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Subscribe to RSSPresident Obama visited the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea and said China should rein in its communist neighbor. NBC's Kristen Welker reports.
Updated at 7:50 a.m. ET: SEOUL, South Korea -- Warning North Korea from its doorstep, President Barack Obama said Pyongyang risks deepening its isolation in the international community if it proceeds with a planned long-range rocket launch.
"North Korea will achieve nothing by threats or provocations," Obama said during a news conference Sunday in Seoul, South Korea, where he was to attend a nuclear security summit.
Earlier on Sunday, South Korea said North Korea had moved a long-range ballistic rocket to its northwestern launch site in preparation for a launch, The Associated Press reported. North Korea has said it will launch a satellite into space on a long-range rocket next month as part of its peaceful space program.
Officials from the South Korean Defense Ministry and Joint Chiefs of Staff officials told the AP the information on the rocket came from the South Korean and U.S. militaries. They provided no further details and spoke on condition of anonymity, citing department rules.
Obama tells US troops at Korean DMZ: 'You guys are at freedom's frontier'
A White House official in South Korea told NBC News he could not confirm the rocket movement, saying he had not seen any U.S. intelligence reports on issue. Nobody would be surprised by such a provocation, however, the official added.
Obama spoke fresh off his first visit to the tense Demilitarized Zone, the heavily patrolled no-man's land between North and South Korea, where he peered long and hard at the isolated North.
"It's like you're in a time warp," Obama said. "It's like you're looking across 50 years into a country that has missed 40 years or 50 years of progress."
From the DMZ, Obama returned to Seoul for a private meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. Both leaders warned there would be consequences if North Korea proceeds with its plans to launch the long-range rocket next month, a move the U.S. and other powers say would violate a U.N. ban on nuclear and missile activity because the same technology could be used for long-range missiles.
President Obama paid his first visit to the tense zone separating North and South Korea amid new nuclear tensions. NNBC's Kristen Welker reports.
Obama said the launch would jeopardize a deal for the U.S. to resume stalled food aid to North Korea and may result in the tightening of harsh economic sanctions on the already-impoverished nation.
"Bad behavior will not be rewarded," Obama said. "There had been a pattern, I think, for decades in which North Korea thought if they had acted provocatively, then somehow they would be bribed into ceasing and desisting acting provocatively."
The planned rocket launch is yet another setback for the United States in years of on-again, off-again attempts to launch real negotiations. The announcement also played into Republican criticism that Obama had been too quick to jump at a new chance for talks with the North Koreans.
'Strong and prosperous nation'
North Korea wants to use the celebrations around Kim Il Sung's birthday on April 15 to showcase its emergence as a "strong and prosperous nation," even as millions go hungry and it begs for international aid. The North has planned a series of events to mark the centenary of the birth of the state's founder, including a rare ruling party conference and the controversial launch of the ballistic rocket.
Its vow to fire the rocket has put in jeopardy a deal struck in February with the United States to get food aid in return for a moratorium on long-range missile and nuclear tests.
The North's Foreign Ministry warned that it was "intolerable double standards" for some countries to assert that the North was the only nation not allowed to launch satellites while for the same countries, satellite launches were commonplace.
Analysis: Why N. Korea's planned rocket test matters
"If there will be any sinister attempt to deprive the (North) of its independent and legitimate right and put the unreasonable double standards upon it, this will inevitably compel the (North) to take countermeasures," the ministry said in a statement late on Friday.
North Korea has conducted two similar launches. The last one, in 2009, provoked outrage in Tokyo because the rocket flew over Japan. As it did three years ago, Japan says it is prepared to shoot the rocket down if it threatens its territory.
The rocket launch, which the United States and other countries say is the same as a ballistic missile test, is banned under U.N. resolutions.
Even China, North Korea's main ally, has expressed its worry over the launch, scheduled for between April 12 and April 16, and has urged the North to "stay calm and exercise restraint and avoid escalation."
The secretive North has twice tested a nuclear device, but experts doubt whether it yet has the ability to miniaturize an atomic bomb to fit inside a warhead.
NBC News, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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So let's shoot this rocket down with high powered lasers, just to 'telegraph' to the North Koreans what's waiting for them if they ever dare to militarily cross the DMZ. (We will DEW you!) - RC
Hint Hint...If you can launch a Satellite in to orbit, you can also deliver any payload imaginable, to any location on Earth...Just Saying
North Korea has said it will launch a satellite into space on a long-range rocket next month as part of its peaceful space program
It is called "Official Peeping Tom"", to see what the neighbors are doing In South Korea.
