Susan Rice: ‘We Will Not Stand for Violations of International Law’
EmailUN Ambassador Susan Rice said on "This Week" Sunday that the United States will be reviewing its assessment of whether North Korea has the capability to launch a nuclear weapon toward the United States, following news today that North Korea tested a long-range ballistic missile.
"Our concern is to prevent North Korea from pursuing and disseminating nuclear weapons we view as a proliferation threat," Rice told me during a "This Week" interview this morning.
"It’s actions today underscore our concern about it’s development of not only nuclear weapons capability but the capability to deliver. That’s what we are most concerned about preventing, and preventing North Korea from sharing that capability with others."
I asked Rice: "Is the United State now convinced that the North Koreans have a missile that could reach the United States?"
"I think, George, what today’s experience showed is that they did not succeed, according to our best assessments, in putting that space launch vehicle into orbit," Rice said.
"That, therefore, was something short of success for North Korea. Our assessment is that their pursuit of a missile capability is of grave concern and that their aim is to achieve the capability to deliver a weapon as far potentially as to North America. I think we need to look at what transpired today and make a new assessment as a consequence," she said.
North Korea claims the missile put a satellite into orbit, but the U.S. military says the satellite dropped into the Pacific Ocean. U.S. officials believe the missile was really being tested to see if it could carry a nuclear warhead over Japan — potentially as far as Alaska.
Rice, who is representing the United States in an emergency meeting at the United Nations Security Council this afternoon, said the U.S. is working closely with allies in Asia, in particular Japan and South Korea, to decide on an "appropriate response."
"The challenge, George is to convey with unity, as the president said today, on behalf of the international community, that we will not stand for violations of international law, which this launch represented, that there will be consequences, and that indeed we will proceed together with resolve the goal of achieving a Korean peninsula without nuclear weapons," Rice said.
I asked Rice: "Japan wants sanctions. Will the US cosponsor a sanctions resolution?"
"The US is working very closely with Japan and we will be in consultation with our partners inside the council trying to get the most appropriate and strong response we can possibly get," she said.
Rice emphasized that the U.S. will work with the members of the UN security council, including China, on a response.
"We all need to come together around this," she said, "But the United States’ view is this is serious, it’s a violation, and it merits an appropriately strong United Nations response."
On China, which has opposed sanctions against North Korean in the past, Rice said, "We’re working very closely with China. China shares the same goal that we do which is a de-nuclearized Korean peninsula. China also is very proximate on the border with North Korea and shares our desire not to see this situation escalate and to ensure that we can achieve, George, the long-term goal which is de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula though the six-party talk process."
"Is that why they’re not going along with tougher sanctions?" I asked.
"Well, I think they have multiple concerns," Rice said. "They are looking at the long-term goal of ensuring that we don’t have a nuclearized Korean peninsula. There have been times when we have differed as to the best ways in achieving that. But we are unified with China and others in the six-parties towards the goal, George, that we roll back this nuclear program that North Korea is pursuing."
–George Stephanopoulos
P.S. Ambassador Rice’s husband, Ian Cameron, produces "This Week." To avoid any conflict he was not involved in any way with today’s interview. I booked the interview directly with the White House, and did not discuss the interview with Ian after that. He did not provide any research assistance, suggest topics or questions, and he was not present in the control room during the interview.
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How do you talk to someone directly thru a third party?
Posted by: Mark | April 5, 2009, 10:17 am 10:17 am
Who cares, we get all excited about this because we want to feel all powerful and bully other nations in doing what we want. Are we not the greatest supplier of weapons to the world. Are we not the nation that attacks someone new every three years or so. Give me a break.
Posted by: Huh | April 5, 2009, 10:20 am 10:20 am
She’s cute.
Posted by: Tony | April 5, 2009, 10:32 am 10:32 am
A good place to start would be to lead by example and understand that Bush’s violations were so egregious that it will require time before we can ascend to the bully pulpit on this issue.
