This Blog is created to stress the importance of Peace as an environmental directive. “I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.” – Harry Truman
(I receive no compensation from any entry on this blog.)
What would have happened? Who would be at war with whom? And over what? Would it matter? If we were looking at a world engaged in a nuclear holocaust, would any question matter?
We cannot afford to continue this madness. Disarmament is not an option. It has been complete lunacy to allow nations to obtain and perfect nuclear weapons.
We need to rein in any nuclear capacity of nations engaged in chronic violence. There is no way North Korea should be tolerated or allowed to achieve this capacity. Fifty years ago American soldiers died to secure an ally in South Korea, only to allow this mess. It can't be tolerated. What 'good' is assured mutual destruction?
South Korean protesters shout slogans during a rally Monday in Seoul, South Korea, against North Korea's apparent nuclear test. (Lee Jin-man/Associated Press)
S. Korea Says North's Nuclear Test 'A Serious Threat to Peace' (click here) By Kurt Achin Seoul25 May 2009 South Korea Says it will join regional partners in seeking a strong response from the United Nations Security Council to North Korea's latest nuclear test.South Korean Presidential Spokesman Lee Dong-kwan called North Korea's nuclear test Monday a "serious threat to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula."He says South Korea will work together with the United States, Japan, China and Russia to seek a response at the United Nations Security Council....
And we are supposed to allow proliferation in The Middle East?
I don't think so.
Bush/Cheney/Republicans re-engaged in Cold War escalation of tensions and strategies, for what? Wealth? Crony wealth?
It is time to disarm nations that threaten the stability of governments. North Korea is concerned about its security and defense capability. Well, they are more correct about that today than ever before. Enough. Is enough.
Roh's suicide puts South Korean president in corner (click title to entry - thank you) Mon May 25, 2009 1:12pm IST By Jon Herskovitz SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Lee Myung-bak faces a crisis this week on how to soothe political rancour that may threaten economic reforms, which spilled out on Monday after the suicide of his predecessor Roh Moo-hyun. Adding to Lee's concerns, North Korea said it set off a powerful nuclear device that analysts see as partly aimed at pressing him to drop his hard-line policies toward Pyongyang, in contrast to his predecessor Roh who tried to draw the North out of its shell with large-scale aid....
...The ministry's spokesman Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky said: "The test was carried out 80 kilometers (50 miles) to the northwest of the town of Kilchu. The nuclear device had a yield of between 10 and 20 kilotons [of TNT equivalent]." "We are currently monitoring the situation," he added. The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier voiced concern over the reclusive communist state's announcement of its second nuclear test. Pyongyang withdrew from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 2003 and conducted its first nuclear test explosion in October 2006....
...The Russian permanent mission to the UN said the Security Council would convene for emergency consultations at 16.00 EDT (20.00 GMT) on Monday and could decide to hold an emergency meeting on the issue. U.S. President Barack Obama issued a statement saying North Korea's nuclear and missile tests were a "matter of grave concern to all nations" and called for an immediate response from the international community. "North Korea's attempts to develop nuclear weapons, as well as its ballistic missile program, constitute a threat to international peace and security," the president said. Obama said Washington would work through the U.N. Security Council and the six-party talks format on North Korea's denuclearization, involving North and South Korea, Russia, Japan, China and the United States, to address the issue. The six-nation talks were launched in 2003 after Pyongyang withdrew from the NPT Treaty. Under deals reached in 2007, the North began disabling a nuclear reactor and other facilities at Yongbyon under international supervision, in exchange for economic aid and political incentives. However, in December last year, a round of six-nation talks ended in deadlock over a U.S. demand that nuclear inspectors be allowed to take samples out of the country from North Korean facilities for further analysis. The reclusive communist regime had been threatening for several weeks to resume work at its Yongbyon nuclear facility, which produces weapons-grade plutonium, after withdrawing from six-nation talks. The move came in response to international condemnation of an April 5 rocket launch, which Pyongyang said was carrying a communications satellite. North Korea had also said it would conduct further nuclear tests and rocket launches to ensure its security and defense capability.
Basically, the Six Party Talks started in 2003 are a complete failure. They were engaged by North Korea as 'cover' for its continuing program. A supposed agreement between North Korea and the other countries was entered and the Yongbyon Reactor was disengaged. This is the reactor used by North Korea to produce nuclear grade material.
Bush was never able to establish verification of the end of the North Korean program. However, the 'perks' to North Korea proceeded with aid and international venues opened. Bush/Cheney also proposed to withdraw 12,000 of the 37,000 troops from the peninsula as if all was right with the world. It only gave North Korea more permission to carry on its covert work.
In December North Korea broke off all talks in anticipation of a 'fairer' (? weaker ?) Obama Adminisration. North Korea did not like the Clinton approach which upheld the values and demands of The Six Party Talks. So, North Korea decided to become completely offensive to the international community and tested an ICBM, which they stated was to launch a satellite into orbit. It was a complete lie. Now, this.
North Korea has proven itself to be untrustworthy and there is no reason to continue The Six Party Talks. The North has to be disarmed and the sooner the better in an expedited manner in whatever form that takes.
North Korea never intended to end its program and it never will. It is all a smoke screen. Time to 'end it.'
