Saddam captured

[tw]

Originally posted by Kitsune
An interesting idea, and I'll read the essay in a moment, but the thought made me think of Japan. Japan is technically a neutral country per their constitution -- they are only permitted to use their military to defend themselves. Yet, North Korea has been making some incredibly agressive statements and military exercises toward that neutral island nation.

The threat by N Korea is based in something far deeper. Those N Korean generals were raised as children to believe virtually the entire world was a threat to N Korea. N Korea is not threatening Japan. They are simply the bully who rattles chains and billy clubs because, psychologically inside, they fear everyone else. They also discovered the weapons generate by such tactics became their greatest source of exports and income. Just another reasons to entertain that paranoia. N Korea is a threat only because so much of the N Korean leadership is paranoid. So paranoid as to fear international aid from NGOs even as their people eat grass to survice and starve to death.

That was why Carter's negotiations to break N Korea was so important. His diplomacy was the first step to breaking that paranoia. George Jr simply reinforced the paranoia by empowering the N Korea paranoids at the expense of those who sought reform - and the elimination of that paranoia. Fear is the driving factor in N Korean international relations.