Originally Posted By X-san <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/06/27/amanpour.yongbyon/index.html" target="_blank">http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WO...dex.html</a> Wow. Quite a lot has happened in the past week regarding N Korea following up on its' (relative) disarmament, and being removed from the "state sponsors of terrorism" list, and all of that. The optimist in me wants to take this all at face value, though the pessimist is obviously wondering if this could be a real turnaround. Then there's the "justifiable skeptic" part of me that is wondering if GWB will just turn this into an opportunity to go after Iran for not doing the same...and invade. Thoughts?
Originally Posted By dshyates W. is an appeaser. I can't believe he would talk with a despot like that. Seriously, what is talking with them gonna accomplish. It not like they are gonna blow up their nuke facilities from Diplomacy. We should just shock and awe them into submission. Then we can rebuild it into a democracy.
Originally Posted By X-san Well said. And the right-wingers will surely be along in a few minutes to explain why this is completely different (even though it isn't).
Originally Posted By X-san While we await the right-wingers...a couple more thoughts. First, hey dsh I had no idea you were such a creative guy (well, you mentioned some stuff, but I didn't really put 2 and 2 together...were YOU the guy who was in drum corps or was that someone else?)... Second, looking at the "axis of evil" right now (how freakin cheesy was that catch phrase anyway, seriously...), we've got one subjugated, one apparently pulling a Lybia and cooperating, and then there's Iran... How can this NOT be a flash-point over the next five months. If it's not, I will be shocked and awed (and RELIEVED, beyond words...but that's another story).
Originally Posted By DAR Good for North Korea hopefully the rest of the world can get some goods into that country and their government will let people get some help that they need. As for Iran hopefully they will follow suit.
Originally Posted By dshyates "were YOU the guy who was in drum corps or was that someone else?)..." Yeah I finally got around to your questions on the Sky isn't falling thread about t 2 mins ago. And posted a youtube link.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I would trust littlefrom North Korea - however what I take from it is that they are less of a threat today than maybe 5 years ago - which for whatever reason is a good thing. ( Of course no good things can happen under this admin ) - As for Iran - they are not in the mess that N Korea is, and I don't see them EVER dismantling anything. I could be wrong but I don't think the North Korean's see the US as the Great Satan..or threatened to take any country off the face of the map.... So in that way I see North Korea and Iran as different situations - yes...regardless of any interaction between the US and N Korea.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< however what I take from it is that they are less of a threat today than maybe 5 years ago >>> This is true, and is good news. <<< - which for whatever reason is a good thing. ( Of course no good things can happen under this admin ) - >>> Your comment skips over the reality that North Korea was in check until President Bush added them to the "axis of evil" in his State of the Union speech. Prior to that point, North Korea's nuclear programs, reactors, enrichment facilities, etc, were dormant and under monitoring by the IAEA to verify that this was the case. Once the axis of evil declaration was made, North Korea backed out of its prior agreements to keep its program dormant, turned off the IAEA monitoring cameras, broke the seals, kicked out the inspectors, and proceed far enough to actually construct and detonate a nuclear device, adding it to the very small list of countries to have done so. While it's true that credit should be given to the administration for getting the problem back under control, the only reason it was out of control in the first place was the reckless association of North Korea with the terrorism problems involving the Middle East, and that was wholly caused by the President's remarks.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn That cooling tower looked awfully small and hokey. It looked like it was out by the lawn mower shed. I wonder if it was real, or just a smoke screen - literally.