Posted by: jan | April 5, 2009, 10:33 am 10:33 am
Oh, I’ll bet North Korea is scared! Actually I’m the one scared….scared of the Obama regime. Let’s review, the response to the rocket launch, which the Obama regime suggested before launch was unacceptable, is to put the talking heads on television. Then, we’re going to the security council for sanctions, as if that hasn’t already been tried, with no results.
Now, Obama himself is in the Czeck republic, and his answer is to cut nuclear weapons across the board! that should really scare the living heck out of the likes of North Korea and Iran.
“We will not stand for violations of international law”….it’s more like the Obama regime will stand by for each and every violation, and respond with weakness, the likes of which haven’t been seen since the Jimmy Carter era. Folks, we are in deep trouble regarding the Obama regime! Just wait and see….
Posted by: TxBoB | April 5, 2009, 10:42 am 10:42 am
Right keep telling them they did not succeed and what a failure it was, that will only make them want to show us how wrong we are …good job Rice
Posted by: SJ | April 5, 2009, 11:10 am 11:10 am
What is Rice going to do? Send Peanut Carter to NK to talk nice to them?
Posted by: SureEnough08 | April 5, 2009, 11:18 am 11:18 am
“But the United States’ view is this is serious, it’s a violation, and it merits an appropriately strong United Nations response.”
In other words, a strongly worded letter of condemnation is in order! That’ll surely work!
Posted by: Stacey | April 5, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am
Susan Rice: ‘We Will Not Stand for Violations of International Law’
Then just sit down
Posted by: Huh | April 5, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am
Obama wants to do away with our Atomic arsenal so here’s his chance. Write a letter to North Korea and tell them we don’t mind them shooting a missle across the ocean but keep in mind we have about 15,000 of them to get rid of and North Korea is as good a place as any to dump them.
Posted by: Frank W., New Mexico | April 5, 2009, 11:49 am 11:49 am
4 Sale.. long range missiles that can hit the USSA(united socialist states of America)..Don’t worry about the president or his ambassador to the UN they will not do anything …Contact North korea for more details
Posted by: Obama and his cabinet of Clowns | April 5, 2009, 11:50 am 11:50 am
talk didn’t stop anyone from building any weapon so we are helpless. epically if we are now perceived as talkers
Posted by: alice | April 5, 2009, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
In response to this slap in the face from North Korea, the President said “…words must mean something…” He was right! Take for instance the words “…natural born citizen…” embodied in the U.S. Constitution. Isn’t it time he release a copy of his original birth certificate on file in Hawaii – not just the abstract seen on the Internet? What could he be hiding?
Posted by: Terry | April 5, 2009, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
Susan Rice???? Susan rice???? does she play piano too!!!!!!!!!! LMAO
Posted by: lovingpolitics | April 5, 2009, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
The naivete of this administration should give us all pause.
Posted by: jjsmith | April 5, 2009, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
Why not just send NK a reactor or 2 along with an autographed basketball? That should shut ‘em up for a while.
Posted by: Kim | April 5, 2009, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
From the sound of things, this missile flew further than their first one, and regardless of the success or failure of its stated mission, this is cause for concern. We should attempt to recover as much of its components off the ocean floor as we can — we have the technology; and, we would remove the speculation with evidence.
Posted by: Spartan Phoenix777 | April 5, 2009, 12:47 pm 12:47 pm
I bet we have a strongly worded letter ready to go telling the North Koreans that we won’t stand for this. Maybe we should keep a copy of it so we can give one to Iran when they test thier nuclear weapons? Maybe we should apologize to them? I am pretty sure Bush gave up his “cowboy ways” on this and got the UN invovled so we wouldn’t have these problems. Boy, that sure has worked out.
Posted by: Texan2112 | April 5, 2009, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
Absurd. Just what is Obama going to do when he cannot get the Chinese or Russians to back him? This trip was a disaster and frankly embarrassing. No combat troops, no stimulus package support, and a North Korean launch after Obama told them not to do it. Obama does not understand that being liked doesn’t mean anybody respects you.
