Looking Down The Road

Getting old has advantages, not many of course, but a few. We all know that perspective changes with age, and old guys see through a different lens. Today, North Korea announced they are going to war with South Korea. Big deal - but there were no behind-the-hand snickers. Dear Leader has run a vicious government in North Korea for many years and his track record is ;ousy. Dear Leader makes Idi Amin look like a choir-boy.

The citizens of North Korea are enslaved by their circumstances. They are controlled by a Communist regime that has failed to benefit anyone except North Korean eliltes and corrupt officials. Everyone else suffers.

The country has not yet begun to industrialize. They have been held down by their government for decades.  North Korea remains an impoverished rural society with few natural resources. Their abusive government rules by fear and force.

Several years ago they purchased atomic technology from India/Pakistan, and used it to manufacture at least one atomic bomb. (Perhaps many.) Dear Leader,  also purchased a few bomb delivery vehicles. With this technology on tap, Dear Leader apparently feels invincible.  His raving, omnipotenet rhetoric tends to be dismissed because it is so unrealistic, and rather stupid. Yet he threatens his neighbors with nuclear annihilation constantly. Dear Leader is a dangerous and demented crack-pot.

In contrast, South Korea has blossomed since the Korean war back in the 1950's. They have begun their industrialization and their government has obviously  provided a more logical path to the their future. America has maintained a 30,000 man military force there to prevent North Korea from stepping over the 38th Parallel and into South Korea. It is but a token force, but perhaps a very important token force. Should North Korea attack South Korea they must also attack both military presence. This would be no small move. They would also have to attack the multitude of  American investments in South Korea. In other words, it would be hard for America NOT to help defend South Korea.

For over 50 years the tension between North and South has been a game of "chicken". So far it has been Dear Leader that has backed down. But who knows, he many not back down this time.

The living conditions, unhappiness and desperation of the North Korean people may threaten Dear Leader's Communist regime - if he doesn't do SOMETHING to improve their lives. He may see WAR as his only way to survive.

China can't be to happy to see Dear Leader flexing his atomic muscles. THAT is perhaps our salvation because China has the ability to smother Dear Leader without a trace. China knows that should North Korea start a nuclear war, America might decide that Japan should finally re-arm itself. China would absolutely not appreciate two atomic bombs in their neighborhood.

More as it develops.