North Korea says: "....to showcase its emergence as a "strong and prosperous nation,...".
Does anyone see North Korea as a 'prosperous nation? I think not!
The whole nation of N. Korea is a shanty town, built upon lies of it's leaders and deranged dictatorial rule.
Odumbo says the Nth Korea regime firing the rocket will become isolated.
Is he realy THAT stupid. They ARE ALREADY isolated dumbo.
we will still keep the family in power, by feeding it's people, they could care less what Obama Say's, they know we will feed them for free, so they do not invade the south. p.s., they want to remain isolated, so their people will not know how the rest of the world lives.
Let them alone. We threaten, we boast, we dictate--all it does is embolden rogue nations.
North Korea hmmmmm.......They believe in high military spending and not helping or feeding the poor, sounds like Republicans would fit right in there since they just loooove high military spending and not helping the less fortunate because fox news tells them that helping others is " socialism" and deemed bad for this country. Yet the rank and file right will be on here commenting on how bad N.Korea is and how Obama is doing the wrong thing.
Go Figure.
The right has no problem slicing away at all domestic programs, yet they can find a way to feed that bloated cow, (the DoD.) They'd rather die before they would take a hit on the Offense Budget.
Funny, California is Liberal as a fuggin fruit fly, and they have their share of those, and come look at what they continue to cut first, and the most. And it isn't taxes on te rich. Your Liberal Democrats are about the piss ass poorest business folks in the world, couldn't run a lemonade stand if their life depended on it, and use conservatives money by taxing the crap out of them until they leave. Guess what California has now? Bunch of non-working broke liberals with the conservative companies and people leaving in droves. Welcome to liberal utopia. Otherwise known as purgatory.
NK has nothing to lose..They keep their people oppressed and their military lives high on the hog..
The US barely pays the military while conservatives live high on the Hog off of them..
What's Obama talking about? How can North Korea possibly become more isolated than it already is?
My son is an 0-4 with 14 years in. With his bonus that is spread over 4 years, he makes $150K/yr+ Tricare, dental, family coverage, white glove moves. His off base housing allowance for his zip code is $2200/mth. How much is enough? I know the defense contractors get an automatic check of $36B/mth on cost plus contracts, but it's totally a runaway train.
you didn't say what branch or station. sounds like Hawaii with that baha. and yes you are right, if you add the cost of tricare, dental, etc., he is doing well for himself, And his country. btw, thank him for us for his service.
With North Korea asking for aid is this really what theay should be doing? DUH?
How are all of those UN sanctions working out for Obama? This article just proves the lack of any real power the UN has. The North Korean's are going to do what they want just like Iran.
When are these yo-yo's going to learn sanctions do not work. It's Ok to negotiate but there comes a time when muscles must be flexed, like a shot across the bow of a ship, as a warning.
As cynical says, after a certain point, sanctions become a joke. Once you're isolated, well; you're isolated! Threats are hollow because you cannot take something from someone who has nothing.
Stupid liberals can't get it, you have to have a little carrot to go with the stick.
It never ceases me the depths people will go to "Save Face"
*Pride- The Original Sin- or Adam is not to blame!
We can just stop feeding these people. Let Pot Bellied Pig the 2cnd worry about feeding his people instead of building nukes and their delivery systems.
sandtrich; it has been many years since i left the service; however a Major like your son, does not make 150K per year, even top in grade it is closer to 98K per year; you must also be including the housing and off base allowance, tell your son to stay in, military life is a good career.
If they do fire the missile, Obama will just apologize for offending the North Koreans.
It certainly sounds like NK has been taking lessons from the U.S.
Our nation has become nothing more than a bunch of warmongers.
Millions are unemployed and living in the streets, but we can't cut our defence budget.
We have really left a legacy for our grandchildren haven't we?
We could always stop giving them money. the south gives them billions a year to support the starvation of their citizens. we could always push our luck and stop paying them. they are just punks and quite frankly need a good ass whipping. remember the warship they blew in half? payback could be a b!tch.
"Bad behavior will not be rewarded,"
Really? It always has in the past.
Does anyone think NK's new leader will 'back down' against Obama? The same thing will happen this time as in the past. NK will do what they want, and Obama will offer bigger concessions to 'entice' them to act nice, and the Republicans will expose Obama as 'weak'.
