• Barack Obama,  Hillary Clinton,  Kim Jong-Il,  North Korea

    Hillary Clinton: United States May Relist North Korea as Terrorist State

    ramireztoon052809

    Political cartoon by Michael Ramirez

    Wow, this will show Kim Jong-Il that the United States means business.

    Concerned by North Korean behavior that she called “very provocative and belligerent,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in an interview aired Sunday that the United States was considering putting North Korea back on its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a clear signal that any slim hopes once held for improved relations had been dashed.

    “We’re going to look at it,” Mrs. Clinton said in an interview recorded earlier for the ABC News program “This Week” when asked about returning Pyongyang to the list.

    She suggested that international concern over North Korea had clearly sharpened following its recent nuclear and missile tests. She said that both China and Russia, which had balked earlier, seemed more ready now to increase pressure on North Korea. A strong sanctions resolution against the North would most likely emerge from the U.N. Security Council, backed by both countries, she said.

    “What is going somewhere is additional sanctions in the United Nations — arms embargo, other measures taken against North Korea with the full support of China and Russia,” she said. “We think we’re going to come out of this with very strong resolution, with teeth, that will have consequences for the North Korean regime.”

    How stupid to think the United Nation’s resolutions mean a RAT”S ASS to the North Koreans. In the meantime, President Obama, Hillary’s boss, has already asked for cuts in national missile defense, including the installation of more ground based interceptors in Alaska.

    Remember when President Bill Clitnon sent his Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to visit appease Kim Jong-Il with a Michael Jordan autographed basketball?

    President Obama should immediatley reinstate the national missile defense budget and start equipping South Korea and Japan for an inevitable conflict.

    Weakness in foreign policy  from Obama and Clinton may start a war.


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  • Barack Obama,  Missile Defense,  North Korea,  Robert Gates,  Sarah Palin

    North Korea Places Long-Range Missile on Launch Pad – Test Firing Within Weeks

    North Korea New Launch Site

    North Korea is continuing its tests of long-range missiles which potentially might target the United States.

    North Korea has positioned its most sophisticated long-range ballistic missile at a launch site for a test firing that could come within weeks, a newspaper here reported Monday.

    Pyongyang, which last month raised tensions worldwide by conducting a nuclear test, could even fire its missile when South Korean President Lee Myung-bak meets President Obama in Washington on June 16, according to the report.

    The Dong-a Ilbo newspaper in Seoul reported that the newest missile set for launch from the Dongchang-ni launch site on North Korea’s west coast may be a version of the Taepodong-2 rocket that Pyongyang fired in April.

    The report, citing unnamed sources, said the missile has a range of up to 4,000 miles and could reach Alaska. Both South Korea and Japan acknowledged today that a new North Korean long-range missile test could come within weeks.

    What is the United States response?

    Secretary of Defense Robert Gates who has submitted a budget that cuts national missile defense programs said, “at this point, it’s not clear what they’re going to do.”

    And, then downplays the entire affair.

    Gates spoke in Manila before boarding a U.S. military jet for Alaska, where he was scheduled to view a key part of the missile defense system, the ground based interceptor silos.

    In the 2010 budget, Gates proposed cutting more than a billion dollars from missile defense, halting the planned expansion of the interceptors from 30 to 44. In the wake of the North Korea test some experts, including former Defense Secretary William Cohen, have suggested rethinking those cuts.

    But in an earlier roundtable with reporters, Gates said his budget will robustly fund missile defense, cutting only parts of the program, like the airborne laser, that had little chance of success. Gates said the interceptor program will get $750 million to continue its development and $200 million to sustain the existing 30 missiles.

    “The 30 interceptors we have are adequate for years to come to deal with the North Korean threat as we see it developing,” Gates said.

    Gates said North Korea will not be able to deploy a significant number of long range missiles in a short period of time. If they were to expand their capabilities, the U.S. would have “ample time” to build additional interceptors.

    Yet, Bill Clinton’s former Secretary of Defense, William Cohen advises Gates to NOT cut the missile defense budget.

