North Korea said it will eliminate the United States

[ccbatson]

My G-d, is Obama asleep behind the wheel on this, or what?

[vetalalumni]

Put me in the White House and gimme beer, I'll settle it.

A beer summit! Red Stripe for Red Dog?

[rb336]

How did it hinder us?

Did you forget GWB's speech identifying the "axis of evil"?

ooooooooo a speech! meanwhile, under Dubya:
1) Korea became a nuclear power - in no small measure because dubya destroyed US credibility and demolished our diplomatic capabillity
2) Iran surged forward in its quest for nuclear power status, again because of Dubya demolishing our diplomatic standing

[rb336]

My G-d, is Obama asleep behind the wheel on this, or what?

hardly. he is sooo far ahead of what your republican gods were or could be it is not even worth discussing

[TKshreve]

It's funny how people here, like A2 imparticularly, contend we should not be making decisions for the South Koreans because it is their blood on the line.

Was it not U.S. blood that was spilled on the hilltops of the 38th parallel? Did we not single handedly prevent the North Koreans/Chinese from taking over and uniting the Korean penisula as a communist regime?

Those South Koreans you so justly defend would have been eradicated if the North had won the war. Instead we saved them and they have a home today because we were there to defend the their freedom, democracy and beliefs.

The U.S. has had a hand in the South Korean Foreign Policy over the past 60+ years. Because of that, South Korea has a suitable economy and most of the freedoms we enjoy here in the states. Why should the U.S. now, not be allowed to intervene on the North Korean situation?

[Detroitej72]

My G-d, is Obama asleep behind the wheel on this, or what?

Was this comment added just so you could increase your post count, since it adds nothing to the topic?

[thatguy123]

ooooooooo a speech! meanwhile, under Dubya:
1) Korea became a nuclear power - in no small measure because dubya destroyed US credibility and demolished our diplomatic capabillity
2) Iran surged forward in its quest for nuclear power status, again because of Dubya demolishing our diplomatic standing

Are you posting this in an attempt to talk down to someone [[CCBatson)?

You do understand North Korea's nuclear arm's program really started talking off in 1994. Since 1995 the US has provided around half a billion dollars to NK for energy use as an incentive to try and steer them away from a nuclear program.

It was in 2002 they admitted to having a secret enrichment plant. For some reason I doubt they threw this together in 1 year after "Dubya" was in office because of his policies.

As far as Iran, their want for nuclear capabilities stems back to the early to mid 70s when Israel is believed to have started building nuclear weapons [[this is the time they started buying materials which are used for things like nukes)

They have been staring at a country armed to the teeth and backed by the west for many years. It is human nature to want to defend yourself. I guess you think this is all to blame on "Dubya" though, since that seems to be your theme even though this was all in play well before him.

Oh and to consolidate into 1 post please expand on "hardly. he is sooo far ahead of what your republican gods were or could be it is not even worth discussing "

I have looked and looked trying to find how Obama is "sooo far ahead" on these issues and find nothing. Is this just another one of those comments being used in a [[failed) attempt to insult another poster? It comes off very strongly that it is and makes you in turn come of as someone who has no knowledge on any of these issues.

Are you another one of the posters on this board who blindly follow Obama because of his skin color? You know the ones who were saying everyone should vote for him to be "part of history"? There sure seems to be a lot of these people here.

[jiminnm]

thatguy123, you have to understand rb336. He is apparently the anti-ccbatson. Every time cc posts, rb attempts to counter him. Condescension is part of his repertoire.

What you see here is a common approach from the left on this board [[and elsewhere). If something bad occurs during the term of a Republican Prez, or governor for that matter, it's that leader's fault. If something bad happens in the term of a Democrat Prez or Governor, it's the fault of a prior Republican leader regardless of how much time has passed.

[rb336]

Are you posting this in an attempt to talk down to someone [[CCBatson)?

You do understand North Korea's nuclear arm's program really started talking off in 1994. Since 1995 the US has provided around half a billion dollars to NK for energy use as an incentive to try and steer them away from a nuclear program.

