Thursday, July 06, 2006
North Korean Fireworks Update
The New York Times:
I would like to add emphasis to the latter of the two related articles, as it follows the same vein as my last post.
Apparently the east is acting a little like the democratic party right now. Japan, China and South Korea are all quick to condemn and cast judgment, realizing that something must be done about this, but none of them are very willing to take a stance and decide exactly what that is. Japan is taking the most aggressive stance, as they are the ones who stand the most to lose if the North does develop missiles that won't fail when launched.
Not too surprising, but quite disappointing is China's stance, or lack there of in this debacle. Jintao should really be leading the charge on this one, along with the United States; if there were to be any really effective action taken. Unfortunately they seem quite content in making this a US vs. North Korea situation, which Washington rebukes realizing that if anything is to be done it is going to take the cooperation of all who vested interest in North Korea.
Whether or not Jintao can step up to the plate and become the leader he needs to be, will be one of the deciding factors of how this situation unfolds before Bush's term ends in 08.
Update: Michael Reynolds has thoughts.
The Bush administration has tried to ignore North Korea, then, reluctantly, to engage it, and then to squeeze its bankers in a manner intended to make the country's leader, Kim Jong Il, personally feel the pinch.There are two related articles here and here.
Yet none of these steps in the past six years has worked. So now, after a barrage of missile launchings by North Korea, President Bush and his national security advisers found themselves on Wednesday facing what one close aide described as an array of "familiar bad choices."
I would like to add emphasis to the latter of the two related articles, as it follows the same vein as my last post.
Apparently the east is acting a little like the democratic party right now. Japan, China and South Korea are all quick to condemn and cast judgment, realizing that something must be done about this, but none of them are very willing to take a stance and decide exactly what that is. Japan is taking the most aggressive stance, as they are the ones who stand the most to lose if the North does develop missiles that won't fail when launched.
Not too surprising, but quite disappointing is China's stance, or lack there of in this debacle. Jintao should really be leading the charge on this one, along with the United States; if there were to be any really effective action taken. Unfortunately they seem quite content in making this a US vs. North Korea situation, which Washington rebukes realizing that if anything is to be done it is going to take the cooperation of all who vested interest in North Korea.
Whether or not Jintao can step up to the plate and become the leader he needs to be, will be one of the deciding factors of how this situation unfolds before Bush's term ends in 08.
Update: Michael Reynolds has thoughts.