    With the increasing billigerence of North Korea and Iran, why would the Obama Administration considering placing the United States at risk while it is wasting $ Billions in bailing out failed automobile companies.

    Mr President, how about some priorities here.

    By the way, do you think Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will give Secretary Gates an earful today about Alaska job losses as a result of Obama cuts in missile defense?


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  • Barack Obama,  Day By Day,  Hillary Clinton,  Kim Jong-Il,  North Korea

    Day By Day by Chris Muir May 28, 2009 – Cackle Cackle

    daybyday052809

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    While President Obama is raising campaign cash for Dingy Harry Reid at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and then runs out to Hollywood for a cool $4 Million, Hillary Clinton is left to North Korea.

    Under President Bush, Flap thought North Korea had negotiated away its nuclear weapons program and agreed to stop missile tests.Now, with an apparent disengaged Obama who has cut funds for national missile defense, North Korea pushes up the military alert for South Korea’s military as the North renounces a 50 year old plus armistice.

    Obama is in denial.

    North Korea is an imminent threat and Hillary’s cackles have NOT been effective.

    Mr.President, you will not be able to deal with Kim Jong-Il via teleprompter and popularity in the polls.

    Previous:

    The Day By Day Archive


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  • Barack Obama,  Harry Reid,  North Korea

    Another Distraction for Obama: North Korea Fires Another Missile

    north-korea-more-missiles

    NIce spin away for Obama to nominate his Supreme Court nominee today after North Korea test fires missiles and conducts a nuclear explosion in violation of United Nation’s Resolutions and American diplomacy over the long Memorial Day weekend.

    But, North Korea is not cooperating.

    North Korea launched an additional short-range missile from its east coast Tuesday night, an official at the South Korean presidential office said Wednesday.

       “The North appears to have launched a ground-to-ship missile into the East Sea shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday,” the official said, asking not to be identified. Pyongyang had launched two short-range missiles from its east coast earlier Tuesday, following its supposed nuclear test the day before.

       Officials here believe the missile launches are partly aimed at preventing South Korean and U.S. reconnaissance planes from nearing the communist state to verify its claimed nuclear test.

    In the meantime, President Obama is on his way to Las Vegas where he is to raise money for Democrat Senate Majority Leader Dingy Harry Reid’s 2010 re-election race.

    It is a dangerous world out there, Mr. President.


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  • Barack Obama,  North Korea,  United Nations

    Way to Go Moment: United Nations Security Council Condemns North Korea Missile Launch – North Korea Vows to Restart Bomb-Grade Plutonium Plant

    north korea rocket

    A Unha-2 rocket (Taepadong-2), supposedly carrying an experimental communication satellite Kwangmyongsong-2, as it is launched from Hwadae-gun in North Korea on April 5.

    The Obama Administration has fumbled its first foreign policy crisis. Yes, the United States was able to secure a unanimous United Nations Security Council condemnation of North Korea’s missile launch on April 5.

    Eight days after North Korea’s rocket launch, the U.N. Security Council on Monday unanimously condemned the action, demanded an end to missile tests and said it will expand sanctions against the reclusive communist nation.

    The council’s statement, agreed on by all 15 members and read at a formal meeting of the United Nations’ most powerful body, said the launch violated a council resolution adopted after the North conducted a nuclear test explosion in 2006 that banned any missile tests by the country.

    The statement was a weaker response than a U.N. resolution, which was sought by Japan and the United States but was opposed by China and Russia. U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice insisted the statement is legally binding, just like a resolution — a view backed by Russia — but other diplomats and officials disagreed.

    But………

    North Korea then stated that it would boycott the international nuclear disarmament “six-party talks” and restart a plant that makes nuclear bomb-grade plutonium.

    Fuming at the U.N. Security Council for condemning its recent missile launch, North Korea said Tuesday it will restart its plutonium factory, junk all its disarmament agreements and “never participate” again in six-country nuclear negotiations.

    North Korea had warned before launching a long-range missile on April 5 that it would tolerate no U.N. criticism of what it insisted was a peaceful attempt to put a satellite into orbit.

