A Deadly Game of Political Chicken

North Korea is looking for a fight whether they know it or not. Personally, I say, let's fight. I'm not a war-monger, but this is more than a little ridiculous. How many times do they honestly think they can launch missiles at other countries, while obviously aiming for the U.S., and be ignored? Oh wait....apparently a few more times.

In an official statement, North Korea said, "Our military will continue with missile launch drills in the future as part of efforts to strengthen self-defense deterrent,...If anyone intends to dispute or add pressure about this, we will have to take stronger physical actions in other forms."

Now any rational person would wonder why a country and its leader would continue to act this way unless they wanted a war, or at the very least military action. However, there is a reason that North Korea feels comfortable in continuing to launch their missiles. The only response they are getting is less than a slap on the wrist. After all, there has been "international criticism" and "nearly unanimous world condemnation" of their 7 missile launches on Wednesday.

Ooooo...I'm know I'm scared of almost unanimous condemnation and criticism. It certainly would make me stop what I was doing. Yeah, right.

Of course, the United States and Japan are trying diplomacy and asking for sanctions, but China and Russia are standing in the way of that effort, not that it would matter anyhow. Sanctions obviously don't work. Diplomacy with a deranged tyrant doesn't work either. The only thing that is respected in a situation like this is force. Overwhelming military force. Diplomacy is nice, it should always be tried first and the efforts should be mighty, but when it isn't effective then it's time to change the game plan.

But that isn't happening, once again. In a statement, President Bush said, " 'we want to solve this problem diplomatically' and that all must work together to 'send one message' that North Korea must adhere to international norms."

President Bush went on to say,of Kim Jong-il, " 'It would have been helpful of course if, you know, he said 'here's what we're going to do, here's our intentions, we want to work with you, we want to explain ... But that's not the way he decided to deal with it. He just decided to start firing, and he fired seven of them, and we take this seriously...' "

In an AP article, the President said, " 'We expect you to adhere to international norms. We expect you to keep your word.' Asked for an assessment of the reclusive North Korean leader, who is variously described as quirky, eccentric or even unbalanced, Bush struck a thoughtful pose.

"It's hard for me to tell you what's on his mind. He lives in a very closed society," marked by concentration camps and starving people, Bush said.
"What we don't know is his intentions,' ".

You don't know his intentions? He lives in a country marked by concentration camps and starving citizens and you don't know his intentions? I think it's safe to assume that they aren't good. I would say that's a fair assessment.

Mr. President, if you take this so seriously, then let's quit playing games with a lunatic and show Jong-il that he is making a big mistake. Let's answer this little attention-starved tyrant with a clear and consise, no-mistake-about-it show of force that stops him in his tracks instead of playing a game of political chicken. Isn't this how the whole situation with Sadam Hussein and Iraq started? Why waste the time trying to reason with a terrorist? It has never worked before and it will not work this time either.

In this post-Sept. 11th world, the time for talking and political games is over. I don't care if Russia and China or if the whole world disagrees with military action, when the United States of America is directly threatened, the time to act is before we are hit, not after. Let's not wait for the threat to become a reality. The time for action is now.