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China-Japan-Koreas
U.S. Weighs Intercepting North Korean Shipments
2009-06-08
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration signaled Sunday that it was seeking a way to interdict, possibly with China's help, North Korean sea and air shipments suspected of carrying weapons or nuclear technology.
Much like the Hildebeast 'weighing' economic sanctions yesterday. It's good to ponder, think and weigh things, but sooner or later you have to make decisions and implement them. In the case of North Korea, likely sooner.
The administration also said it was examining whether there was a legal basis to reverse former President George W. Bush's decision last year to remove the North from a list of states that sponsor terrorism.
Of course there is a 'legal basis': the decision is an executive one and can be made for any reason Bambi wants. This is just waging law at the highest level ...
The reference to interdictions -- preferably at ports or airfields in countries like China, but possibly involving riskier confrontations on the high seas -- was made by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. She was the administration's highest-ranking official to talk publicly about such a potentially provocative step as a response to North Korea's second nuclear test, conducted two weeks ago.

While Mrs. Clinton did not specifically mention assistance from China, other administration officials have been pressing Beijing to take such action under Chinese law. Speaking on ABC's "This Week," Mrs. Clinton said the United States feared that if the test and other recent actions by North Korea did not lead to "strong action," there was a risk of "an arms race in Northeast Asia" -- an oblique reference to the concern that Japan would reverse its long-held ban against developing nuclear weapons.
Or South Korea. Or Taiwan. Or all three.
Posted by:Steve White

#12  ION SAME > IIUC SINO-SOVIET BATTLE FOR ZHENBIAO ISLAND [March 1969]: THE SOVIET UNION INFORMED THE NIXON ADMIN OF PLANS FOR FOR A POSSIBLE SOVIET LIMITED/SURGICAL NUCLEAR STRIKE AGZ CHIN TARGETS INCLUDING BEIJING. SOVIET DEMANDS THAT THE USA STAY NEUTRAL IFF ANY SINO-SOVIET NUCLEAR WAR OCCURRED. SOVIET ANGER AT US CONTINGENCY PLANS TO MILITARILY INTERVENE AGZ ONE OR BOTH SIDES.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2009-06-08 19:53  

#11  NOKOR has indic that that any attempt to stop its ships by the US-SOKOR-NIPPON will considered an ACT OF WAR.

* ION WORLD MIL FORUM > IIIUC THE US FEARS DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHIN AIRCRAFT CARRIER BECAUSE IT MARKS THE DEFEAT OF THEIR STRATEGY TO CONTAIN AND SUPPRESS RISING CHINA. CHINA'S ABILITY TO PENETRATE BEYOND THE FIRST AND SECOND "ISLAND CHAINS" [East Asia + MARIANAS-MICRONESIA] CLOSER TO THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. US LOSS OF CONTROL OF STRATEGIC PACIFIC ISLANDS.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2009-06-08 19:47  

#10  It would allow the US to save face over the Gitmo terrorists they really are.
Posted by: Lumpy Elmoluck5091   2009-06-08 16:57  

#9  Perhaps Mrs. Clinton should do some horse trading with the Chinese to get cooperation and send the Uighurs back.
Posted by: Lumpy Elmoluck5091   2009-06-08 16:55  

#8  I'd blame the Slovak Navy ...
Posted by: Steve White   2009-06-08 15:46  

#7  Don't get all legalistic with the freakin' Norks. Like they give a damn about legal.

Just sink their ships at sea and then look all innocent when the Chinese ask about it.

"Who, us?"
Posted by: mojo   2009-06-08 14:33  

#6  We should have gone in and sunk the Pueblo in its museum berth.
Posted by: Alaska Paul at Mare Island, CA   2009-06-08 14:25  

#5  How about "weighing" the return of AGER-2 USS Pueblo? It's only been 41 years.
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-06-08 08:05  

#4  But .22 Magnum NOT very effective at calming an enraged 5' alligator.
Posted by: Glenmore   2009-06-08 07:45  

#3  Yep, Lone Ranger, .45 ACP can be quite effective at calming an enraged pit bull.
Posted by: Glenmore   2009-06-08 07:44  

#2  I would assume that Nork maritime folks will behave similar to enraged pit bulls, if approached. Obambi needs to try personally calming down an enraged pit bull - up close and personal - to get a feel for what reality smells like.

Ponderous platitudes don't impress pit bulls very much - and aren't likely to have much influence on the Norks.

So - Obambi needs to make sure that he's got the stones to sink a bunch of Nork vessels, once he decides to start confronting them.
Posted by: Lone Ranger   2009-06-08 01:05  

#1  I suspect BHO and Mrs. Clinton are finding it is one thing to talk tough but it is quite another to BE tough.
Posted by: tipover   2009-06-08 00:43  

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