N. Korea has been isolated since 1950. Does it mean more now just because Odumbo said it?
Why are we feeding the poor in their country, when we have 1 out of every 6 americans with hunger issues and god only knows how many homeless people there are.
If I were NK I would be so scared. The great Obama is now speaking!! Should I pee my pants now or wait until he apologizes.
Lt Cdr and you had better check military pay charts. Nuke background, MS from Old Dominion, BS in Mech Eng from Auburn, all college was done while receiving E5 pay, instant commission to Ensign upon graduation from Auburn and at sea now--yes, over $150K. Point is, I know what I'm saying is true, but you're off the mark. Just google the pay charts, and add $40K/year for the bonus paid yearly on the last resign. 3rd generation Navy.
Ah ted, 2 out of 6 are obese. There is plenty and to spare, we don't need more, we just need to spread what we have around a little. Every body would be a little healthier.
Oduby is a wet sack of meringue, and they know it.
lusitania---The US barely pays the military while conservatives live high on the Hog off of them
how are conservatives living high off the military? or any higher than everyone else?
i believe they launched missle in 09 shortly of him warning them then
Hell, they been launching 'em since 1993. No one has done anything about it yet. 2006 Bush rushed one or two US ships to Japan after a launch, and that was it. Generally everyone talks a lot, but that's all. Let China take care of 'em.
roywilson-- Obama will offer bigger concessions and the Republicans will expose Obama as 'weak'.
does it really take a republican to expose him as weak? the whole world could figure that out.
sandtrisch; did check it out lt.cmdr. (major), yes with the bonus it is close to the number you said; great, they earn every bit of it, I remember when my pay was 1800 per month, i thought i had died and gone to heaven; my dad , a navy mster. chief, 38 years, his retirement was good, died about 18 years ago.
Saxon--it would check out, because it's true. You hit an interesting point. When my son is in port, he leaves his house at 4am and gets home just in time to kiss his daughter goodnight. He does this 6 days a week and puts in 6 hours on Sunday. He keeps his body in tremendous condition, is honest, and is a leader. I think, even in these economic times, he'd be a great asset to the private sector.
I firmly believe that we need to downsize the military, regardless of my son's service.
If the N. Koreans even attempt to launch their rocket, Obama should immediately cancel any food shipments being planned. But he probably won't. He'll continue with the appeasement attempts, kinda like the class nerd with a 'Kick Me' sign taped to his back.
@ Catzenjammer:
I doub that it really is for war purposes. They have asked the US to help them with food, in exchange, they will stop their nuclear weapons program. The US can find out very quickly if that is true. They actually may need a few satellites for spying, as well as other needs - telecommunications, for instance-
It is probably a good idea to give other countries teh benefit of the doubt -Let's remember our lesson of Weapons of Mass Destruction mistake-
That's what Neville Chamberlin said about Adolf Hitler and the Nazis in 1938.
That's what Neville Chamberlin said about Adolf Hitler and the Nazis in 1938.
The best way to find out is for you to go and join the military. Then you will have no doubts. As long as people like you keep having "conspiracy "theories about everybody else, we will NEVER stop the dumb, unprovoked wars. Don't send others to find out for you, just to come back in a coffin, and then find out that they were NOT DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO US.
By the way, your neighbors may have bombs in his basement...Have you check them lately? Who knows! Buying fertilizer for the yard is a bad sign....Remember McVeigh?
You know what happened the last time somone sent N Korea a bunch of food? China, a few years ago, sent a few trainloads of food to NK. Kim Jong Il gave the food to his armies and kept the trains. The only way I would think appropriate for us to send food under the existing track record would be for whoever sends it to also be in charge of giving it out. How much you want to bet that NK would refuse it? You also mentioned a satellite for telecommunications. For what? For the millions of people living there that don't even have power? Cell phones for regular people are banned there. Have you ever seen a satellite photo of NK at night? Hint, it's the blank swath between SK and China.
And we should have stayed out WW2. We should have let them fight amongst themselves, as Europeans have been doing since the beginning of history. Same thing with North Korea - none of our concern, none of our business. Cut off aid, leave them alone, let them fight it out. Is a 50 year stalemate really helping anyone?
bob douglas, YOU ARE A FREAKIN MORON
Bob, you forgot one important factor on WWll; Pearl Harbor! Do you think that was pulled off by the Jews too?
Some damn left winger said "trust but Verify", but during the Clinton Admn. it was all trust and no verify.
We were sending food and the norks were building bombs.
