Ryan

click on one of our sponsors! OR REMOVE ADS

Regardless of political ties, it has become abundantly clear that while we are fighting with people in the middle east, there is a far-east threat that may be much more of an adversary than we have given them credit to be.

With the recent discovery of an immenent long range missile test, the U.S. is left in multi-lateral nuclear talks with a government that simply wants bilateral talks with us. That said, we've begun sending anti-missile batteries into japan to prepare to shoot any test missiles down, should we choose to go that route.

If you were a foreign policy advisor in the bush cabinet right now, what would you advise the president to do about the growing threat of nuclear technology and missiles capable of targeting U.S. cities (albeit in Alaska)?

Would you shoot a test missile down, worsening relations but proving military superiority? Would you grant the bilateral talks that North Korea has asked for all along? Would you prepare scenarios for another Korean conflict?

I'm conflicted on what I want us to do, and I'm curious what others have to say on the matter.

___________________________________________
Oh my god, I have a blog

tsmo

Seems they already have a plan of action to shoot down any thing that comes from there. They have moved 4 or 5 patriot missle launchers to Japan along with another 4-5 hundred troops. I dont think they ( us ) can have a wait n see attitude anymore.

What gets me, is weve been hearing about the launch of this missle for over a week or so.. How long does it take to fuel that thing up?

___________________________________________
I'm a terminal non-achiever

Ryan

I'm not so sure they plan to shoot it down. That would immediately start a conflict, and that may not be where we want to go. They may shoot it down if it is fired in the direction of an allied nation, however if it is fired harmlessly into the Pacific, what good is shooting it down besides provoking an already angered nuclear power?

___________________________________________
Oh my god, I have a blog

thecowboy

I think it shows them that we are capable (since Kim "mentally" il aparrantly has no idea) of doing just that. Relations are already bad so I don't really see how a military display could make them worse. It lets him know that if the missle was going toward one of our allies that we would shoot it down. That is assuming that he gets the hint however.

joerockhead

Harmlessly into the Pacific???

What direction is that going to take?
Over japan? Of course!

Also, it is not WHERE it goes, it is the fact it may give them data it works.
If we shoot it down during launch, they gain little to no data on it's true capability and will have to test again. And those things are not cheap

Also, it may be more then likely a fizzeled rocket to spur us, rather then a real one. Well, we did respond. :happycow:

___________________________________________


Visit the worlds best website -
www.badass67.com - Black Sunshine

npc_3792

I don't give the N. Korean government / military much credit on anything, so if they're actually capable of something, then I'd be truly surprised. Their army is using poorly maintained, old equipment. Also I'm under the impression that the troops are both poorly fed, and poorly trained.

As for shooting down one of their test missiles, I'd rather not. Why give out any data on our potential anti-missile system? Also, shooting it down would provoke N. Korea, giving their bonkers leader some form of substance to his 'the US is going to invade' line.

I'd say ignore N. Korea, until the country is about to fall apart (debatable on when that actually is), then step in, with S. Korea and Japan, and hopefully with some U.N. backing, and knockout the top 3% or so thats running everything, and try to get Korean unification running.

tuathal

I honestly dont think any countries are going to even consider invading N korea as long as they have China as an ally watching over them. As far along as china has come in recent years, they're still not a country anyone wants to mess with.

facepeeler

yeah, that million man army could be a bit of a bitch if it comes down to it...they're plucky little bastards, and even though the NKDA might be unprepared for war, China sure as hell is, and the NKDA leaders obviously have no compunctions about lobbing nukes at whoever...


but as it stands right now, China is behind the diplomacy front, that will most likely be the best course of action

___________________________________________


Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

xboxk1ng

Aside from the political fears, I think that China would be foolish to side against the U.S. By pissing off our government, they would face some serious economic repurcussions. Think of all the the cheap ass shit they make for us. If we stopped trade and made domestic firms pull out or face trade barriers, China would fall back into the same hapless abyss that they have been facing for the last couple of centuries. In addition, they would also face repurcussions from the U.N.

I feel that their fear of economic repurcussions has influenced them to persuade N. Korea to stay their hand. I really doubt they would license such a hostile move by N. Korea. I am sure that politically they stand with N. Korean perspectives. but at the same time, they are enjoying western money right now enough to not try anything really stupid like standing behind such a blatant hostile move by N. Korea. But if they do, God bless us all. President Bush will be sure to take the military route. Which may or may not be the best course. Who am I to say?

BackdoorJesus

Ryan, I'm sorry I didn't catch this thread before I posted in BOTH, but hey man, there's just less traffic in EOTH & stuff gets missed...

I'm not gonna repost what I said in there cuz I don't want to be redundant, but I will link to my rant: http://forums.webrats.com/showthread.php?t=111997

In a nutshell, I'm very disappointed in our administration's lukewarm reaction to NK's flexing their muscle.

Oh sure, when it's a bunch of disorganized terrorists taking pot-shots at us, it's "shock and awe" & the invasion of Islamic states that are supposedly "sympathetic to Al-Qaeda", but when it's a rogue nuclear power testing missles that can reach our shores, with REAL (not imaginary or 'suspected') WMD's, we're taking the "diplomatic" route.

Pussies.

I am thorougly disgusted by this recent chain of events...and if you folks know me, you know that I have NEVER advocated a hard-line stance, but enough is enough, I say.

I sincerely believe that if it comes down to force (as it fucking well should IMO), China will stand back, because they know we are a better ally than an enemy; certainly a better ally than their red-headed stepchild NK!!!

Actually, to expound on that point, I would think we should be able to work behind the scenes to get our "most favored nation" (China) to take care of business for us - THEY should move in & put the hurt on Kim & Co. in the interests of world peace, and more importantly, commerce.

___________________________________________

box_slayer

they say it takes a few days to peice it together and a few days to fuel it

Lazer

fucking

We are quick to go "Shock and Awe" People armed with rocks, But our administration is passive about this.

I mean someone hit it on the head when they said, When was the last time we fought an enemy who was up to date with a n army?
Not saying that NK is up to date, But we shure are picking on an awful lot of countries that have inferior armies, and are having a tough time. When was the last time we fought a modern army?

goodwork

tuathal

Dude, this is the serious section of the forum. If you're going to post 'that', put it in your BOTH thread.