Skip to main content

Another Wall That Needs to Fall


Another Wall That Needs to Fall

Terry Jeffrey
|
Posted: Aug 30, 2017 12:01 AM
Another Wall That Needs to Fall
The border in question divides two countries that in some ways are among the most starkly different on earth.
On one side sits one of the wealthiest nations, where, according to the CIA World Factbook, per capita gross domestic product is $37,900. On the other sits one of the poorest, where per capita GDP is $1,700.
On one side, according to the State Department, is a "constitutional democracy" that engages in "free and fair" elections. On the other is an "authoritarian state" ruled by one "family for more than 60 years."
One side is South Korea; the other is North Korea.
In 1950, the communist regime in the north invaded the south. Acting without a constitutionally required authorization from Congress, President Harry Truman ordered the U.S. military to intervene on the side of South Korea. China intervened on the side of North Korea. The fighting lasted three years.
According to Veterans Affairs, Americans suffered 33,739 battle deaths in the Korean War. Another 103,284 were wounded.
The war ended in 1953 with South and North Korea still divided at the 38th parallel. In the 64 years since then, North Korea has engaged in some isolated attacks and provocations, but it has never dared to invade the south again.
Kim Il Sung, who led North Korea into war in 1950, died in 1994 and was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong Il, who died in 2011 and was succeeded by son, Kim Jong Un.
Why did these three successive autocrats refrain from another invasion? Because they were deterred. It would mean the end of their regime.
For years, this regime has been working to develop a nuclear weapons capability -- conducting a series of tests on bombs and missiles. At the end of July, they tested an intercontinental ballistic missile, The New York Times reported, which "appeared capable of reaching the West Coast of the United States." This week, they fired a missile over Japan.
What should the United States do in response to these provocative acts?
Secretary of Defense James Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general, and Sen. Lindsey Graham have articulated different approaches.
Mattis has counseled prudence. Graham has suggested pre-emption.
"A conflict in North Korea ... would be probably the worst kind of fighting in most people's lifetimes," Mattis warned in May on CBS's "Face the Nation."
"Why do I say this?" he said. "The North Korean regime has hundreds of artillery cannons and rocket launchers within range of one of the most densely populated cities on earth, which is the capital of South Korea."
"But," said Mattis, "the bottom line is, it would be a catastrophic war if this turns into combat, if we are not able to resolve this situation through diplomatic means."
Mattis, moreover, does not downplay the threat.
"It is a direct threat to the United States," said Mattis. "They have been very clear in their rhetoric. We don't have to wait until they have an intercontinental ballistic missile with a nuclear weapon on it to say that now it has manifested completely."
In an Aug. 11 story, The New York Times quoted Sen. Graham, who insisted he is certain President Donald Trump is committed to a pre-emptive war if necessary.
"I am 100 percent sure from a number of conversations that, as a last resort, he would use military force to deny them the capability to strike the homeland with a nuclear weapon," said Graham.
Graham made a similar point on NBC's "Today" show on Aug. 1.
"There is a military option: to destroy North Korea's program and North Korea itself," said Graham. 'He's not going to allow -- President Trump -- the ability of this madman to have a missile to hit America. If there's going to be a war to stop (Kim Jong Un), it will be over there. If thousands die, they're going to die over there. They're not going to die here. And he has told me that to my face."
The assumption here is that after more than six decades of successfully deterring the Northern Korean regime, there is now so much of a risk Kim Jong Un will launch a suicidal pre-emptive attack against the United States that the United States must, if he refuses to disarm, launch a pre-emptive war to stop him.
In an op-ed published earlier this month in The Washington Post, Sen. Ted Cruz presented a wiser course -- reminiscent of the path that brought down the Berlin Wall.
Cruz advocated three things: Stepping up our anti-ballistic missile program to deploy interceptors in space that can knock out ICBMs in the launch phase, choking off the money flowing to the North Korean regime, and bombarding North Korean "political elites" not with weaponry but with the message that "they could have a future in a reunified Korea."
In 1987, Ronald Reagan, the great advocate of an anti-ballistic missile system, stood in Berlin and said: "This wall will fall." It turned out to be one of the most powerful things an American president ever did.

