North Korea prepares to test missile

[DaveIsWrong]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060619/ap_on_re_as/nkorea_missile_34;_ylt=Atmjv0WhGXfeww.4GnQAEcyCscEA

Thoughts? Discuss.

[Against Miik!]

Well looking at it from an NK point of view, they never know when they could pop up on the U.S. invasion dart board. They should have a right to protect themselves. I think they would be foolish to attack unprovoked. As soon as they got one missle off, the U.S. has the power to return with 1000s more.

Although they are a little nuts.

[Alpha Waves]

although north korea are a very secretive nation, i dont trust this information. not after the whole weapons of mass destruction thing with iraq

[DBoons Ghost]

Any and every nation has a right to protect themselves with the same weapons other nations have. It's no one's right to determine whether or not these leaders are actually sane of course.

[Letto]

But the thing is during the Cold War, neither the US nor the Soviet Union would fire nukes because it would only end in mutually assured destruction. Both nations (and probably the rest of the world in the ensuing days) would be completely wasted. And what's the point of being in power if you/all your people and resources are gone?

Now if a radical Islamic dictator were to get his hands on nukes, he would be more likely to actually fire nuclear weapons as a part of Jihad because he believes he is doing Allah's work and there are 72 (or 42?) virgins waiting for him. Someone involved in jihad isn't concerned with mutually assured destruction.

Edit: I still believe all nations have the right to nuclear energy, but when they also have the means to enrich uranium, that's when it gets tricky. I'm pretty sure I solved the problem though.

[StreetlightRock]

Someone involved in jihad isn't concerned with mutually assured destruction.

Power is more important to the Mullahs than religion will ever be.

On the Korean topic, it seems like NK is using the threat of a missile test to gain diplomatic leverge with the US, in trying to engage in unilateral talks with them.

[Riva]

Australia is pretty pissed. We're one of the few countries with full diplomatic relations with North Korea, so it's difficult to know if we're simply funnelling the US's concerns or acting on our own accord, but we've been a bit annoyed that they've decided to test in our neighbourhood.

Just an aside: I remember that Smokey and a few Americans were suprised that a North Korean student attended my university. I guess our unique diplomatic status helped things along.

[BassRevelation1029]

let them suceed. While the U.S is looking at a country thats nowhere near developing nukes, Korea's jumping up and down and showing their capabilities. IF they go unnoticed, thats the fault of us.

[Chrizzle fo' Shizzle]

This is not good. North Koreans are fucking nuts

[Atomic Rain]

Originally Posted by Chrizzle fo' Shizzle

This is not good. North Koreans are fucking nuts

All of them?

[BassRevelation1029]

Originally Posted by Atomic Rain

All of them?

yes, all of them.

well, im sure theres one or two...

[Chrizzle fo' Shizzle]

Originally Posted by Atomic Rain

All of them?

A lot of them. They've been brainwashed since they were toddlers to die for their country at the drop of a hat. Ask any Korean War veteran. Hundreds of Korean soldiers would literally throw their bodies at UN machine guns

[BassRevelation1029]

Originally Posted by Chrizzle fo' Shizzle

A lot of them. They've been brainwashed since they were toddlers to die for their country at the drop of a hat. Ask any Korean War veteran. Hundreds of Korean soldiers would literally throw their bodies at UN machine guns

kinda like the Iranians. They have a 7 million-man wave army, which has already lined up in the case of a U.S led invasion

[Chrizzle fo' Shizzle]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_total_troops

To be fair, the vast majority of them are paramilitary forces. Conventionally, Iran's got about half the number of troops the US does, whereas North Korea has more than both of them combined

[BassRevelation1029]

Originally Posted by Med57

Wait, am I misunderstanding you or are you saying that North Korea succesfully testing nuclear missiles is a good thing? Because while the ball has been well and truly dropped on North Korea (although in fairness we're kind of low on options), I don't see how a North Korea that has nuclear weapons capability and is continuing to develop ways of delivering these weapons is a good thing.

I didnt say it was a good thing. If this concerns the U.S any, its completely their fault. They proceeded in making up information about Hussein and nuclear materials, now they're focusing their attention on Iran, who probably wont have nukes in the next 5-10 years. All the while they've rejected bilateral talks with North Korea, saying they wont work. Just look how far these people have gone now.
While i dont really see it as a good thing, I dont see how its bad either.

[Smokey D]

Originally Posted by DBoon's Ghost

Any and every nation has a right to protect themselves with the same weapons other nations have. It's no one's right to determine whether or not these leaders are actually sane of course.

Originally Posted by Fat Al

Well looking at it from an NK point of view, they never know when they could pop up on the U.S. invasion dart board. They should have a right to protect themselves. I think they would be foolish to attack unprovoked. As soon as they got one missle off, the U.S. has the power to return with 1000s more.

The North Korean regime is amongst the most horrific in the world, and every effort should be made to bring about its end as swiftly as possible.

[Shell]

Yeah, let's start some **** with north korea while all our guys are fighting in the middle east.

[Syncratic]

I've heard the notion that North Korea won't touch us because we provide them with so much aid, foodwise that is.

I read somewhere that there are infact more American flags in North Korea than the US because of all the aid packages being labeled with the flag.

[Chrizzle fo' Shizzle]

Originally Posted by beeyotch

Yeah, let's start some **** with north korea while all our guys are fighting in the middle east.

Seems to me like North Korea is the one who wants to start shit

[Jude]

Originally Posted by Letto

Now if a radical Islamic dictator were to get his hands on nukes, he would be more likely to actually fire nuclear weapons as a part of Jihad because he believes he is doing Allah's work and there are 72 (or 42?) virgins waiting for him. Someone involved in jihad isn't concerned with mutually assured destruction.

I hate this rationale. They're fundamentalist Muslims, so obviously the normal expectations of sanity don't apply to them

Why should we be worried if North Korea or Iran had nukes anyway? They're both far less menacing than the USSR and we survived that cold war.