It was in 2002 they admitted to having a secret enrichment plant. For some reason I doubt they threw this together in 1 year after "Dubya" was in office because of his policies.

and what, exactly, did dubya do for the next 8 years? oh, yeah. he called them names in a speech

As far as Iran, their want for nuclear capabilities stems back to the early to mid 70s when Israel is believed to have started building nuclear weapons [[this is the time they started buying materials which are used for things like nukes)

true

They have been staring at a country armed to the teeth and backed by the west for many years. It is human nature to want to defend yourself. I guess you think this is all to blame on "Dubya" though, since that seems to be your theme even though this was all in play well before him.

gee, who armed Saddam to the teeth? oh yeah, ronnie. regardless, dubya's decision to go up against a toothless, secular bad guy while ignoring a relatively wealthy extremist nation to further their development of nuclear weapons was just plain idiotic

Oh and to consolidate into 1 post please expand on "hardly. he is sooo far ahead of what your republican gods were or could be it is not even worth discussing "

I have looked and looked trying to find how Obama is "sooo far ahead" on these issues and find nothing.

first, Obama understands diplomacy, and has gone a long way towards mending relations with our allies that "if you aren't with us your against us" dubya did so much to destroy

second, Obama has focused more on actual behind-the-scenes maneuvering [[quite skillfully, according to widely reported comments from other countries' ambassadors) than the mindless bluster of the Bush/Cheney camp

[vetalalumni]

Hooray, former President Clinton escorted Laura Ling and Euna Lee back onto USA soil.

[ccbatson]

Would he have done it if they were Fox news employees?

[reddog289]

Hey what is the deal that Kim ill wanted Bill, But not Al to show up? Btw Vet I'll take a RedStripe never had one. Hell a cold can of RedDog will work.

[elganned]

Would he have done it if they were Fox news employees?

Are you saying he wouldn't have?

[rb336]

Hey what is the deal that Kim ill wanted Bill, But not Al to show up?

probably has something to do with Clinton calling to personally offer condolences after his dad died

[gibran]

If they were fox employees we would have done the same thing I guess...since they are Americans too...

United we stand divided we fall.

[ccbatson]

Kim has no conscience...he wanted Bill for 2 reasons;

1. Bill offered to do it [[for his own reasons), Al may not have.
2. Bill is a bigger bang for Kim's buck.

[gibran]

what would you recommend? he got two young people free from the thugs...

[ccbatson]

And doomed how many thousands, or millions to an emboldened dictator?

[ccbatson]

Oops, forgot to answer the question. I recommend diplomatic language that demonstrates strength backed up by decisive actions. For example...shoot down anything bigger than a bottle rocket leaving the ground in North Korea.

[gibran]

hey cc How's your style of negotiation working with Shalet and other political prisoners..
Kim wasn't going to change-and how is he now more emboldened? He is the same, his style of insanity is no different than before, except we got our two people out...gee what did Ronnie or any other shoot first ask questions later president have done in Korea for the last three decades...as far as his people go they are no worse off now...but maybe through diplomacy they won't have our bombs dropping on them too [[collateral damage) ..

I will buy your analysis on Iraq when all their ex-patriots move back, and the Christian population can live in peace..until then we divided and conquered-[[creating safe zones) and we are there for the long haul...and yes they are free from a dictator [[thanks to our brave soldiers and military)...but how long do we have to keep their lid on..Now look at Iran, if their self made revolution takes hold then democracy will flourish..

You have to negotiate with people cc, how do you think the Iron curtain folded...if we bombed everyone we disagreed with we would be "Rome". If you want a failed foreign policy wonk just look no further than Bolton...gee his groupies really did an outstanding job of peace promotion...

[rb336]

gee what did Ronnie or any other shoot first ask questions later president have done in Korea for the last three decades

I don't know what he did with Korea, but we do know how he dealt with Iran -- arms for hostages.