20 Apr 12
The USA doesn't have a problem with India launching rockets, so why is North Korea not allowed without cutting off food aid to hungry people?
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-04-18/asia/world_asia_india-missile_1_long-range-missile-longest-range-nuclear-capable-missile-test-flight?_s=PM:ASIA
20 Apr 12
Originally posted by Metal BrainBecause India is not run by an insane dictator or (to preempt your pending follow up about Iran) a fundamentalist theocracy.
The USA doesn't have a problem with India launching rockets, so why is North Korea not allowed without cutting off food aid to hungry people?
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-04-18/asia/world_asia_india-missile_1_long-range-missile-longest-range-nuclear-capable-missile-test-flight?_s=PM:ASIA
I still don't get why you keep insisting on this idea that we have to be consistent about either not wanting any countries to have access to nukes or allow all countries to do so. We have nukes. The Brits do .The French do. The Chinese do. The Russians do. Yes, the Israelis do too. Other countries as well. Fine. It's done. Deal with it. That doesn't mean we have to be happy that countries run by certified nut jobs to also gets their hands on weapons that could kill tens of millions.
20 Apr 12
Originally posted by sh76I am starting to think 'insane' merely means someone who does not match our interests. There's a dictatorship in Pakistan that already has nukes. We make no evaluation of the mental health of the dictator because he's working with us somewhat. And yet we allowed them to harbor bin Laden after ousting the Taliban for doing so.
Because India is not run by an insane dictator or (to preempt your pending follow up about Iran) a fundamentalist theocracy.
I still don't get why you keep insisting on this idea that we have to be consistent about either not wanting any countries to have access to nukes or allow all countries to do so. We have nukes. The Brits do .The French do. The Chinese ...[text shortened]... n by certified nut jobs to also gets their hands on weapons that could kill tens of millions.
20 Apr 12
Originally posted by SwissGambitWe had no choice about Pakistan. They have 'em. we have to deal with it. That doesn't mean we wouldn't rather we not have them.
I am starting to think 'insane' merely means someone who does not match our interests. There's a dictatorship in Pakistan that already has nukes. We make no evaluation of the mental health of the dictator because he's working with us somewhat. And yet we allowed them to harbor bin Laden after ousting the Taliban for doing so.
In any case, I haven't seen enough of this new Korean son/sun/whatever, but Kim Jung Il was mentally unbalanced or there's no such thing.
21 Apr 12
Originally posted by sh76Insane?
Because India is not run by an insane dictator or (to preempt your pending follow up about Iran) a fundamentalist theocracy.
I still don't get why you keep insisting on this idea that we have to be consistent about either not wanting any countries to have access to nukes or allow all countries to do so. We have nukes. The Brits do .The French do. The Chinese ...[text shortened]... n by certified nut jobs to also gets their hands on weapons that could kill tens of millions.
What has Kim done that shows he is not sane? Are you just making this stuff up as you go along?
Seriously. Show me something. Anything.
21 Apr 12
Originally posted by sh76Kim Jung Il is dead so that is irrelevant, but lets assume insanity is hereditary and it is relevant. What shows that Kim Jung Il was mentally imbalanced, his hair style?
We had no choice about Pakistan. They have 'em. we have to deal with it. That doesn't mean we wouldn't rather we not have them.
In any case, I haven't seen enough of this new Korean son/sun/whatever, but Kim Jung Il was mentally unbalanced or there's no such thing.
21 Apr 12
Originally posted by FMFI can't even change my own country. Why should I concern myself with the political structure in NK? My country has no desire to bring about political change in China, so why NK? What makes NK worse than China?
Metal Brain, in what ways do you think individuals, groups, organizations and nations should seek to bring about political change in North Korea?
My government doesn't like the government in NK because they won't play ball. It has nothing to do with the mental stability of leaders. That is just mostly propaganda. Puppets get rewarded and leaders with independence and backbone get punished.
21 Apr 12
Originally posted by Metal BrainOK, I will try again in a slightly different way. In what ways do you think individuals, groups, organizations and nations who seek to bring about political change in North Korea should go about it?
I can't even change my own country. Why should I concern myself with the political structure in NK? My country has no desire to bring about political change in China, so why NK? What makes NK worse than China?
My government doesn't like the government in NK because they won't play ball. It has nothing to do with the mental stability of leaders. That i ...[text shortened]... tly propaganda. Puppets get rewarded and leaders with independence and backbone get punished.
21 Apr 12
1 edit
Originally posted by FMFFirst of all, my government should not give the leader of NK a convenient excuse to blame the USA for their problems by being such hostile hypocrites. Do you feel comfortable yanking rice out of a North Korean child's mouth because they want to launch a satellite into orbit? I grew cannabis. Should I be prohibited from growing food in my garden because I might grow some good bud?
OK, I will try again in a slightly different way. In what ways do you think individuals, groups, organizations and nations who seek to bring about political change in North Korea should go about it?
Why do you think the Castros are still in power in Cuba? It is too easy to blame my government for the trade embargo and the threat of invasion demonstrated by the Bay of Pigs and constant assassination attempts on Fidel's life.
Sometimes doing nothing gets better results.
21 Apr 12
Originally posted by Metal BrainSo you don't really have any concrete ideas or suggestions, except for a kind of in-passing mention of food aid and an end to trade embargoes? Is that all?
First of all, my government should not give the leader of NK a convenient excuse to blame the USA for their problems by being such hostile hypocrites. Do you feel comfortable yanking rice out of a North Korean child's mouth because they want to launch a satellite into orbit? I grew cannabis. Should I be prohibited from growing food in my garden because I ...[text shortened]... invasion demonstrated by the Bay of Pigs and constant assassination attempts on Fidel's life.
21 Apr 12
Originally posted by FMFWhy are you ignoring China? Do you think China is better than NK?
So you don't really have any concrete ideas or suggestions, except for a kind of in-passing mention of food aid and an end to trade embargoes? Is that all?
Why the double standard?
21 Apr 12
Originally posted by Metal BrainI am not ignoring anything. I am asking you about North Korea. You said "Sometimes doing nothing gets better results." Does this mean you advocate cancelling the food aid program for the future?
Why are you ignoring China? Do you think China is better than NK?
Why the double standard?
21 Apr 12
Originally posted by FMFThat was an arrangement between the 2 countries. It was not exactly charity as you make it sound, but I'm not sure why NK can't produce plenty of food on it's own. In the long term they might actually be better off without it.
I am not ignoring anything. I am asking you about North Korea. You said "Sometimes doing nothing gets better results." Does this mean you advocate cancelling the food aid program for the future?
It is the short term I am concerned with. Yanking it away right now will only give NK a great propaganda tool to use against the USA. The Kim family is not stupid and they are nowhere near insane. Kim knows exactly what he is doing. He is playing this well.