We’ve not had all attention on Iraq; there have been 6-party negotiations involving NK for years, plus an American military presence on the border. North Korea is a problem that affects some of our allies at least as much as us; South Korea and Japan have strong incentives to work with us there. I don’t think the administration approach is very likely to succeed, but I can’t think of a better one.
Some on the left like to accuse the administration and its supporters of arrogance, but they have the assumption that it is within the power of the United States to produce any outcome it desires if only it acts correctly. That’s not how the world works. There are other independent actors on the planet, with interests opposed to ours; sometimes there is no good way to stop them. North Korea may be like that.
Iran may be too far gone as well. Here again the administration has forgone military action and relied on negotiation and our allies, the exact strategy many bad-faith leftist critics urged for Iraq. Unlike in Korea, we have no allies willing or able to impose consequences on our opponent. I think the admin should have expanded the ground war years ago; instead Iran and Syria have served as safe havens for our enemies. Our effort in Iraq has suffered, and the danger from Iran has grown.
I can’t imagine options besides continued negotiation; increased military intervention; or surrender. The first and third will not reduce the risk from Iran, the second might. Bubba, do you have any other ideas?
Gutless South Koreans; just pretend the nuts to the north aren't going to hurt you. Thank goodness that we can rely upon the Japanese to fight. Only with such a credible threat will we be able to bring the North Koreans back from the brink.
bgates, I agree with most of what you said on your two latest posts (on this thread and on the Milton Friedman thread).
Did you get drunk (the Bgates impostor incident) and are now sober? (just joking).
I too beleive that America does a lot of good around the world and that we should help spread democracy. But we need to choose our battles carefully and not overreach.