It was only Pearl Harbor I guess... We should have just let that one go huh??? What a DA
"Trust but Verify" was Ronald Reagan during his administration. But by today's standards in the republican party, Reagan was a left-winger.
Obviously more important than "the starving masses" we always hear so much about..
Lets knock this crap off...we are indirectly building his nuclear missile program..
Duhhh
This little dictator is tireing, and so was his father. Another one who looks like he's trying to start WW3.
North Korea & World Message In Regards To A Better Road To Travel Together In A World That We All Share.
"CHILDREN SEEKING WORLD PEACE" (Short Film Script)
Opening Scene;
We see the Outside of the United Nations Building next we see a man dressed in a suite carrying a brief case walking into the building he approaches the Desk of the Chairman of the United Nations, pulls out a very large manila envelope and hands it to the Chairman. The Chairman opens the envelope, reads the paper work and scratches his head, looks up at the Special Carrier with a bewildered look on his face and says; Wow this is an Extremely Unusual Request and it comes from very unusual sources this is a First for me.
Carrier
What do you mean unusual request, who sent the letter ?
Chairman
Did you notice the Post Marks on this letter ?
Carrier
Yes I did, and it also has so many different kinds of stamps on it from around the World.
I have never seen so many Stamps on one envelope in my life, so who is it from and what are they want ?
Chairman
It appears that they are following up on an idea that originated from a Film Script Writer in America who came up with an Idea of writing a short Film Script he Calls "Children Seeking World Peace" The writer posted it on line and some of the Country Leaders around the World liked the idea so that they implemented it.
Carrier
Implement what ?
Chairman
Every Country in the World picked two Young Students from one of their schools a boy and a girl to represent their Country and are asking for a "SPECIAL UNITED NATION'S MEETING" that will be attended by all of the Leaders in the World but this is the Catch.
The adults are not to speak at this meeting, only the Children will be allowed to speak at this Special meeting called "CHILDREN SEEKING WORLD PEACE"
Carrier
Wow, I see what you mean when you said an unusual request and that is comes from an unusual source you were right about that.
Chairman
There's more this request gets even more stranger they are requesting that we install a large garden area next to the United Nation Building before this meeting takes place that we don't plant anything in the garden area just leave it bare dirt, there are to be small signs placed every two feet next to the rows in this garden area with the names of each Country in the World next to each one of these signs there will also be a watering can containing water.
Carrier
Do you think that the Board will consider this bizarr & unusual request ?
Chairman
Yes I do after all these are the Children of the World, the next Generation seeking the opportunity for them to be part of the Peace Process from their Generation and we should give them the opportunity to do so.
Scene Two;
We see the inside of the United Nations building where many young children are standing paired off one boy and one girl facing all of the Adult Leaders from around the World these Children are from all walks of life all different nationalities and all dressed differently.
Every Girl is holding a small pot containing a different flower in it in one hand and a small shovel in their other hand.
Each Boy is holding a small pot containing a different kind of plant in one hand and a small shovel in his other hand.
(all of these flowers and plants are beautiful and very colorful)
Every Boy & Girl from their Country are wearing Name tags with their Countries names on the tags. The Children are just standing there in silence.
The inside of this building is silent at first then we hear whispers coming from the Adult Leaders, what is this all about, what do they want, this is strange.
Next we see a girl step forward from the row of children following behind her is another girl and a boy they are all three standing there for a minute and the room gets silent.
Then the boy speaks,
I have been chosen to speak on behalf of all of the Children in this room. We are standing here before all of you representing the Worlds Next Generation, Your Worlds Next Generation. We only have a few words to say to all of you here today.
All of us had several things that we wanted to say to all of you today but we all decided that words are not enough without all of Our WORLD LEADERS making a Solid Commitment to end all Wars in Our World Today ! ! !
So, we only have three words to say to all of you here today... " PLEASE JUST STOP"
(one of the girls standing next to this young boy translates this message in all languages)
The three young children stand there for a minute in silence then one of the two girls step forward she says, we only have one more request to ask from all of you in this building today, please follow us to the garden area located just outside this building.
(the other girl translates this request in all languages)
The other children in the building follow the three children exiting the building followed by the Adults.
Third Scene;
We see all of the children lined up still holding their flowers and plants in one hand and their shovels in their other hand they are paired off one boy and one girl standing along side of the garden rows facing their Countries signs that are placed in two foot sections of their Special Garden.
