to sacrificing thousands of lives without reason vs. losing face, men in power will often choose the former - as W did.

Contrary to what many Americans have been told to believe, the foreign press makes it clear that Obama is viewed by the rest of the world as a strong, no-bull(*)(*)(*)(*) kind of leader when it comes to foreign affairs. A lot of countries even consider him a hawk that would make Reagan look almost wimpy by comparison. This is not to say that view is always a positive one - especially in countries like Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan etc...where he has decimated Al Qaeda & the Taliban.

That works to his advantage in some ways but I think Obama needs to give Kim Yong Un a way out. A way to reverse his rhetoric without looking weak. The tricky part will be concurrently maintaining Obama's strong image abroad.


It will be interesting (hopefully not horrifying) to see how this plays out.

 

Saving face is a very ingrained part of Asian culture. Any suggestions on how Obama might allow face-saving to happen?

 

I know. Very familiar with the concept. My old martial arts instructor used to tell me how the tradition in Japan was to cut open your stomach and let your entrails slowly come out if you were humiliated.

I really don't know but he is one of the best politicians I've seen in decades. BTW, many people misconceive that to mean he's a great president or whatever - it doesn't. All it means is that he's good at politics. The last election proved that conclusively.

 

So North Korea felt that Obama was such a strong, no-bull-S kind of leader that makes Reagan wimpy by comparison; that it was OK to abrogate the armistice and restore the state of war between North Korea and the US?

 

I think the thing to do would be put the control of the situation in the hands of the S. Korean government. America can't back down--I don't think we can afford to ---but if N. Korea beleives S. Korea has the reins (and they should have had the reins eons ago) then we would be out of the focus and N. Korea would deal with S. Korea better.

 

Ah you. Of course. So obviously you forget that they were bragging about their nukes at the same time Bush (the criminal, not the good one) was BSing the country about how we had to attack Iraq because THEY had WMD's. Love it. Very objective.
So lemme guess, you read zero foreign press or media. Okay it wasn't a guess. Hey, would you like to know your next opinion? I'll tell you right after I watch Hannity!

 

This is what passes for a self-described independent voter these days...

 

This is China's problem, the last thing they can afford to have happen is for North Korea to fall completely apart as the immigrants crashing the boarding will overwhelm the Chinese Economy.

We are safe from their nukes... they would barely get out of the atmosphere thanks to SDI (Ronald Reagan). We also have redundant missile weapon systems throughout the Pacific. If they attack help S. Korea wipe out their military and then watch the mass of people crush China. S. Korea will take some heavy losses. It will be tragic.

 

I flush turds that have more common sense than most *******s. Some day that may be criminal, but am thankful that it is not today.

Obama was for the missile defense before he was against it before he was for it again.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world accurately plays Obama to be the fool.

 

Yes... the O.P. is hardly an "independent".

 

You'll notice the ones that select usernames designed to brag about their neutral "free thinking" status are some of the most disingenuous around.

 

The U.S. needs to do three things:
1. Ignore Kim Il Un and the rhetoric.
2. At the same time, make defensive preparations in South Korea, Japan, and the United States, and
3. Start a dialogue, using back door channels to show how unstable the regime is if the rhetoric starts to become reality.

If it is an internal power grab, the U.S. would be seen as showing strength but not provoking the situation. If it is real and Kim Il Un wants war, then North Korea would have to fire the first shot. But when that is about to happen, then China can change the regime to someone more suitable and less agressive.

 

So hmmm. Not talking about anyone specific here but ignorant whackjobs don't discuss issues. They just post about other posters because you know, they're so stupid, they couldn't find an original thought with a compass.

Actually, Star Wars never worked once so I'm not sure what you're basing the SDI will stop misilles thing on. However, the tracking system does create MAD, which is enough of a deterrent for China to stay out of it. And N. Korea doesn't have a delivery system that would get anywhere near the continental USA.
I agree with you on the rest of your post and believe this is why China has been so irritated lately. There was a cartoon in China Daily last week with Un dressed like a baby in diapers holding a missile as a rattle. China was the parents and one was telling the other, it was time for a spanking.

On what do you base you summary of world opinion? What the fine folks at FOX told you to believe? What is the Latest in China Daily? The Hurriyet? The Hong Kong Daily? Deutsche Welles? Times of India? Oh wait, you don't read any of those do you? And you've lived where outside the US during the last five years? You're just uh "one with the world"?
FOX told you what to believe. Got it.
Here is what China Daily had today: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2013-04/01/content_16362975.htm
Always happy to educate those without one.

So hmmm #2. Not talking about anyone specific here but ignorant whackjobs don't discuss issues. They just post about other posters because you know, they're so stupid, they couldn't find an original thought with a compass.

So HB surfer at least addressed the issue and made a couple of very legitimate points. Refreshing around here.

 

The South Korean's do have the reigns. We have only 30,000 troops their, we don't have our Capital sitting 30 miles from the border under threat of artillery bombardment. The current government of SK is likely to retaliate to any military provocation, and we will be pulled in, we have no choice. We will see what happens, but allowing face saving is not likely to be an option.

 

Yeah. I suppose our SDI system just MIGHT be able to hit a few of the miserable long range missiles the North Koreans have been able to make. However, the missiles' own failure rate will probably be higher than our SDI shoot-down success rate, despite the untold billions spent on that bogus program.

Good thing they have lousy long range missiles. But they don't have any missile capable nukes anyway.

 

I don't think you care much about the conflict.

I think you only care about Obama's image

 

It's still amazing how many people root for the commies instead of for the current President because he's black. Oh well, I suppose that's to be expected. However, it's scary to think that they want North Korea to win just because we have a black President.

 

What I would do if I was running this grand ole opry

1/ Find out what China wants to do

2/ Assuming you get the right answer from China. Star very gently ratching up the pressure. Get the Koreans on a war footing, get ships into the area. Maybe even try and manufacture a minor incident or two.

3/ Invent some reason for an ultimatum and tell North Korea you will invade on X date

4/ On that day China invades an undefended northern border.

 

This, from someone who posts about North Korea and Obama, while bashing G.W. the whole time? If you want to bash G.W. (like that would be an original thought?), fine, start a thread about it. Your thread title is a good one, stick to it. Interleaving your fanatical hatred of G.W. just takes away your own credibility on the subject title.

 

Would you mind telling which of the posters on this thread are rooting for Kim? I must have missed that. The most I've seen are people wondering if there's a way for us to allow Kim to back out of the corner he's painted himself in while saving some face.

But in any event, who here is rooting for Kim? Do enlighten us.

 

It's funny... you actually think rooting for Obama does not equate to rooting for the commies.

 

It's funny hearing you Liberals talking about SDI... let me ask you all a few questions.

If it worked do you think you would know?
Do you understand the physics involved with lasers in space and their power?
Do you know we have proven lasers can shoot down moving jets, hit ground targets from planes, and even shoot from ships?

The scientific ignorance of you all that want to believe in Global Warming without solid, proof yet there is more proof that we can do SDI is amazing.

 

That's the way I see it. Some folks had a fit because Obama didn't kiss Net And Yahoo's behind. Now they are cheering for the North Koreans instead of our own country's leader.

 

Who is cheering for the North Koreans? You have names, right?

Brewski? I was asking Wyrd that!