Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

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 -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Brumar89 who wrote (113118)	8/27/2003 11:07:02 PM
From: GST	Respond to of 281500

The inspectors completely dismantled the nuke program -- all the first-hand intel from Iraqi scientists confirmed that post 91 there was no active nuke program and the inspectors rounded up and destroyed most of the equipment. ASs for the "other stuff", it deteriorates over time -- it rots. After 15 years, there would not be much that could still be used. Iraq did not pose a threat -- Iraq was a pain in the ass -- but little more. The UN needed to finish their business there and they dragged their feet to be sure. But the US had ample leverage except for one little problem -- no other self-respecting country could sign on to do anything that in any way supported the unilateral thrust of the Bush Doctrine. That was and is no secret -- it is the same reason why we can't get the help we need through the UN today. As for North Korea -- Bush is floundering around because nobody in his team has a clue about how to deal with a real threat to our national security.

To: Brumar89 who wrote (113118)	8/27/2003 11:55:02 PM
From: Jacob Snyder	Respond to of 281500

<About NK: We're engaged in multilateral talks about the NK problem now.> My guess, about what happens here, is that NK drags the talks out, until they have developed a nuclear weapon. Then they demonstrate it, and then the real negotiations begin. They are (another guess) about 2 years away from that. If they wait till they actually have a nuke (and have demonstrated it), then their bargaining position is much improved. They have little incentive to negotiate, till then. They know we don't have the capability of invading them. They have a hidden alternative nuclear site, so we can't knock out their installations, like the Israelis did to Saddam's first nuclear efforts. They have a real deterrent, in the thousands of conventional artillery within range of Seoul. They know that none of the other nations in the region will cooperate with the U.S., in a blockade or invasion. China doesn't seem willing to lead the effort at de-fanging N. Korea, and they are the only ones in a position to do so. We had a chance to stop their nuclear program, back in 1994. But that agreement was flawed, not comprehensive enough. And we didn't keep our end of the agreement. So, the opportunity to keep N. Korea from getting nukes, is now past. Our fallback position, not nearly as good as the opportunity we let slip in 1994, is containment.