Comments

TRENDING

Stormy Daniels seeks Trump testimony on her sex claims

How to prepare Seared Steak

Trump friend says president told him to expect one or two more major personnel changes

How Generative AI is Transforming Healthcare

Two Ingredient No Yeast Pizza Dough

Bannon to address Front National as French far-right leaders seek unity

How to prepare Chicken Shawarma Deluxe

Home made Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Pudding

Popular posts from this blog

Stormy Daniels seeks Trump testimony on her sex claims

New post Stormy Daniels seeks Trump testimony on her sex claims 25 minutes ago Share this with Facebook   Share this with Twitter   Share Media caption Stormy Daniels: 'I was threatened' Adult-film star Stormy Daniels has filed a court motion for US President Donald Trump to testify about her claim that they had a relationship. Her lawyer wants sworn testimony from Mr Trump about a "hush" agreement the actress says she signed. The attorney, Michael Avenatti, is also seeking a legal interview with the president's lawyer. Ms Daniels alleges she had unprotected sex with Mr Trump in 2006 a year after he married Melania Trump. He denies it. Mr Avenatti's motion, filed in a court in the Central District of California early on Wednesday, ramps up the legal duel between the porn star and the president. Should Trump be worried about Stormy Daniels? The president and the porn star: Why this matters Ex-model ...

How to prepare Seared Steak

  Reverse-Seared Steak Time 45 to 55 minutes, plus lighting the grill Reverse-searing is a grilling technique for steak that ensures a dark, sizzling crust and a rosy center that is perfectly cooked to your desired degree of doneness. This brilliant grilling method combines the low and slow cooking of traditional barbecue with the high heat charring practiced at steakhouses. Though it works well with any thick steak, from picanha to porterhouse, this recipe calls for a cut of steak popularized in Santa Maria, Calif., and is today known and loved across the U.S. as tri-tip. As the name suggests, it’s a triangular or boomerang-shaped steak cut from the tip of the sirloin, blessed with a robust beefy flavor. INGREDIENTS Yield : 4 servings * 1large or 2 small wood chunks (such as oak, hickory or mesquite) or 1½ cups wood chips * Canola oil, for greasing the grill grate * 1tri-tip steak (about 2 to 2¼ pounds; see Tip) * Coarse kosher or sea salt * Freshly ground black pep...

Trump friend says president told him to expect one or two more major personnel changes

New post Trump friend says president told him to expect one or two more major personnel changes By  John Wagner  and  Josh Dawsey   Email the author March 25 at 11:36 AM President Trump greets people cheering him Friday as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Carolyn Kaster/AP) WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A friend of President Trump said Sunday that the president has told him that he expects to make one or two more  major personnel changes  in his administration soon, amid mounting signs that Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin is on the way out. Christopher Ruddy, chief executive of Newsmax, said others in the White House, but not Trump, have told him that Shulkin is “likely to depart the Cabinet very soon.” Ruddy, who speaks frequently to Trump, said on ABC News’s “This Week” that Trump believes that, on the whole, the White House is operating “like a smooth machine” and has been...

How Generative AI is Transforming Healthcare

  How Generative AI is Transforming Healthcare: A New Era of Personalized Medicine In this blog post, we will explore one of the most fascinating and impactful trends in modern healthcare – the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology.  This innovative approach is set to change the face of personalized medicine by creating new opportunities for diagnosis, treatment planning, drug discovery, and patient care. As the world faces complex medical challenges, generative AI can offer solutions that are more effective, efficient, and equitable. The Role of Generative AI in Healthcare Generative AI is a powerful tool that can create new insights from massive amounts of data. This state-of-the-art technology can generate customized solutions that suit the needs of each patient, leading to better treatments and outcomes.  The potential benefits are immense, affecting various aspects of healthcare delivery, such as: Drug Discovery:  Generative AI algorithms can...