Want to decide for yourself whether or not Obama is using the North Korean Missile launch as a distraction from the United States domestic problems?

Consider the following facts:

North Korea is a failed state that cannot feed its people and is headed by a wacky leader who has absolutely nothing to loose from his “wild and crazy guy” act to blackmail other countries into providing aid and attention to his regime.

He insulated himself from United Nations sanctions by the simple act of throwing out the five “non-governmental organizations” who were providing food programs to his people to remove “food” as a negotiating chip. It seems that the “Dear Leader’s” regime would rather starve their own people than give up building a rocket which proves the technology that they can sell on the open market for hard currencies.

Nothing will happen in the United Nations, because both China and Russia, North Korea’s largest trading partners,  who share common borders do not want an influx of immigrants should the North Korean state actually fail. The financial burden on China, Russia, Japan and South Korea would be untenable at this point in the world economy. One need only look to see what reunification of East and West Germany has wrought (with a whole generation of East Germans remaining on the dole).

Besides, the United Nations remains a corrupt and impotent force in the world and is more interested in feathering their own nest as a world power than they are putting their so-called peace keepers on the combat line to actually enforce their resolutions.

The United States is not a player in this transaction other than as a tangential adjunct to Japan and South Korea.

 According to the Associated Press …

NKorea rocket fizzles, US says; Obama urges action

“The U.S. and its allies sought punishment Sunday for North Korea's defiant launch of a rocket that apparently fizzled into the Pacific, holding an emergency U.N. meeting in response to the ‘provocative act’ that some believe was a long-range missile test.”

It is what is it: a long-range missile test. It is immaterial what the payload actual was or was not. In fact, John Kennedy had it right. According to former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton:  “John Kennedy was once asked, What's the difference between an American Atlas missile that puts John Glenn into orbit and the Atlas missiles targeted on the Soviet Union, and he said one word, ‘attitude.’ It's the same technology.”

And exactly what punishments can you exact on a nation headed by a man who doesn’t care whether his people are starving or not?

“President Barack Obama, faced with his first global security crisis, called for an international response and condemned North Korea for threatening the peace and stability of nations ‘near and far.’ Minutes after liftoff, Japan requested the emergency Security Council session in New York.”

This is so far from Obama’s first global security crisis, that you wonder how they can say this with a straight face. This is not a crisis. Until the day North Korea mounts a nuclear weapon on an InterContinental Ballistic Missile and decides to do an open air test, it is best to continue on our present course of action and make it China’s problem. The truth is that we have far more influence on China than we do on North Korea – and China will be one of the biggest losers should there be a mass immigration (global warming or not) over the Yalu River into China. Remember, for the most part, North Korea is populated with malnourished peasants with little or no tangible skills.

“U.S. and South Korean officials claim the entire rocket, including whatever payload it carried, ended up in the ocean but many world leaders fear the launch indicates the capacity to fire a long-range missile. Pyongyang claims it launched an experimental communications satellite into orbit Sunday and that it is transmitting data and patriotic songs.”

Like you can believe the North Koreans. For those of you who golf, you must wonder in amazement that North Korea’s “Dear Leader” has the lowest golf score in history: 34 on a Par 72 course  – from hitting 11 hole-in-one shots.

"’North Korea broke the rules, once again, by testing a rocket that could be used for long-range missiles,’ Obama said in Prague. ‘It creates instability in their region, around the world. This provocation underscores the need for action, not just this afternoon in the U.N. Security Council, but in our determination to prevent the spread of these weapons.’"

You mean like Saddam Hussein broke U.N. resolution after resolution?

“Council members met for three hours, seeking above all a unified response, but broke up for the night without issuing even a customary preliminary statement of condemnation. Diplomats privy to the closed-door talks say China, Russia, Libya and Vietnam were concerned about further alienating and destabilizing North Korea.”

Even with the wacky leader at the helm, keeping a lid on potential North Korean immigrants, Obama has little or nothing to do or say in this particular matter. That is, except for domestic consumption.

"We're now in a very sensitive moment," Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yesui said after the talks concluded. ‘Our position is that all countries concerned should show restraint, and refrain from taking actions that might lead to increased tensions.’"

No one is afraid of the North Korean’s militarily. They might be able to march their armies for five days on their current rations, but there is no way in hell they are going to wind up in the United States.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me …

“The U.S. Britain, France and Japan drafted a proposal for a resolution that could be adopted by the end of the week. It is aimed at toughening existing economic sanctions by ‘naming and shaming’ individuals and entities, council diplomats said.”

Why is North Korea doing what they are doing?

Like all under-sized bullies: it’s all about attention,  blackmail and the art of the bluff. The more gullible your opponent, the more you gain.

“Pyongyang has little collateral and for years has used its nuclear weapons program as its trump card, promising to abandon its atomic ambitions in exchange for aid and then dangling the nuclear threat when it doesn't get its way.”

“It's been an effective strategy so far, with previous missile launches drawing Washington to negotiations. The North also has reportedly been selling missile parts and technology to whoever has the cash to pay for it.”

“Kim wants food for his famished people, fuel and — perhaps most importantly — direct talks and relations with Washington.”

Kim can get food from China and Russia and there is very little need for anything from the United States except the money to pay for it. Think about it: the American taxpayer is being asked to subsidize North Korea for the benefit of the Chinese and the Russians?

Doubling down …

In order to keep the potential interference from other nations at bay, the North Koreans kidnapped two Americans from inside China. Nobody believes that these two journalists were in North Korean territory. It works elsewhere, so why not give it a try?

“U.S. officials also are trying to obtain the release of two American journalists recently detained by the North along its border with China. Paik Hak-soon, an analyst at the Sejong Institute think tank, predicted they would be used as bargaining chips, with the North likely ‘to try to link them to the nuclear and missile talks.’"

The REAL challenge and test of Barack Obama’s manhood …

Now we come to the real crisis. The one that Barack Obama would not have you discuss among yourselves. A crisis that is brewing between Israel and Iran – and by extension, the United States.

“Iran, which also has a contentious relationship with the international community over its nuclear program and is believed to have cooperated extensively with North Korea on missile technology, defended the launch.”

Long-range missile technology is a major problem for the United States as Iran continues to express the wish to wipe Israel off the face of the map. Even without a nuclear payload, any rocket capable of reaching Israel’s capital city is extremely problematical. With “no nonsense” Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel’s Prime Minister, the tensions in the region are increasing and any transfer of technology from North Korea to Iran is going to be especially problematical.

How will Obama spin this crisis?

Let’s see if Obama tells the truth about the current situation or continues to engage in endless campaigning with TelePrompTered speeches.

-- steve

Reference links:

NKorea rocket fizzles, US says; Obama urges action - Yahoo! News