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On North Korea, Fasten Your Seat Belts
Share / Recommend - Comment - Print - Tuesday, Sep 09 2008, 9:45AM
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I have no independent verification, but MSNBC is out with a news alert stating that "U.S. official tells AP that North Korea's Kim Jong Il may have suffered stroke."
The U.S. botched the transition (thus far) of Fidel Castro stepping down from power. If indeed Kim Jong Il has had a stroke and their is leadership uncertainty in the country, now is the time to ratchet down tensions, offer support and assistance -- not to kick them while they are down.
North Korea is a nation held together with a leadership and control structure tied tightly around Kim Jong Il. Transferring authority to another -- a relative or another powerful player in the country -- is going to be dicey if his stroke is debilitating.
-- Steve Clemons
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Reader Comments (6) - post a comment
As much as I find myself pulled to Hillary Clinton because of her experience, depth, and intimidating level of knowledge on a wide swath of issues -- I worry about incrementalism. As much as I am pulled to Obama by his notions of hope and a new era of principled American engagement in the world -- I worry about serious missteps when he is the decider. And since I think the world works through gravity and interests, not hope and sentimentalism -- which reflects a significant portion of Senator Obama's schtick -- my enthusiasm is tempered.
He could not be dead, otherwise KCNA would be glorifying the basket of flowers received from the Supreme Commander of the Songun Dogcatchers of Lichtenstein, and how said flowers provided proof of the justness, greatness and correctness of the Juche idea. (Anyone else read KCNA? Did I get the tone right?)
Not to worry. Alaska is pretty close to North Korea, so I'm sure Sarah Palin already has a plan for reforming North Korea.
Jeesh. Just two days ago the TimesOnline was reporting that a Japanese expert on North Korea claims KJI has been dead for three years. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4692472.ece
He could not be dead, otherwise KCNA would be glorifying the basket of flowers received from the Supreme Commander of the Songun Dogcatchers of Lichtenstein, and how said flowers provided proof of the justness, greatness and correctness of the Juche idea. (Anyone else read KCNA? Did I get the tone right?)
Maybe we could start defusing tensions by declaring an end to the Korean War? From what I understand, we only have a cease fire in place.
Over the last 7 years the Bush administration has demonstrated the
amazing ability to get every opportunity wrong. They're consistent
if nothing else. I wouldn't expect they'd get this one right either.
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