    When the 15-member Security Council unanimously condemned that launch on Monday and demanded a halt to all future missile launches, the North’s reaction was swift, vitriolic and surprisingly substantive.

    It called the Security Council’s statement a “brigandish,” “wanton” and “unjust” infringement of its sovereignty. It said that six-party nuclear talks with the United States, South Korea, Japan, Russia and, even its closest ally, China, had “turned into a platform” for forcing the North to disarm itself and for bringing down its system of government.

    “We have no choice but to further strengthen our nuclear deterrent to cope with additional military threats by hostile forces,” North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement released by its state news agency.

    If it follows through on Tuesday’s bluster, North Korea will walk away from six years of slow, fitful but sometimes productive negotiations that have led to substantial disablement of the North’s main nuclear reactor and partial disclosure of the scale of its weapons program.

    The talks, in turn, have rewarded the government of Kim Jong Il with food, fuel and removal from a U.S. list of countries that sponsor terror. The Obama administration has repeatedly said that it wants to resume the talks, which stalled last year in a dispute about how to verify the North’s past nuclear activity.

    That nuclear activity, judging from the North’s statement on Tuesday, is soon to increase.

    “We will actively consider building our own light-water nuclear reactor, will revive nuclear facilities and reprocess used nuclear fuel rods,” the ministry said. Experts have said the North does not have the equipment or skills to make an advanced light-water reactor.

    So, what did the United States gain with its “WEAK” response to North Korea?

    Nothing!

    But, the North Koreans gained important technical missile information and an excuse to restart their rogue nuclear weapons program which they will happily export to Iran and to other nations who have the cash.

    Way to go – Obama Administration.

    Previous:

    Shocking: Russia Opposes United Nations Sanctions Against North Korea

    North Korea Warns United Nations Security Council – Will Take “Strong Steps”

    Video: Can’t Negotiate With North Korea


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  • Barack Obama,  Kim Jong-Il,  North Korea,  Russia

    Shocking: Russia Opposes United Nations Sanctions Against North Korea

    south korea protests

    Anti-North Korea protesters chant slogans at a demonstration to denounce the North’s rocket launch and to demand U.N.’s sanctions against North Korea near the National Assembly in Seoul April 7, 2009. Japan called for a strong response on Tuesday from the U.N. Security Council to North Korea’s rocket launch, which analysts say was a test of a long-range ballistic missile, but Tokyo acknowledged that divisions remained. The yellow banners read, “Support U.N.’s sanctions against North Korea”

    No, it is not shocking.

    Moscow is concerned by Pyongyang’s recent rocket launch, but believes that imposing sanctions against North Korea would be counterproductive, the Russian foreign minister said on Wednesday.

    North Korea launched a multistage rocket that it said was carrying a communications satellite on Sunday morning, defying pressure from the United States, Japan, South Korea and other countries, which suspect the launch was a cover for a test of a Taepodong-2 long-range missile.

    “We are definitely concerned by the recent rocket launch and believe it does not offer grounds for stabilizing the situation in the region,” Sergei Lavrov said, adding that “we also believe that any threat of sanctions would be counterproductive.”

    The 15-member Security Council convened for an emergency meeting late on Sunday at Japan’s request, to discuss sanctions against Pyongyang following the launch, but strong opposition from Russia and China prevented the adoption of even a preliminary statement of condemnation.

    The top Russian diplomat said Moscow will not change its stance concerning proposed sanctions against Pyongyang.

    “We will not change our stance and our position is reflected in all those consensus decisions, which have been made in recent years concerning ways of resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula,” Lavrov said.

    Welcome to the REAL WORLD, President Obama. The Russians may have glad handed you at the recent G-20 economic summit meeting but stab you in the back once they are out of face range.

    So, back to where the United States was with North Korea, except now Kim Jong-Il’s missile program has a successful test of an ICBM with all of those Iranian missile negineers observing and collaborating.

    Obama’s response = FAIL.


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  • North Korea,  United Nations

    North Korea Warns United Nations Security Council – Will Take “Strong Steps”

    North Korea Film footage of launch of Taepodong-2 ICBM, April 4, 2009

    The United Nations Security Council did nothing after last Saturday’s/Sunday’s launch of their Taepodong-2 ICBM missile. But, just in case, North Korea has fired back a warning.

