It is estimated that North Korea has completed the nuclear fuel cycle from acquisition to reprocessing of nuclear fuel and is on the threshold of a nuclear weapons capability. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether it has actually produced or possesses nuclear weapons due to difficulties in developing detonation devices and delivery vehicles, which require high-tech and precision technologies.
Yesterday I was trying to explain to Ray that Powell had used ambiguous language exactly because of this uncertainty. Of course I was pounced on by the thread neocons. I was also trying to make the point that, given the history of NK relations, the policy of "talk loudly and carry no stick" was stupid and careless, as evidenced by the current state of affairs. Our allies, namely NK and Japan, are not on the same page with Mr Bush's purposeless rhetoric in the case of NK. I believe China is not strongly motivated to help, and sees this as an interesting headache for the US and possible distraction from its aims in the region, meaning the re-annexing of Taiwan, which I expect to be the next crisis the Iraqi distraction will bring.
So yesterday the adminstration had to announce that it would hold direct talks with NK after all, reversing a prior course. Which brings us back and further behind where we were before all this saber rattling, name calling, doctrine publishing, smoke'emout truck driver diplomacy crap.
Al |
