it appears that north korea has asserted its will to become the world's 9th nuclear power. all current evidence supports north korea's claims that it successfully conducted a nuclear test at 10:36am local time. that's right. in case anyone doubted it, proof that the crazy little guy (aka kim jong-il) has got the bomb.
the official north korean central news agency (KCNA) said, "there was no danger of radioactive emissions in the course of the nuclear test as it was carried out under scientific considerations and careful calculation.” but seeing as how the safety and well-being of their people has never registered on the country's list of top priorities, i don't find their statement completely reassuring.
i'm sure the bush administration is scrambling to figure out a way to blame this, too, on clinton. but they're not fooling ME. i see it for what it is: another consequence of this administration's sheer incompetence and inability to produce a sound diplomatic and military policy. in other words, they fucked up. again.
what will be the US's response to north korea? more sanctions? military action? let's hope that the bush administration has at least learned something from iraq.
this should probably be contained in a separate blog entry, but anyways, let's review:
- Spent & approved to spend in Iraq: $505 billion of US taxpayers' funds
- Lost & Unaccounted for in Iraq: $9 billion of US taxpayers' money and $549.7 million in spare parts shipped in 2004 to US contractors
- US Troops in Iraq: 144,000
- US Troop Casualities: 2,729
- US Troops Wounded: 20,687, 20% of which are serious brain or spinal injuries
- Iraqi Civilians Killed, Estimated: 50,000 to over 100,000 but may be much higher. The UN issued a report on Sept 20, 2006 stating that Iraqi civilian casualties were significantly under-reported for at least July and August, 2006, and possibly longer.
- Iraqi Military and Police Casualties: 5,490
- Daily insurgent attacks, Feb 2004: 14
- Daily insurgent attacks, July 2005: 70
- Daily insurgent attacks, Sept 2006: 95
- Average Daily Hours Baghdad Homes Have Electricity: 5.8
- Number of Iraqi Homes Connected to Sewer Systems: 37%
- Iraqis "strongly opposed" to presence of coalition troops: 82%
- Iraqis who feel less secure because of the occupation: 67%
surely, even george bush recognizes that north korea is not iraq. iran is not iraq. the question is: what is "god" telling him to do this time?