Monday, May 25, 2009
Well, North Korea tests another nuke - a small one, but still a nuke - and so? A month ago when they tested the long range missile I said it made sense to shoot it down because not shooting it down left you with one of two unsatisfactory outcomes: Kim [or whatever strongman surrogate is in charge now] escalates, which he's done, or you give him what he wants, which may now happen, and perpetuate this useless cycle of taunts: you shoot down the missile you've created a third option with more potential upside, not only as concerns North Korea, but as concerns all proliferators - of course, there's more potential downside too, or at least there's the appearance of more downside - but let's face it, North Korea is gradually becoming the existential threat [mainly in its role as rogue proliferator] that the safe approach is supposed to be putting a stop to so how real in fact is that downside in comparison?
