



I. Kim Jung-un is Boosted by Surprise Success



And he got one on Wednesday.  


NK rocket laucn




II. White House Condemns Launch





III. Missile Defense Systems Could Block North Korean Nukes






Patriot interceptor


Sources: Reuters, The White House

Comments     Threshold


RE: When you are indebted
By Jereb on 12/12/2012 4:50:50 PM , Rating: 5
Why is it that the immediate response to any nation approaching the US's level of military immediately broaches the fear of beign attacked?

RE: When you are indebted
By TSS on 12/13/2012 12:52:54 AM , Rating: 2
Because that's the way of the world like it or not. Peace usually exists when there's 1 big kid on the block, much bigger then everybody else, who gets to dictate how things are run on that block. This means that which ever party is being threatened can just point or go to the big kid and ask for help, and whoever's a threat doesn't stand a chance. Yes the big kids friends get a break while the ones he doesn't like have it hard, but everything is still relatively peacefull.

Then when another kid equal in size moves into the block, whenever there's a problem, the kids have a choice which big kid to go to. Pretty soon certain kids will side with one big kid and the other kids will side with the other, the closer they are in size the more equally the difference will be split. And each big kid no longer has a say over the little kids on the other side.

Then one of the big kids gets into a fight with the other big kid, most likely over one of the little kids that misbehaves, but he can't do anything about. Then if the little kids help their big kid, they're sure to have a lot easyer life if they win, and a lot harder life when their protector loses.

That's world wars in a nutshell. The consequences of letting china become bigger then the US means they will get more pull then the US. The US does not like this. In a perfect world they'd go "oh well" and play friendly to china, but we all know that's as likely as bricks coming to life. The only other option that is left, is try to prevent china from getting bigger then the US. After all, if they stay small, their pull stays small and the US gets to pressure them instead of the other way around.

We're already well on our way to a war between the US and china. I've already seen 2-3 different tariffs from the US on chinese products come by and the chinese have responded with their own tariffs on beef and tires.

Doesn't mean it will happen, it could easily be avoided still. It's just that the politicians in both countries don't really seem to want to. China wants revenge for the asian crisis while the US wants to blame their problems on anybody but their own as that would essentially wipe out their political elite entirely. China is communist(we remember those!), still a developing country (barbarians using non-mexican slave labor!), and the place where all your money has gone (never mind how). Perfect fall guy.

And yes the population will suffer. What else is new. If history teaches us one thing it's that humans do not learn from history. That, and the politicians simply do not care, their bottom line isn't affected.

RE: When you are indebted
By maugrimtr on 12/13/2012 8:42:16 AM , Rating: 2
First of all, China doesn't need US permission to be the biggest kid. It will obviously become the planet's most powerful economy joined to its greatest military force within a century or less. The time is coming when they could crush the US quite easily. We could call on Europe/Canada - but we're still going to be outnumbered.

Secondly, either side attacking would be stupid. The economic ties between China and the US guarantee they will never be on opposite sides of a war. Also, both have Nukes. That's two methods of assured self destruction. That's also why missile defences and balancing the damn budget are essential.

The real fear is from a smaller nuclear capable nation with an unhinged leadership, i.e. foaming at the mouth Islamists in Iran/Pakistan or foaming at the mouth Communists in N. Korea. It can take very little for despots to do something stupid. Even the US has gone to war over the slightest unsubstantiated hint of WMDs.

RE: When you are indebted
By jimbojimbo on 12/13/2012 1:28:32 PM , Rating: 2
Within a century? I'd say right now.

