An interesting article in the fairly liberal online rag, Slate.
An interesting excerpt:
“I am, of course, playing devil’s advocate here: I realize that the United States has long-standing obligations to Japan and that our half-century-plus presence on the Korean Peninsula has placed us at the center of this discussion. I understand our moral obligation to the South Koreans, too, even though many of them ceased to be grateful for our help a long time ago. At the same time, it still seems very odd that American diplomats have to shoulder the burden of a problem that they cannot solve—and odder still that they must do so on behalf of the one country that could solve it [the author is referring to China- P].”
Its kind of like seeing your neighbors house overrun with rats. You know those rats are going to come over to your house eventually and destroy your place.
The questions are; Do you wait til they are in your house causing destruction or do you help your neighbor either by volunteering to help or by telling your neighbor you are going to help wether they like it or not to protect your interests. Suppose your neighbor syas that they don’t need your help and yet it is quite obvious they do. Do you still do it? You need to protect your family and home. Do you wait or take matters in hand?
I would take matters in hand. I work too hard to allow destruction of hearth and home by a neighbors inability to control problems. I don’t see the problems as just theirs, it is also mine.
I for one find this whole topic amusing seeing as Pakistan has nuclear arms as does Isreal. Not exactly the most stable of nations. And yes it is China, S. Korea, Japan etc’s problem not ours.
I disagree Satori, if anyone has nukes it is our problem. It will become our problem, Hell, USA was a ringleader in this whole mess. You don’t ignore your neighbor’s problems at their homes, if you do, the problems will come to your home. If you see that help is needed, you help wether it is wanted or not. If you turn a blind eye, you are guilty of negligence to others and to your own.
The real trouble is not the nuclear weapons but rather the bioengineered. Now, like I said Pakistan and Isreal have nuclear arms. Frankly I find this to be more unsettling knowing the current violence in the Middle East than someone who is next to arguably the worlds new superpower (China).
Nuclear weapons will never come into play in regards to real nations. The only worrisome facet is if the nukes get into hands of smaller factions i.e. Terrorist groups, opposing political parties etc. In the roughly 60 years nothing has become of nuclear armaments. Most nations no longer worry about manufacturing nuclear arms. Bioengineering, chemical warfare are the norms.
If we are worried about helping people’s problems perhaps we should turn our eyes to Africa and help out there instead of a place who is going to be controlled by China.
I think there’s a 50/50 chance China will suffer an economic implosion and collapse into squallor instead of becoming a true Superpower. But that’s another issue. I find the article interesting and well reasoned; for whatever reason, the US is continually denounced for it’s perceived Imperialism yet is simultaneously expected to police the entire world. It’s also a valid point to say that China could easily halt N. Korea’s nuke program while the US probably cannot. So why is there no cry for China to do so? Why is it our (the US) responsibility?
I agree with the likely scenario the story paints, too. Eventually US troops will pull out of S. Korea, as it’s not reasonable to expect us to protect them until the end of day. The S. Korean economy is vastly stronger than the Norths, which is on the verge of collapse. The South has a modern arsenal of US weapons and a larger population. They can & should defend themselves. But with N. Korea’s nuke tests, it will difficult to dissuade S. Korea, Taiwan and even Japan from pursuing their own atomic weapons programs. Their strong anti-nuke sentiments aside, Japan could build several hundred warheads at will; they are a nation with tremendous technical expertise, certainly the equal of any nation in the world.
Right now China has a virtual nuclear monopoly. They have a lot to gain from keeping it that way, yet they aren’t lifting a finger to do so. For whatever reason the US is being expected to do the dirty work for them for no logical reason.
Because the US has a worldwide rep as defenders and gullible ones too. How many countries will defend another country without actually laying claim to it. Also they see us as wealthy gullible defenders. Lets get Mickey to eat it, Mickey will eat anything! Remember that commercial for Life cereal? Well, we are Mickey. We do anything to keep in good with our neighbors. Then we piss them off and then we spend billions kissing their asses.
But, It is wiser for us to do so. For it does give us a modicum of control.
Rats, mice, cockroaches, inlaws, spiders, pick whichever vermin or pest. Vermin and pests multiply and destroy. If they got them, they will overflow and spill onto you and yours.
N Korea is on it’s last legs. It is trying to play in the wrong area. Look at their situation. They could be crushed like a bug by any of the Asian powers, and if they start costing money, they will be. I agree that China is probably the hammer, because an arms race in Asia is the last thing it needs. Our best tactic is to stay in negotiations along with the Asian powers and sit back and wait. They really can’t last much longer. They’ve over-played their hand big time.