    North Korea warned the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that it would take “strong steps” if the 15-nation body took any action in response to Pyongyang’s launch of a long-range rocket.

    “If the Security Council, they take any kind of steps whatever, we’ll consider this is (an) encroachment on our sovereignty and the next option will be ours,” Deputy Ambassador Pak Tok Hun told reporters. “Necessary and strong steps will … follow that.”

    Washington, Tokyo and Seoul say North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile on Sunday in violation of a 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution banning the firing of such missiles by Pyongyang. The resolution was passed after a nuclear test by North Korea.

    Although the United Nations met Monday for three hours, there was NO consensus. When the UNSC meets again on the issue it is believed that two permanent members, China and Russia, will side with North Korea and block by veto, if necessary, any condemning resolution.

    Or, the UNSC could simply agree on some sort of “WATERED DOWN” resolution.

    As permanent council members, China and Russia have veto powers and have made clear they would be prepared to use them to stop new sanctions on Pyongyang. The United States and Japan would like a resolution that expands existing financial sanctions against North Korea.

    But U.N. diplomats say the United States and Japan might have to accept a non-binding warning statement from the council instead of a legally binding resolution.

    A Western diplomat said China had proposed a weak statement, “a completely watered down text which is unacceptable to us (and) … not even worth discussing.”

    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday the council “must avoid any hasty conclusions” on North Korea, which says the rocket placed a satellite into orbit.

    And, of course, North KJorea maintains the missile launch was simply for launching a communications satellite for “peaceful purposes.”

    Don’t look for any substantiative relief from the United Nations now or EVER.


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  • Barack Obama,  North Korea,  Polling

    Poll Watch: 57 Per Cent Want Military Response to North Korea Taepodong-2 Missile Launch

    north korea missile trajectory

    Graphic showing an estimated trajectory of North Korea’s rocket launch, according to information provided by Japan’s Crisis Management Centre. US President Barack Obama led global condemnation of North Korea’s rocket launch Sunday, calling it “a provocative act” for which Pyongyang must be punished

    Flap does NOT think President Obama is even considering ANY type of military response to North Korea’s launch yesterday of a Taepodong-2 ICNM missile. But, Americans overwhelmingly favor one.

    Fifty-seven percent (57%) of U.S. voters nationwide favor a military response to eliminate North Korea’s missile launching capability. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 15% of voters oppose a military response while 28% are not sure.

    North Korea defied international pressure and launched a missile last night. Officials from that country claim a satellite was placed in orbit. U.S. defense officials confirm that a missile was launched but that no object was placed in orbit.

    “With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations,” President Obama said.

    The telephone survey was conducted Friday and Saturday, April 3-4, the two days immediately prior to North Korea’s launch. The question asked about a military response if North Korea actually did launch a long-range missile.

    Support for a military response comes from 66% of Republicans, 52% of Democrats and 54% of those not affiliated with either major political party. There is no gender gap on the issue as a military response is favored by 57% of men and 57% of women.

    And, in the latest North Korea news, the United Nations Security Council in a shocking surprise did NOTHING this afternoon in response to Japan’s calling an emergency session to address the missile launch which violates UN resolutions.

    An emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council concluded Sunday without an official reaction to North Korea ignoring repeated international warnings and launching a long-range rocket, the council president told reporters.

    “Consultations will go on among members to see what is the appropriate position that the council will take,” said Claude Heller, the current Security Council president, and Mexico’s U.N. ambassador. When the council would reconvene wasn’t clear, but Heller said it would be “as soon as possible.”

    “I think that there is a very strong call for dialogue, to reconvene, and I think there is consensus in saying that the Security Council regretted the government of [North Korea] disregarded the call by [the] international community to suspend the launching,” he said.

    The ball has been punted back to President Obama by the United Nations. Now, Obama will have to make a decision.

    He can either look “WEAK” or confront North Korea.

    Stay tuned…….


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