Foreign Affairs Discussion Group Message Board

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next

To: GST who wrote (106787)	7/20/2003 10:40:47 PM
From: Dayuhan	Read Replies (2) of 281500

Discussions of North Korea have to start with acknowledgement of a few simple realities. First, they have a deterrent. They almost certainly have some nukes, and will have more soon. They can't destroy us, but they can make a mess that we cannot tolerate or risk provoking. Second, they had a deterrent even before they went nuclear. The size and positioning of North Korean conventional forces has been an effective deterrent for years. Third, resulting from the above, it is ridiculous to fault past administrations for not taking a more aggressive posture toward N. Korea. The carrot was used instead of the stick because the carrot was available and the stick was not. By the time the N. Koreans were removed from the Russian/Chinese deterrent umbrella, their conventional deterrent was already in place. There was no window of military opportunity. Now the N. Koreans have raised the stakes, and there are no easy options. That's probably the most important realization of all: there is no simple answer, and no solution that is certain to succeed. Anyone who pretends that these things exist is succumbing to dangerous self-delusion.

Report TOU Violation

Share This Post

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next