(we see all of the Adult Leaders standing around this garden in groups whispering to each other we can't make out what they are saying to each other but they have a confused look on their faces)
Next the same Girl that spoke earlier in the building is holding a flower in one hand and a small shovel in her other hand says, I would like all of the Adult Leaders from their Countries to stand in front of their Countries signs facing each of us. (translated by the girl standing next to this girl)
The Adult Leaders line up in front of their Countries garden signs facing these children then every child bends down at the same time and digs a small hole in the ground in their two foot section of this Special Garden. (each two foot garden section now has two small holes dug in them and everyone is silent)
Next we see the same girl that spoke earlier stand up after digging her hole in the garden she hands her Adult Counter Part Leader her Potted Flower and says, each one of these Flowers that all of us has brought here today Represent WORLD PEACE for Our Future.
she continues..
All of the Children Around the World requested this SPECIAL UNITED NATIONS MEETING to beg all of the Leaders of Our world to help us Plant our Flowers here today to end all Wars in our World Immediately and all of the Plants that the Boys brought here today represent Commitment To Do So.
(translated again by the girl standing next to her)
Next we see the Boy that spoke earlier at the meeting hand his Adult Counter Part his potted plant then the Girl that is speaking looks over at all of the other Children that are still standing next to their garden and she nodes her head.
Then, All of the Children say the words together, in their own languages in a loud & begging tone. "PLEASE JUST STOP"
Next, We see all of the Children reach in their pockets, pull out a small bag and pour out a few of seeds into each of their Adult Counter Parts hands.
The Girl speaker then says,
we are giving all of you our seeds to take home with you so you can plant them in your gardens as a reminder of your Commitment all of you made here today to; END ALL WARS In Our World IMMEDIATELY..THESE SEEDS ALSO REPRESENT FORGIVENESS for without forgiveness there can be no PEACE, so please pass these seeds on to your transgressor so the Peace Process can begin. (translated by the girl standing next to her)
Last Scene
We see all of the Adult Leaders bent down next to the Children planting the Children's Flowers & Plants together in their "Special World Peace Garden" Located in Front Of the "UNITED NATIONS BUILDING"
Fade Out..
Written by, Michael V. Caldwell, Always Striving To Be Part Of The Solution, Using Respect & Common Sense As My Guidelines To Follow At All Times...
Respectfully,Thank all of You, for taking the time to read this IMPORTANT & Very Badly Needed message.
"DREAM BIG DO BIG"
________________________________________________________________________________________
"ROAD TO PEACE" (film short story)
Opening Scene: (filmed in black & white, silent film)
We see an old Soldier walking down a dirt road with a machine gun under his arm
and carrying his young son on his shoulders.
The young boy and his father are dressed in their combat clothing and the boy
also has a machine gun gun tucked under his arm, suddenly they stop.
(our camera pans to a person sitting on a large rock on the side of the road)
We see the back of this person only, the person is wearing a black hooded robe
with their hood raised up.
(we pan back to the old soldier and his son)
The old soldier places his son on the road then pushes him in the direction
of the hooded stranger.
The young boy walks cautiously up to the stranger with his gun drawn
upwards as he gets closer we notice the person is small in stature then the boy
points
the gun at the back of the strangers head.
The stranger turns around slowly then we see it is a young girl, the girl
is the same age as the boy.
The young girl places a daisy in the barrel of the boy's gun.
(at that instant our film changes to color and remains in color)
Next, we see they young boy standing there with a blank look on his face he
then drops the gun on the ground, the gun vanishes and where the gun was we see
three books there instead.
The boy picks up the books curiously, then turns and looks in the direction
where his father was with an astonishment look.
(we show a close-up on boys face then we pan our camera to the father)
The boy's father is now standing there dressed in a white shirt and slacks and
holding sets of plans tucked under his arm in the place of a gun.
(we pan back to boy and girl)
We see the boy standing there dressed in the same attire as his father, with
three books tucked under his arm in place of his gun staring at the girl that
is still sitting on the rock, the girl has long curly brown hair and is now
wearing white clothing, she also has three books sitting next to her.
Closing Scene:
We see the backs of all three of them walking down the road towards the setting
sun, the boy and the girl are holding hands both of them carrying three books
tucked under their arms.
The father has three sets of building plans tucked under his arm and is walking
with his head up high..
Fade Out End...Or Beginning Of A Brighter Badly Needed Future For Our World.
Yeah, these ideas are great ideas. Unfortunately, they would never work in our screwed up world. Might as well give everyone a coke and we can all become friends.
we will all sit around the campfire, hold hands and sing kumbiyah
Yeah, very touching and idealistic. Now open your eyes, look at the world around you, and grow up!
