North Korea

Watching television last evening while North Korea was firing missiles I couldn't but help think how our failed foreign policy is propelling us headlong into a possible nuclear confrontation. The basic problems are twofold: first the moronic redefinition of what our strategic national defense is, and, second, the decision to fight a war of choice in Iraq against a nation which was no threat to our strategic national interests.

Let's examine the first issue. President Bush redefined what constitutes our strategic national interests are after September 11th. He redefined it in the broadest way imaginable. According to Ron Suskind in his book "The One Percent Doctrine," the new policy says if there's even a one percent possibility that another country could transfer wmd capability to another entity for an attack against us we must respond.

This foreign policy does not rely on any factual evidence whatsoever or any actual likelihood of such an event occurring. It essentially means we can attack any nation anywhere, anytime, on whatever grounds we assume to exist. This is matched with a policy of pre-emption, meaning we will strike first. This was the justification for the invasion of Iraq. It had nothing to do with national security but with the neoconservative philosophy that absolute power is useless if not used. Therefore they were determined to use the power the U.S. amassed as the only remaining superpower.

The evil reality that emerges is that we've become what we were afraid the Soviet Union would be if they'd won the Cold War. A lone superpower wielding it's unopposable power wherever and whenever it pleases to impose its form of government from the barrel of its guns.

The solution is to revert to a sane definition of our strategic national interests. Here is my definition:

Our intervention in the internal affairs of other nations and regions is predicated only on direct threats to our territorial integrity, national sovereignty, liberty, or for the prevention of genocide.

Once we return to a definition of our strategic national interests we must revisit the war in Iraq. How, at this time, does it fit into our strategic national interests? Because it is serving to create a dangerously unstable Middle East, raising petroleum prices to unprecedented levels, and radicalizing millions of Muslims against us we must withdraw our armed forces from that region and replace them with an international force, at our expense (the Pottery Barn rule) and rebuild the country.

How has this affected the situation on the Korean peninsula? First and foremeost, it means we are incapable, because of the situation in Iraq, to respond militarily. If North Korea launches an attack against us our only option is nuclear. Also, the acceleration of North Korea's nuclear program is a direct result of the Bush doctrine. Prior to the extreme rhetoric of George W. Bush (Axis of Evil) began this sabre rattling we had an agreement with which the Dear Leader was pretty much adhering. That ended and when we invaded Iraq and the other members of the infamous Axis decided their only defense against an American invasion was nuclear. Thus both Iran and North Korea seem to have followed this path. Bush's policy has destabilized the world and threatened our real strategic interests.

Bush has refused to negotiate with North Korea on a bilateral basis. He has stubbornly stuck with this policy even though it has failed miserably. Yesterday's missile launches magnify that failure. The six party talks have been suspended because the Dear Leader refuses to participate in anything but bilateral talks. Faced with the situation we should be revisiting our policy. We must deal with this crisis before it escalates further. What will it take to get Bush's attention? I think North Korea found out yesterday, which was probably their motivation for launching such provocative action. That is a monumental failure of policy on our part.

If the bilateral talks are the only diplomatic option available refusing to engage in them is reckless. Briefing the other parties on the status and content of those negotiations isn't rocket science (no pun intended).

The fact the test of the long range rocket failed isn't much consolation. The very fact it was launched means North Korea has no regard for stability or peace.