Posted by: brian | April 5, 2009, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm
this launch by korea is blowback from the last 8 years… many countries are still fearful of the usa (fear is not the same as respect) and feel threatened, so they are trying to flex their muscle… thankfully obama is in office and can assess the situation RATIONALLY without the war mongering attitude
Posted by: earth_not_flat | April 5, 2009, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
Absurd. Just what is Obama going to do when he cannot get the Chinese or Russians to back him? This trip was a disaster and frankly embarrassing. No combat troops, no stimulus package support, and a North Korean launch after Obama told them not to do it. Obama does not understand that being liked doesn’t mean anybody respects you.
—————————————-
Exactly! Let’s review, the North Koreans are in bed with the Iranians. The North Koreans are also in bed with the Chinese, while Iran is bed fellows with Russia. So, what’s the chance of anything meaningful coming out of the Chinese and Russians? About a snowballs chance in you know where! We’ve figured it out, but unfortunately, I don’t believe the Obama regime has.
Now, get that letter, tongue lashing and UN sanctions together, and let’s see how they do….we’re screwed!
Posted by: TxBoB | April 5, 2009, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
There is no question N.Korea is escalating the heat by violating International rules and laws. My question is why didn’t the US condemn Israel’s atrocities in Lebanon and Palestine? Why is there outrage when so many innocent people were killed mercilessly with cluster bombs and incendiary materials. Why was the US supplying to Israel while the war was going on? I don’t see any change in Obama’s position from G.Bush’s 8 years of destructive policy in middle east?
Posted by: kanan k | April 5, 2009, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
We could try paying off the NK like Clinton did. Feed their starving masses. Stuff like that. Oh yeah, that didn’t work. The NK’s lied and went ahead with their nuclear program. It’s sad that while something so horribly dangerous could be stopped, no one will do anything. Maybe China threatened to stop loaning us money if we shot down their little friend’s rocket?
Posted by: Pam | April 5, 2009, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
America’s foriegn policy is wrong headed and utilizes bullying tactics against small weak countries.
This is nothing but a continuation of the ‘Axis of Evil’ philosophy initiated by George W Bush.
Bush never fought in a war and when he was in the reserves, and had a chance to go to Viet Nam, his daddy got him sent to Alabama on some secret mission. That is the closest thing he ever did in regards to fighting in a war.
North Korea is no threat to America and can hardly feed their people. The missiles they test are not
capable of reaching the U S. Obama promised change and then put that war monger Hilary Clinton in as Secretary of State.
Obama continues to follow Bush’s and the military industrial complex’s tract regarding war mongering all over the world.
Posted by: carnelld | April 5, 2009, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
Not to worry. The limp wristed girlyman in the WH is fully prepared to assault Kim Jong with superhero meeshall’s heaviest purse. Our only hope is that Kim Jong, given his illnesses, literally laughs himself to death over our gutless TOTUS. The messiah’s back up plan is to get NK to give up their nuclear program in return for a lucrative no bid contract to cut the grass on the Illinois Tollroad.
Posted by: Hugh Glass | April 5, 2009, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
Mr. Obama will not do anything but just talk and the world knows it. Thank god he is not a used car salesman
Posted by: oystercreekdan | April 5, 2009, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
My advice is to go to the library at Yale to find how many strong worded letters have caused other countries to quake in their boots; the ansewr is none. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/
Posted by: K.King | April 5, 2009, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
Does Ms Rice consider torturing detainees at Gitmo a “violation of international law” that we cannot stand? If we have this policy, then we have to apply it to all violations, not just some or it makes us look like hypocrites. Oh…. too late.
Posted by: Peter | April 5, 2009, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
This missile didn’t kill anybody. Israel and the USA have cornered the market on that craft. If they hit us with something, North Korea is done.
