Big Bee #1 - A nuclear BOMB exploded in North Korea. Well, maybe it is not so big. We do not know for sure, according to Reuters. Quoting today's story by John Ruwitch, the question remains. We might find out tomorrow, or it could be two weeks: A day after North Korea said it tested a nuclear device and seismic sensors worldwide registered tremors consistent with a small test, the question remains: What exactly happened at that mountain site near the Chinese border? Many scientists and most governments concerned have yet to definitively conclude whether it was a small nuclear device, a dud test of what might have been a much larger device or even a non-nuclear explosion.
. . . In South Korea, the presidential spokesman quoted chief national security adviser Song Min-soon as saying: "It will take about two weeks to make a comprehensive assessment."
This means that we do not know how afraid to be*. One cannot read any MSM news sources to find out what the real deal is, either. Therefore, I turned to the UK's Financial Times, where the story is about the Far East's wish to find consensus about next steps, and to keep the U.S. on the track of diplomacy. To quote author David Pilling's story,
Japan was on Tuesday seeking international consensus on response to North Korea’s nuclear test, as China appeared open to the possibility of UN-led sanctions against its reclusive neighbour.
Liu Jianchao, spokesman of China’s foreign ministry, said in a press conference on Tuesday that diplomacy was still the best way to solve the nuclear crisis. But he did not repeat Beijing’s previously standard line of opposing any sanctions against Pyongyang.
The remarks showed Beijing was toughening its stance against its traditional ally. Only Monday night, Hu Jintao, China’s president, during a telephone conversation with George W. Bush, the US president, said no actions should be taken that would lead to escalation or loss of control of the situation and urged caution, dialogue and negotiation.
Big Bee #2
- the Billion Dollar BUY. Google bought YouTube, for $1 billion+. CNET News compiled a page of links about this very big deal. The headline is, "With its $1.65 billion purchase of YouTube, Google takes the lead in Internet video--and could be taking on a host of copyright troubles."
We probably do not need to be very afraid of the transaction, however. The deal may push the stock market to a new record high, according to CNN today:
Stocks popped at the open Tuesday after the announcement of a much anticipated deal by Internet bellwether Google.
The Dow Jones Industrial average edged higher in the early going. On Monday, the Dow climbed as high as 11,872.94 during the session, eclipsing the record trading high of 11,870.06 set last Thursday.
The S&P 500 index hovered above breakeven while the tech-fueled Nasdaq composite added about 0.1 percent.
*Previous posts on "fear":
This post is a kind of on-the-one-hand/on-the-other-hand dilemma. On the one hand the apparent threat of North Korea's growing nuclear capability is something about which to worry. On the other hand, the folks associated with Google, YouTube and the New York Stock Exchange are probably more excited than worried. Let us hope that the Stock Market optimism washes down to Washington, cooling our current president's jets about going to war with North Korea.Tags: bush
north-korea nuclear nuclear test republicans youtube google news news and politics
My "creative post" today at Southwest Blogger is a poem about the wishing well.
2 comments:
nah- i don't think that we have to worry. i think that kim used this whole thing as a publicity stunt. they are not ready for nuclear annhilation any more than china or russia- who would not let them do it anyway. they are sabre rattling to embarrass bush. under clinton, kim was ready to sign stuff. georgie porgie broke off talks as soon as he got into office and called north korea a part of the axis of evil. i think he got his panties in a bunch over losing face and being humiliated- and has to do something. that and he is a wee bit crazy. i doubt that he would nuke us because they don't have the military capability to follow up and their country is bankrupt.
B - Your case is compelling, and well stated. It certainly is about "face," and demands for respect, both in the region and from the U.S. This is another of those strategic mistakes that our current president made, when they decided early that the policies were to be "everything not-Clinton's way." Thanks for the comment.
Post a Comment