Missile Coercion

The latest in the ongoing North Korean saga is that they plan to test fire a long range missile, and the United States, the Chinese, and the Russians don't want them to. This brings to mind all kinds of questions.

Is it really going to possible to prevent any nation from firing test missiles if it is determined to do so? Obviously, over the years, many nations have already done so, numerous times. Among those nations are, of course, China, the United States, and Russia.

Is it a good idea, good for global peace and security, for some nations to have long range missile capability, and for others to not? Or, would the world be better off if nobody had such missiles, or would it be better off if everyone did?

 If you were a North Korean political leader, wouldn't you be tempted to agree to refrain from all further missile activity, if the United States, China, Russia, and all other countries likewise agree?

President Obama, speaking in South Korea, assured the North Koreans that the United States has no ill intent towards them, as indicated by american food being sent to north korean mothers and babies. When one has thousands of nuclear bombs and missiles, one can sound prefectly magnanimous, while demanding that one's foe remain weaker than one.

The countries which created the modern nuclear bomb and missile mess are the very countries which now so persistently attempt to control the bomb and missile programs of other countries, determining which nations may and may not join the club. How human. The club members tend to omit mention of their own future plans, as if, by having had bomb and missile capability for a long time, they are somehow exempt from elimination consideration, because...why?

Because they, particulalry the United States, have "earned" the right to maintain such weapons due to their proven track record of wise weaponry stewardship, or because they by their very possesson of said weapons,  have the power to dictate terms to those who don't?

How comforting to know that our world leaders can so deftly blur the distinction between geo-political wisdom, and coercion.

Please scroll down for the other articles in today's issue of The Truthless Reconciler! Thanks!