Posted by: Huh | April 5, 2009, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
An honest conversation on the spectacular trainwreck otherwise known as US foreign policy cannot occur without examining the underlying motivation. In a word, profit is what drives our many policies, sanctions, declarations and wars. It has been so since at least WWII, and probably much earlier.
Until we realize our leaders base their decisions not on the common good, but rather on corporate interests, will we ever put the brakes on an extremely ambitious– and dangerous– industrial-military complex.
Rest assured, that awakening is unlikely to occur during the watch of Obama…
Posted by: h5mind | April 5, 2009, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
This missile didn’t kill anybody. Israel and the USA have cornered the market on that craft. If they hit us with something, North Korea is done.
————————————-
You seemingly miss all points here with what happened. Suppose North Korea saddles up a nuke on their new rocket and smacks LA. You are prepared for that to happen, then they are done?
Or suppose North Korea launches a rocket with a nuke, and detonates it say 150 miles above the US mainland. You do know (probably not) that the massive area under that detonation would lose all electrical function, including that of automobiles, telecommunications, etc. possibly for good?
Or perhaps you would prefer the scenarion where the money hungry North Koreans sell a nuke to terrorists, who would love nothing more than to detonate it in a major city such as NY or DC. You’re good with that as well?
The argument that “Israel and the USA have cornered the market on that” is quite lame and naive. Possibly you do not comprehend that one does not need to be nearly as accurate with a nuclear device as a conventional warhead.
It’s okay….go back to your Odumba Kool Aid. It appears you need another drink!
Posted by: TxBoB | April 5, 2009, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
After reading all the comments posted regarding the current US foreign policy I would recommend the writers move to North Korea or Iran as they feel them countries can do what ever they want and are such a nice place to live.
Posted by: VJ Day | April 5, 2009, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
While an important event the missile launch is like dealing with a spoiled child that trows a tantrum when they feel they are not getting enough attention. Spank them with sanctions that hurt the “leadership” provide humanitarian relief to the starving masses via the UN & N.A.T.O and the childish lunatic thinking will once again subside. Then “encourage” them to realize that childish behavior begets childish treatment.
A bigger issue with respect to upholding international law will be bringing to justice those who sponsored and supported torture. We HAVE TO hold those who perverted our system of governance and laws Accountable for what they have done , not only to our “enemies” but also to our fighting men and women as well as our citizenry in general. Just ask the two photographers that are being accused of spying and ARE being subjected to the very conditions we extended with the righteous belief we were doing what was absolutely necessary to “win the war on terror” it has come full circle to our citizens.
Make those who promoted these atrocities and now try to shield themselves account for what they have done, by the very international laws they were trying to subvert.
Posted by: Darryl the Contractor | April 5, 2009, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
Some of you are naive if you think NK would have treated those 2 photographers with “standards of international law”. You don’t know North Korea and your liberal sensibilities do not translate to many countries in the world. There are far worse regimes in the world that oppress liberal values than the Bush administration. Obama is smart and practical in wanting to move forward with regard to what Bush did. He will not fall into the trap of principle when he may one day be forced to do the same things as Bush. Many Americans are naive about the politics of the world. Both liberal and conservative Americans are wrong in assuming the rest of the world thinks like them.
Posted by: t961585 | April 5, 2009, 6:18 pm 6:18 pm
Dear Ambassador Rice:
It is naive of you and this administration to think that condemnation of North Korea will have any effect on its behavior. Please continue perfecting our missle defense capabilities. It may just save us one day.
Protecting American citizens is your number one priority.
Thank You.
Posted by: jjsmith | April 5, 2009, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
i see this as very important matter and lets see what the U.S. does about it.
Posted by: kk304 | April 5, 2009, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
Susan Rice is’nt that cute.
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 5, 2009, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm
Well….maybe a little cute.
Posted by: stuart2560 | April 5, 2009, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm
“We Will Not Stand for Violations of International Law” — this is an interesting split from Mr Bush’s We Are Above International Law approach.
