North Korea tests missile, time to disarm?
Apr 6th, 2009 | By Mike | Category: International Affairs, Obama |
Over the weekend, North Korea tested a missile which could reach as far as Alaska. After testing their first nuclear weapon in 2006, the news of a missile launch sent shockwaves around the world. President Obama was quick to condemn the test, but then went on to use this as a springboard for his agenda of disarming the world of nuclear weapons.
I don’t like the idea of using a nuclear weapon in any circumstance, but if the last few years are any indication of what is to come in the future, I don’t see North Korea ending their mission for nuclear weapons any time soon. Not to mention the pesky Al-Qaeda who have been looking for ways to get a nuclear weapon of any sort in to the United States. While a world without nuclear weapons would help us all sleep better, I don’t want to be the only country disarming these weapons as our enemies start making them. Granted, we have enough nukes to blow up the world several times over and reducing our stockpile wouldn’t change that fact, but this type of posturing only makes us look like hypocrites. If it came down to the last nuclear weapons in the hands of the United States and North Korea, how many of you would raise your hands to disarm our weapon first?
Changing directions here, North Korea claimed that they did not break any rules. Their missile was not a weapon. They claim that they are simply increasing their technology to reach space. While no one in the world actually believes that, they do have a point. The same goes for nuclear energy. While the by-products of this technology could undoubtedly be used for weapons, who are we to keep other countries from advancing technologically? As Modern Whigs we are fully supportive of the advancement of science and education. Is it fair for us to use our world influence to put sanctions on these countries that could benefit from nuclear power and space programs? Arguments can be made for both sides.
I am going to try something new and leave it up to you, the readers, to voice your opinions. Should we be condemning potentially hostile countries for advancing their nuclear and space technologies in a peaceful manner?
My personal opinion here is that these nations present enough of a world threat to be sanctioned for their potentially hostile actions. I think if a country has proven to be capable of being a part of the world economy and structure for enough time (how long, I’m not sure), then these types of technologies could be explored without hesitation. It seems a bit arbitrary, but I think it’s somewhat like punishing a bully in kindergarten. If you can’t get along with everyone, you sit in the corner and think about what you did. Hopefully, you’ll grow out of it. If not, you go to jail
North Korea is a dangerous country if for no other reason then it wants desperately to be seen as something other than the laughing stock of the world. Disarming nuclear arsenals while unstable countries build them is a frightening thought. IMO
I think that we need to take a balanced, but firm approach to North Korea’s nuclear intentions. Despite all of the moral and ethical objections I have to nuclear weaponry we cannot simply hope that by disarming a handful of weapons that the North Korean government will finally find it’s sanity and follow suit.
However, by threatening to cut off diplomacy as we have in the past, we will only be creating more problems. We tried that with Cuba and it only furthered the resolve of that nation’s leaders to maintain it’s ties to the Soviet Union and briefly gain nuclear power. We need to maintain open ties and consider the possibility of trading with these guys. We need to get them out of this situation of dealers and abusers with North Korea (the abusers) buying up weaponry and materials from the dealers, China and Russia. We need to break their habits.
Then things start to fall into place. They have nowhere else to go but the democratized West. The same thing has been happening in China since the early 1990’s. Once the Soviet Union fell they had nothing else to do but start deregulating their markets and making slow strides toward a free society.
It’s a long process and the “I want my pony now” crowd won’t be pleased with that, least of all the gung-ho warhawks in the Republican and Democratic parties. If push comes to shove, we shove back, but extending a cautious hand of friendship is one of the best options we have. Our military is already stretched far too thin as it is, and redirecting troops to fight a large (militarily) hostile nation would create even more problems than we already have. Ones that we simply cannot afford both in terms of money and the lives of American soldiers.
Anyway, my rant has become long winded and boring. I’m glad I had the opportunity to toss my two cents into the hat.