Wednesday, August 9, 2017

What Agendas Drive this Bellicose Rhetoric?


What is going on here? Why is Trump threatening a pre-emptive strike? Why is he using this language of "Fire and Fury" against North Korea?
Baker, Peter (August 8 2017). Trump Threatens ‘Fire and Fury’ Against North Korea if It Endangers U.S. The New  York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/08/world/asia/north-korea-un-sanctions-nuclear-missile-united-nations.html?emc=edit_th_20170809&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=32962000&_r=0

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — President Trump threatened on Tuesday to unleash “fire and fury” against North Korea if it endangered the United States, as tensions with the isolated and impoverished nuclear-armed state escalated into perhaps the most serious foreign policy challenge yet of his administration.... But it was not clear what specifically would cross his line. Administration officials have said that a pre-emptive military strike, while a last resort, is among the options they have made available to the president.

Everyone who studies security knows that all wired societies are vulnerable to cyberattacks. Every nation on earth is vulnerable to nuclear attacks.  There is no absolute security.

But why strategize to eliminate those measures of security that prevent our collective annihilation? Brinksmanship erodes security absolutely so why play this game of war?

I learned about brinksmanship as a student of the Cold War. It was a stupid and reckless policy then and its a stupid and reckless policy now. Brinksmanship played for too long is very prone to explosive accidents, as everyone knows.

I cannot decide whether I should simply stop paying attention to this absurd posturing by North Korea and the US or, alternatively, find an accessible basement and stock up on food and water.

My research on ionizing radiation and disease suggests that long term survival after a significant nuclear exchange would be very unpleasant for survivors, particularly given we are already burdened by the legacy of the twentieth century. I don't expect we would last long.








6 comments:

  1. While everyone is hyperfocused on North Korea, we need to direct our tension to Bhutan. The border dispute between China and India (two nuclear states) has escalated.

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    Replies
    1. Indeed. The Indian army is now ordering people living near the Chinese border to evacuate.

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    2. Thanks for the update. Here is an article reviewing the conflict:
      http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/chinese-media-says-countdown-to-clash-with-india-has-begun-1735443

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  2. I believe comparing North Korea to the Soviet Union is flawed. North Korea is the only state with nuclear weapons where the military is prepared to carry out whatever orders they are given by the Leader. This was never the case even when Stalin held power. The Russians are a very intelligent and civilized people. Kim Jong-un is viewed as a demi-god. We have never been in a position where one man's command could launch nuclear tipped missiles at Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Hawaii, etc. You may want to argue with this but I am almost certain that I am correct.

    The threat issued by Trump is as much if not more aimed at China. China is in the best position to end the North Korean threat. China does not want a devastated area with millions of refugees fleeing into its already over populated areas. They know as well as anyone that it all depends on Kim Jong-un--and they do not want to experiment with the hope for a military coup there. We should hope for Kim to suddenly become ill . . . with some help from China. And then for the military to take over and soften the regime. Eventually Korea could reunify.

    People on the left put way too much store by the intellect which is not the highest phase of the mind, something they should know better than anyone.

    People are way too quick to know the minds of national leaders. So some on the left are saying Kim would never do X; Trump is too aggressive; etc. Unmasker Susan Rice says we should tolerate a nuclear North Korea. How does she know that will work? She doesn't but her goal is to oppose Trump.

    A good question for people on the left is to figure out why Bill Clinton generously gave North Korea the makings of nuclear weapons. And four billion dollars.

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  3. "Lionel Nation Tutorial: How Americans and MSM See North Korea" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xowFWpYqDo
    This is excellent and also funny. After swallowing so much of North Korea and the USA and nuclear stuff, this is a fine digestive aid.

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