Posted by: Rick_VT | April 5, 2009, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
TxBoB- Actually I meant exactly what I said. It didn’t kill anybody, and if they did anything stupid they are done. Remember we are the ones that used them on civilians when we knew nobody could return the favor. Pick on the weak. They might give them to terrorist, but remember our sanctions on Iraq under Clinton is said to have killed hundreds of thousands according to Albright, our current wars kill lots of civilians daily, not to mention all the other foreign policy nonsense. North Korea has a long way to go to catch up to our numbers. And as for Israel they dehumanize the Palestinians daily and killed plenty in the last go around. Use your brain please.
Posted by: Huh | April 5, 2009, 10:52 pm 10:52 pm
“The challenge, George is to convey with unity, as the president said today, on behalf of the international community, that we will not stand for violations of international law, which this launch represented, that there will be consequences, and that indeed we will proceed together with resolve the goal of achieving a Korean peninsula without nuclear weapons,” Rice said.
So I guess the Obama foreign policy
theme is to walk softly and carry a
big mouth.
The North Koreans are shaking in their
boots over the idle threats of
President Obama and Susan Rice! Not.
They as well as the Iranians are
laughing at the “paper tiger” we
have become under Mr Obama! Ugh.
Posted by: reaganfan | April 5, 2009, 10:52 pm 10:52 pm
earth_not_flat:
You can’t blame this on Bush.
Your guy, Barack Obama was an
empty suit before the election and he is
still an empty suit.
His economic plan will not work and
his show of weakness will endanger
all of us.
He is Jimmy Carter Part Deux.
The only thing missing is the
“malaise comment” but I’m sure he’ll
use it when it is proven that his
moves to fix the economy have failed.
Posted by: reaganfan | April 5, 2009, 11:01 pm 11:01 pm
Wait, send a clown over their to make them laugh and give up their weapons of mass destruction. Wait, Obama told them he was really serious about them not launching a missile. He is so use to telling CEO’s what to do, he surely can make N Korea listen to him.
Actually, Obamas a joke, http://www.democratsareajoke.com is showing how bad of a joke he is.
Posted by: Democrats are a Joke | April 5, 2009, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
Well reganfan,
How would you explain the collective movement towards the development/expansion of nuclear threats being developed over the past eight years while we have been expending treasure, blood AND reputation in Iraq to a level we cannot address these growing REAL threats??
Posted by: Darryl the Contractor | April 5, 2009, 11:40 pm 11:40 pm
Huh…I actually have used my brain. You should really try researching exactly what an atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device would mean to our country. Then possibly you might understand that accuracy is not the determining factor in this use of a nuclear device.
Maybe try researching the ties between North Korea, Iran, China and Russia. Then possibly you could branch further into the ties between Iran and Hezbollah. Maybe look for the fact that Hezbollah is actively smuggling personel into our country via Mexican smuggling routes. Then, if you have a calculator, you might add 2 plus 2….it comes out 4 every time.
All I’m asking here is that maybe you try thinking for yourself, and not necessarily spew the left wing talking points of the day.
Yes, I am picking on the weak here, and that currently is our own administration. You know, the Obama regime. I suppose that makes me American in your eyes. All I ask is that some of you wake up and smell the coffee, get off the Kool Aid and think for yourselves.
Posted by: TxBoB | April 6, 2009, 7:59 am 7:59 am
Huh = Neville Chamberlain
Posted by: Mike_C | April 6, 2009, 9:45 am 9:45 am
Obama wanted to bring back the 90′s….LOL…I guess we didnt relaize he was going to duplicate Clinton handling of these kinds of issues as well.
Remember all those lines in the sand Clinton drew during the mess in Bosnia?
