It is pretty clear that the Trump administration is sending another signal to North Korea that if they try something here in the short term the US is ready to respond:
FILE PHOTO – U.S. Navy personnel prepare to launch an F18 fighter jet on the deck of USS Carl Vinson during a routine exercise in South China Sea, March 3, 2017. REUTERS/Erik De Castro/File Photo
A U.S. Navy strike group will be moving toward the western Pacific Ocean near the Korean peninsula as a show of force, a U.S. official told Reuters on Saturday, as concerns grow about North Korea’s advancing weapons program.
Earlier this month North Korea tested a liquid-fueled Scud missile which only traveled a fraction of its range.
The strike group, called Carl Vinson, includes an aircraft carrier and will make its way from Singapore toward the Korean peninsula, according to the official, who was not authorized to speak to the media and requested anonymity. [Reuters]
…but it seems many are not quite ready to face the inevitability that North Korea is about to end its nuke and missile programs.
..if not on their own, it is about to be ended for them.
This is reality.
There is little downside for Trump.
In attacking Syria, Trump solved 3 problems.
– He no longer can be painted by the lying media as Putin’s puppet… as Putin is acting all butthurt.
– He no longer can be painted by the lying media as crazy or incompetent… as his attack was a rational, proportional, and limited response which accomplished specific goals.
– He no longer can be painted by the lying media as a man of fiery talk but no action.
…and there is little downside in attacking North Korea in a limited yet effective way.
– Tump’s credibility in following through with promises rises yet again.
– NK’s nuclear and missile programs will be greatly crippled and Trump can point to this success from now to the next election.
– Successful military action (especially from the air) traditionally builds a president’s popularity and credibility. This has a very high chance of success.
– If North Korea dares attack South Korea, Trump is in a better position to negotiate the financial future of USFK.
– Iran will take things seriously when it comes time to discuss their nuclear program.
– Regional instability may assist some of Trump’s trade-related goals.
Downsides?
– South Korea might side a bit with North Korea… but that means nothing… and could be leveraged as a good cop/bad cop routine.
– North Korea might attack South Korea… but not America’s problem unless it hits USFK… in which case the response against North Korea will be devastating and popular… and any collapse of North Korea is, again, not America’s problem.
– China will whine and throw around terms like “brink of war”. That will be all.
So… it appears an inevitability that North Korea is about to end their nuke and missile programs.
The Chinese have put troops on the border before, and nothing ever comes. Not sure what to make of it. The news is of course all breathless and grasping at their collective pearls. My Korean friends are shrugging their shoulders as they head to Duncan Donuts. Most of my military friends have since rotated away, and nothing seems amiss on the Camp Casey Facebook page I subscribe to.
Anything interesting going on, in-country ROKHeads?
ChickenHead
7 years ago
– China puts soldiers on the border… ho hum… except this time… when they might need to repel refugees.
There is lots of speculation and talk…
…but it seems many are not quite ready to face the inevitability that North Korea is about to end its nuke and missile programs.
..if not on their own, it is about to be ended for them.
This is reality.
There is little downside for Trump.
In attacking Syria, Trump solved 3 problems.
– He no longer can be painted by the lying media as Putin’s puppet… as Putin is acting all butthurt.
– He no longer can be painted by the lying media as crazy or incompetent… as his attack was a rational, proportional, and limited response which accomplished specific goals.
– He no longer can be painted by the lying media as a man of fiery talk but no action.
…and there is little downside in attacking North Korea in a limited yet effective way.
– Tump’s credibility in following through with promises rises yet again.
– NK’s nuclear and missile programs will be greatly crippled and Trump can point to this success from now to the next election.
– Successful military action (especially from the air) traditionally builds a president’s popularity and credibility. This has a very high chance of success.
– If North Korea dares attack South Korea, Trump is in a better position to negotiate the financial future of USFK.
– Iran will take things seriously when it comes time to discuss their nuclear program.
– Regional instability may assist some of Trump’s trade-related goals.
Downsides?
– South Korea might side a bit with North Korea… but that means nothing… and could be leveraged as a good cop/bad cop routine.
– North Korea might attack South Korea… but not America’s problem unless it hits USFK… in which case the response against North Korea will be devastating and popular… and any collapse of North Korea is, again, not America’s problem.
– China will whine and throw around terms like “brink of war”. That will be all.
So… it appears an inevitability that North Korea is about to end their nuke and missile programs.
One way or another.
Any downsides to this?
Well, the downsid for some is likely the loss of Nork funding for their protest activities so they’ll have to get a job…
And the Chinese put 150,000 troops on the North Korean border.
http://americanmilitarynews.com/2017/04/report-china-has-deployed-150000-troops-to-north-korean-border/
Nov, 1950 redeux, backstop, or pincer movement?
The Chinese have put troops on the border before, and nothing ever comes. Not sure what to make of it. The news is of course all breathless and grasping at their collective pearls. My Korean friends are shrugging their shoulders as they head to Duncan Donuts. Most of my military friends have since rotated away, and nothing seems amiss on the Camp Casey Facebook page I subscribe to.
Anything interesting going on, in-country ROKHeads?
– China puts soldiers on the border… ho hum… except this time… when they might need to repel refugees.
Shyt is about to get serious.
Everybody knows what is about to happen.
Many are lying to themselves.