North Korea Missile Crisis?

North Korea is working on having long range nuclear weapons and are very close to be successful as they showed the world with a test firing today. Once successful, North Korea gets to sit to force it ways with the big boys joining the US, Japan, Britain, Russia and several other past "super powers."

Basically the fears the US has had for the past 50+ years are about to realized. Many presidential administrations, both Republican and Democratic, have had to spend a great deal of effort to keep North Korea under control and have had mostly been able to do that successfully as we have had the greater bargaining position in both military might and economic strength. With these tests, North Korea has made it clear it wants to be treated as equal to all the other big boys and is not afraid to force the issue.

The news reports have mostly focused on the military threat these tests represent. What they are largely ignoring is the diplomatic, economic and political strength it gives North Korea. Like all other countries that developed nuclear weapons, we can no longer hammer then into submission. We are now going to be forced to compromise with them often and regularly. To make concessions we normally would not have to. Basically they have become our "equals" whether we like it or not. We are no longer in a position of strength.

For this, let us all collectively thank Bush. While previous Presidents have been able to multi-task and make sure the nuclear gate remained closed while keeping an eye on other issues, Bush just couldn't seem to. He was so occupied with his legacy of Iraq that he forgot to keep an eye out for our other enemies such as North Korea. Probably because his advisors told him not worry as they seem to fear giving him bad news. Especially news that isn't clear and neat that can be cleared up with a slogan or a sound bite. Dealing with North Korea politically and diplomatically was never going to be simple so why confuse Bush with it.

So now, where were the administration has drilled into us that security is king over even our Constitution and Bill of Rights, as the evil terrorists will get us with their bombs. He instead allowed our most dangerous enemy to get the means to get the biggest bomb of all. I guess someone somewhere will get another medal for this screwup.

All this is so that Bush can secure what he feels will be his legacy - democracy in the Middle East. He believes he will be the man that secures peace in a land that has had it for thousands of years and he is willing to sacrifice anything, including our rights, our financial and political security to do it. He has now sacrificed our safety. Even more pathetic, he also sacrificed his legacy even though he doesn't realize it yet.

Even if Iraq turns into the peaceful land of democracy and freedom he envisions, he will always have North Korea as the asterisk on his legacy.