Every time Milosevic crossed em, we got “angry” and were saying “this time we mean it”
Good illustration of where we are headed with this administation’s handling of these kinds of crisis events.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/herblock/images/s03593u.jpg
Posted by: Mike_C | April 6, 2009, 9:56 am 9:56 am
TxBoB – I know all about it thanks. They are not that stupid as to carry one out. Kim Jong Ill loves looking in the mirror too much. By the way we are broke and can’t afford the “picking on the weak” you and Mike_C advocate. Remember Hezbollah is a product of Christian and Sunni domination of the politics and services in Lebanon over the Shia majority. Thus they have legitimacy. Obama is doing well on the diplomatic front. I like what he is trying to do. And by the way I didn’t vote for him.
Posted by: Huh | April 6, 2009, 10:24 am 10:24 am
Huh,
“Picking on the weak????” – care to explain that little brain cramp of yours?
Posted by: Mike_C | April 6, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am
Mike_C – Picking on those we know we can defeat militarily without too many losses and without the danger of WMD being used in retribution. Iraq, Grenada, Panama are some examples. By the way, you guys shouldn’t worry too much about that Ill character. He isn’t going to get us or take us over. I would suggest pretenting to ignore him quite frankly while maintaining a surveillance presence. He loves the attention we give him. We shouldn’t send him aid either. The problem I have with condemning NK for this launch is all the immoral actions we carry out in the world that cause much more damage and death than NK does. NK hasn’t breached their borders like we have. By the way my brain is well hydrated to prevent any cramping. Cheers.
Posted by: Huh | April 6, 2009, 11:23 am 11:23 am
Huh,
You sould actually change your id to Duh.
The biggest threat from NK is about weapons proliferation, not action that they may take. No one wants them to “dissolve, because everyone fears what may happen in the power vacuum if they do. THAT is why China will not take a real hard line with them. The Chinese do not want to deal with an implosion like that on their border.
The problem with the rocket tech that NK is developing is it could be used by others in the world who have a desire to actually use it.
My statement stands in regards to your other foolish comments. You seriously need to read up some on the early history of the past century. I’m sure you find a bossum buddy in Neville Chamberlain.
Posted by: Mike_C | April 6, 2009, 11:38 am 11:38 am
Mike_C-We are the biggest proliferator of advanced weapons technology in the world just for the record. Israel uses them all the time to kill civilians especially those civilians that are angry with Israel for the checkpoints and settlements expansions, etc. See the thing is I think you are the foolish one. People like you thrive on conflict and don’t look at root causes of the hatred.
Posted by: Huh | April 6, 2009, 11:52 am 11:52 am
Mike_C-We are the biggest proliferator of advanced weapons technology in the world just for the record. Israel uses them all the time to kill civilians especially those civilians that are angry with Israel for the checkpoints and settlements expansions, etc. See the thing is I think you are the foolish one. People like you thrive on conflict and don’t look at root causes of the hatred.
———————————
Huh (Duh),
Let’s see, how many groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, etc are we selling our weapons to?
Would you kindly let the rest of us in on who we give our tech to ? Ever hear of ITAR ? (Google it then maybe you will start to understand)
If you want to continue thinking along the lines that WE are the biggest problem in the world, then perhaps you would like to step up and volunteer to be a host for some of the “detainees” from GITMO. Im sure you think they are just “really nice people”…..
Posted by: Mike_C | April 6, 2009, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm
Huh….thanks for the response! I am a little confused as to what you see on the diplomatic front regarding the new regime. So possibly you could enlighten us all as to what exactly he accomplished last week.
The way I see it at G20, according to Obama, his goal was to convince other G20 members to spend as much for economic stimulation as we have. Although they did not go along with this plan, a plan was obtained to basically hand over a lot of our financial regulation to global regulation. I’m not quite sure how this was a diplomatic victory for America, and to me he failed in his pre-set goals.
Next, on to the NATO meeting. The pre-set goals here were to obtain additional combat troops for the mission if Afghanistan. Well, Obama did secure 5000 non-combat, training types and police. So again, based on his own goals before the meeting, yet another failure.
It did appear that Obama was Rick-rolled by the Russians and others in obtaining various agreements. He did draw large crowds, but I can’t figure out what diplomatic success that actually was.
