dgiharris
Old Crusty Vet
If I were king for a day, this is how I would handle the NK situation.
I believe that there are only three ways to deal with NK.
#1) We confine them to their corner of the world and isolate them which will result in a festering resentment and their eventual attack against their oppressors (see Germany after the Treaty of Versailles.
#2) Invade them and purge the Kim family and entire government (which will cost hundreds of thousands if not millions of lives not to include possibly starting WWIII with China and Russia)
#3) Drastically improve their economy and way of life while also improving diplomatic relations
We have been doing #1 since the 50s and it just isn't working and there is no end game in sight.
#2 is just not a real option and the cost is too great so...
that leaves #3.
My take is that we get the people of NK fat and happy and addicted to Starbucks and I-phones and the internet and that will take care of our problems with NK. Think of the US's relationship with China from the 70s till now.
There was a time when the US and China were enemies. Now we are reluctant economic allies because we are tied at the hip together economically.
What needs to happen with NK is a LONGTERM strategy of reducing the paranoia that the ruling class in NK has. Similarly, we need to find ways to include them in the world economy and world stage. I mean, when was the last time a NK dictator left NK?
We've got to think "long term" in regards to NK. We can't just flip a switch and expect all the problems to be solved. Change has to come from within and that means the NK citizenry. We've got to get them fat and happy and plugged into the internet. Then, over time NK will naturally become "less crazy" and "more peaceful". I would think it would take 20 to 30 years...
Meanwhile, it goes without saying that the US and our allies have to be the "mature adults" here.
I know, the above is a liberal hippie dippie kinda kum-by-ya solution but I think it is more on the right path than what we are currently doing.
I'm not a fan of precipitating WWIII.
I believe that there are only three ways to deal with NK.
#1) We confine them to their corner of the world and isolate them which will result in a festering resentment and their eventual attack against their oppressors (see Germany after the Treaty of Versailles.
#2) Invade them and purge the Kim family and entire government (which will cost hundreds of thousands if not millions of lives not to include possibly starting WWIII with China and Russia)
#3) Drastically improve their economy and way of life while also improving diplomatic relations
We have been doing #1 since the 50s and it just isn't working and there is no end game in sight.
#2 is just not a real option and the cost is too great so...
that leaves #3.
My take is that we get the people of NK fat and happy and addicted to Starbucks and I-phones and the internet and that will take care of our problems with NK. Think of the US's relationship with China from the 70s till now.
There was a time when the US and China were enemies. Now we are reluctant economic allies because we are tied at the hip together economically.
What needs to happen with NK is a LONGTERM strategy of reducing the paranoia that the ruling class in NK has. Similarly, we need to find ways to include them in the world economy and world stage. I mean, when was the last time a NK dictator left NK?
We've got to think "long term" in regards to NK. We can't just flip a switch and expect all the problems to be solved. Change has to come from within and that means the NK citizenry. We've got to get them fat and happy and plugged into the internet. Then, over time NK will naturally become "less crazy" and "more peaceful". I would think it would take 20 to 30 years...
Meanwhile, it goes without saying that the US and our allies have to be the "mature adults" here.
I know, the above is a liberal hippie dippie kinda kum-by-ya solution but I think it is more on the right path than what we are currently doing.
I'm not a fan of precipitating WWIII.
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