<p>.....thoughts?</p>
<p>I think it's a new Cold War, but they will sell it to the savages in Iran. At which point, Israel must pre-empt Iran - they know all that will happen by waiting is that they will lose Tel Aviv.</p>
<p>Only when the United States, China, and Russia form an anti-terrorist nuclear alliance - will they be able to back down North Korea and Iran and other terrorist- supporting nations</p>
<p>North Korea doesn't fear China nor do they fear the United States - however they would fear an alliance that brings all the major nuclear powers on board</p>
<p>Wow, seismic readings and all. I came here to post something like this and you beat me to it - nice job :)</p>
<p>Anyway, they have nice timing - it came out right after Japan and China issued a joint statement denouncing the intention to test, much less the actual act. So I don't know. South Korea has the new secretary general, and Japan has their new prime minister, so definitive action from either state would look pretty damn good right now.</p>
<p>Only China and the United States acting jointly would be able to take out North Korea sufficiently to make them a non-threat down the road</p>
<p>Unfortunately that would w/o any doubt involve use of nuclear weapons, because neither China nor the United States would ever want to put troops into that country</p>
<p>China has already claimed it will not stand for a nuclear armednorth korea - and once North Korea configures its nukes in the theater - it will be too late</p>
<p>The bottom line is that China and the United States will be forced to join against a common threat</p>
<p>I dont think North Korea is a threat, they simply want world attention and the lifting of sanctions.</p>
<p>We get intel briefings every now and then on NK, they still have WOODEN planes. They are far from a threat, just a looney dictator is all.</p>
<p>This is World War IV (the Cold War was WWIII). And this war began on the morning of September 11, 2001.</p>
<p>It's not a WW till we reopen the draft. This administration will never do that.</p>
<p>Why is the draft a prerequisite for a world war?</p>
<p>Who would be North Korea's allies, in order to make this a world war? Who's stupid enough to hitch their wagon to Kim Jong Il's star?</p>
<p>Why is the draft a prerequisite for a world war?</p>
<p>In the current climate it is. </p>
<p>Because while NK has tested a nuke, it has crossed no borders. Lately, we've been the only country to do that. In doing so, we have stretched our military beyond the breaking point. In order to create enough man power (even if we nuked again) we would have to draw upon the civilian population. We do not have a large enough standing army to engage in another conflict. </p>
<p>Our ememies know this, they can do math too. They see we are stretched beyond and mired for god knows how long, so they will do what they want knowing we cannot respond without the political will of our people. It is doubtful that the Bush administration can call for a draft. A draft without a clear reason (WWII-nazi expansion) is one thing. A draft without a clear reason (nam) is received in a less favorable light. </p>
<p>We currently do not have the means to fight on more than two fronts. We're maxed without a draft. Besides Fides weren't you going to volunteer?</p>
<p>Also, considering that Iran is a step away from at war with the United States, the U.S. really has few options, because its arrogant attitude does not allow effective diplomacy, and its military capacities are overestimated and overextended. </p>
<p>The United States cannot step up presence in the Pacific Rim without decreasing engagement in the Middle East, but the situation in the Middle East right now calls for more engagement both in Iraq and to contain Iran. </p>
<p>The United States will have to ignore North Korea, and hope China will take care of it. It has no other options, and North Korea knows this. </p>
<p>This will result in a loss of confidence in the United States ability to fulfill her defense pacts worldwide, and we will immediately see Japan, South Korea and Taiwan stepping up their military development.</p>
<p>The news media is concentrating on how this is a loss of face for CHina, but they are glossing over the fact, this will be a bigger loss of face for the United States.</p>
<p>Check out this clip of Bush a week ago on NK, hilarious.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTKgqDe8GEo%5B/url%5D">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTKgqDe8GEo</a></p>
<p>Oh its "america's fault",gee what a surprise</p>
<p>Who's stupid enough? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.</p>