Lastly, against the mighty word of Obama, and despite repeated warnings, North Korea did in fact launch a rocket (not a missle) that could be used one day in an attack on us or our allies. So again, I guess I’m kind of missing the diplomatic winner boat on this was well.
So far diplomatically, the Obama regime has appeared to negotiate from a position of weakness. Much like Jimmy Carter, only even weaker.
If you can tell us what you like that he has accomplished it would certainly be appreciated! In my opinion he has been as big of a disaster in the diplomatic front as he has in the economic front.
Posted by: TxBoB | April 6, 2009, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
Sure I have to deal with ITAR when I classify work. Hamas has legitimacy because of the checkpoints, blockades, settlements, expanding settlements, diversion of water from the Jordan away from Arabs to the settlers, etc. Hezbollah has legitimacy because of the decades long oppression of the majority Shiites by the minority Christians and Sunnis. They also do not like Israeli influence within the borders of Lebanon. Al-Qaeda has legitimacy because of the fact they fight against western influence in Arab and Muslim societies which they deem destructive to their cultures and way of life. I don’t prefer their way of life and I don’t implore Al-Qaeda’s tactics, but they are supported by a large swath of the Muslims in the world. Remember the reasons Bin Laden gave for 911 were legitimate. Ron Paul and Michael Sheuer articulated these if you were listening. I don’t want to give our tech to these groups, but my point on this blog is that Ill and his ilk are cornered and surveilled, but they have every right to pursue sovereign technology just like everybody else. We are the biggest threat to ourselves, not some guy in a cave or in North Korea. We do the drugs that creates the border situation, we do not let free market capitalism reign so we get our economic collapse, we kill 1.5 million babies a year so we don’t respect life. That is probably why it is so easy to take out 20 civilians along with a couple of militants in each of those Pakistani missile strikes. Don’t buy into the neoconservative talking points. You guys need to take a more fiscally responsible approach to all of these things we face. You also need to see things from the opposite side. If you really look, you will see at least with Middle East affairs, we are the instigator of so many of the problems and injustices. Of course they do have the oil!
Posted by: Huh | April 6, 2009, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
TxBoB – i will return comment. I need to go to a meeting for a few hours.
Posted by: Huh | April 6, 2009, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
Thanks Huh! I’m still in the office, and will be out after a bit. I’ll look for it tonight….have a great day!
Posted by: TxBoB | April 6, 2009, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
Darryl the Contractor:
You cannot blame this on Bush(8 years).
This talk(appeasement) policy goes back
to your hero, Bill Clinton.
What has been proven over the years is that the leaders in North Korea and
Iran use “talks” as a way to avoid
military responses to their actions.
The six-party talks regarding
North Korea’s nuclear ambitions have
yielded no results and they continue
their missile program.
Clinton tried unilateral talks and they
also failed.
The North Korean missile should have been shot down.
That would have sent a message
Kim Jong Ill would have understood.
We will not let you do this.
Posted by: reaganfan | April 6, 2009, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
TxBoB – What you state has a some truth. However, the fact is that we have ruined ourselves financially by letting the Fed inflate this huge 35 year financial bubble. Ron Paul of course explained this quite well. The rest of the world know this and knows that we are now financially stressed to the point where future military operations will be matters of survival and true defense not of pursuing greater degrees of influence in order to gain resources. Obama is working within this realization. He also makes sense to me in the way that he implements the “Golden Rule” into his thinking much more so than Bush. I am all about the “Golden Rule”. When you overthrow a democratically elected official in Iran and install a cruel dictator, don’t expect any love for quite some time. There are a lot of things I don’t like about Obama. His spending plans will ruin us financially. We will have to inflate the monetary supply to reduce debt. Maybe this is the plan. I am also a registered Republican trying to make my party better and more fiscally responsible. Reducing the size of government and the spending in government is part of what we have to do, but so to is reducing the trillion dollar a year world empire. It is going to happen anyway because we are broke and on the way down. We can’t even produce a decent number of scientists and engineers out of college. When I went through graduate school, everyone was Asian so my point again is to blame our culture and our stupidity and worry about that before we start worrying about some fool overseas that loves the spotlight and free oil that we give him.
Posted by: Huh | April 6, 2009, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
‘Ambassador Rice’s husband, Ian Cameron, produces “This Week.” ‘ Gee what an amazing coincidence. That wouldn’t affect the show’s content during the campaign last Fall, would it? A Clinton intern like George would be above that.
Posted by: frank | April 6, 2009, 2:43 pm 2:43 pm
Bullcrap; we most certainly will look the other way, Obama is a blow hard with no onions. Just wacth nothing will happen and North Korea will sell the technology to Iran.
Posted by: Philip V. | April 6, 2009, 5:50 pm 5:50 pm
when Rice says “we will not stand for violations of international law”, Rice knows, George knows, we know and most importantly, the North Koreans know, that there is no teeth behind that comment. we have no credibility. nor does the UN. and the beat goes on.
Posted by: doug | April 6, 2009, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm
The new rice lays down the law to George. Good thing she dosn’t take it to the Chinese and North Koreans, they would make her eat it, with chop sticks.
Posted by: InTheShade | April 6, 2009, 6:19 pm 6:19 pm
Huh….thanks for the response! I believe, economically speaking, that the Obama regime have already bankrupted us, no matter if we like it or not. It’s just that some are very slow to add the spending and crunch the numbers to see what the deficit, and interest on that deficit, will be. At first I didn’t think this regime knew what it was doing. But over the last 4 weeks I have come to believe that they know exactly what they are doing, and that they have a definite agenda.
On the foreign policy front I do believe they are amateurs and haven’t a clue as to what they are doing. I believe they think if they are nice that the rest of the world will respond in kind. I believe the Obama regime is seriously mistaken, and are being ran like a cheap watch by the big leagues. This is what concerns me the most on the foreign policy front, that they will do something like limit nukes with say Russia, with absolutely no way to verify. Same as what Clinton did with North Korea. Setting us up for yet another fiasco, you wait and see!
So the more this regime plays, the less I like it. I think our nation is in big trouble. I truly hate it for our children and grandchildren, as they are the ones who will pay most dearly.
Posted by: TxBoB | April 6, 2009, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
i think if they do that lets hit them back that is going to start a war but hey if they want a war then lets get them back those hobos always thinking they’re than us Americans watch when we beat them in one day
Posted by: uibsduig | April 6, 2009, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
Obama’s First test and he…wants to talk…lets get all the other countries to talk also. BS obama…..Simple solution was to let the Navy shoot down that missile…we have lost so much respect from talking that we appear weak to the rest of the world. When are we going to have someone in office with a pair that can adjust the attitudes of those intent on killing us? Talk has always been cheap.
And now we are going to….talk to the Islam nations….work togheter…..how long before obama tries to convert the U.S. to Islam?
I would say right now, Iran is scared to death worrying about having us talk them to death…..maybe a spelling bee….
All the people that fell for “About Change” and voted this Islam leader in American Goverment.
Posted by: gatornation1957 | April 6, 2009, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
TxBoB – Many things you say I agree with. Till next time…..
Posted by: Huh | April 6, 2009, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
Please get Arianna off of your show.
Total lack of thought and analysis.
Nothing but speaking points.
And that smile….disingenuous…ughhh
JW
Posted by: JohnW | April 7, 2009, 10:23 pm 10:23 pm
Why doesn’t George have
George Soros on his show?
After all Soros is the real leader
of the Democrat Party and he was
a Nazi Sympathizer during WWII!
Sounds like an interesting guest,
George.
Ask him why a Nazi Sympathizer is
running the Democrat Party.
Better yet ask President Obama!
Posted by: reaganfan | April 7, 2009, 11:39 pm 11:39 pm