Nice idea, but we are moving closer and closer to futures portrayed in movies like Soylent Green and 1984. Human nature defies peace.
If humanity were to ever have a chance, world population would have to be reduced by 6 billion.
I was thinking the same thing lilbear. Sounds like something dreamed up while wearing bell bottoms and wearing flowers in your hair.
What's wrong with everybody? Thinking was trying to be sincere, had a subject dear to his heart to spread and you ridicule his intentions? Tell him to 'grow up'..? Have we all gone THAT far? Pessimism isn't a good word but it's being used to the hilt today by both sides, both parties. Sure, what 'Thinking' related is not apt to come to fruition, but not for lack of his trying but more a lack of your confidence. I blame it on our leaders and the media that's owned by the elite. We're being used.. manipulated into becoming a segregated Nation (devoid of color as manipulation is color blind) and we don't even realize it's happening that easy. And here we are belittling another because of our disappointment, our lack of unification and we're revving up to replace (or retain) an ineffective leadership with yet another four year run-around. Let's at least be more sympathetic with our own countrymen. 'Thinking".. I for one appreciate your contributions.
It makes me sick to see Hussein obama anywhere near our gallant troops.He is such a liar and seems to resent American values such as the Constitution.
You have no idea what you're talking about. You are the reason why we can't figure out our differences and get along better. It's people like you that need to wake up to reality and get over your partisan brainwashed mentality.
Pres. Obama must be a masochist too, spending all those years studying the Constitution he resents so much. Makes perfect sense to me.
Let me guess, Sammy. You've never served.
And DW could readily stand for Dim Wit.
Hey Sammy, President Barack Obama has probably lied less than any of us simply because every word he speaks is recorded and replayed forever especially if he says something and can't back it up. Just think if you had to work with people who felt the word COMPROMISE meant you are a TRAITOR or you are STUPID because your view for solving a problem is different than theirs. As much as I did not Like GW II he still received the respect of the office by most people especially form other public leaders. If anything whether you agree with his positions or not he has worked to maintain respectability for the office and toward others. Disagree with his approach sure OK, but don't blindly label him as anti-american we have went down that rabbit hole before were people were vilified and it never turns out pretty. Sammy you are probably a good person but even you know you have made mistakes it just when you make a mistake no one but you knows...Peace Love and I am glad you are an American!!
Oduby is a wet sack of meringue, and they know it.
Wow, dudogger, do you always turn on your friends like that? Or were you just too lazy to check out some of my other posts (as I did yours) before lashing out? Or is sarcasm just wasted on you?
I think it's about time we had WWIII! I'm sick of overpopulation and human greed. Let's just kill each other and get it over with...the planet would be much better off. We need a check and balance or else...
Isn't that what Archie Bunker used to say? We need wars, famines and disasters to keep the population in check.
No, he said God did those things to keep population in check.
You're right. I stand corrected. I think that was Pat Robertson's favorite show.
Well unfortunately, Archie was just a parody of the kind of mentalities we have to live with everyday in the REAL world.
So why is the GOP against birth control, Oh, so their friends can sell weapons forgot about that ........
Rick:
It would be nice if you could offer something constructive to the dialogue instead of just throwing baseless insults, calling names, and making false unsubstantiated statements. Saying negative untrue things only makes you look bad and hurts chances for constructive discussion.
@Al Derosier: I found nothing untrue or negative about what Rick said. Why are republicans against women deciding whether or not they want the right of their own choice regarding birth control?
Sammy: didnt you read the part when it said that the troops CHEERED THE PRESIDENT??? It seems THEY like him even if you dont'
Besides, this isnt about Obama, it's about those oft forgotten troops, who are really are at freedom's frontier, who dont get the thanks they deserve for helping protect the South Korean people! Send a LOUD THANK YOU to our troops in Korea! They dont get the recognition they deserve!
PS: Remember: it was BUSH who said "stop waving the constitution in my face!!!! It's only a goddamned piece of paper!!!"
It's an MSNBC article... of course the troops cheered.. Seeing as how I'm a troop, I'm sure it was golf claps
Here we go again! That little P.O.S. should be assasinated! How could the entire populace of N. Korea put up with the starvation rations of a dictator? I never have figured that one out. And i was stationed in S. Korea twice.
Creepy. I guess the way the world deals with DPRK isn't working, so what will? Considering their choice is to develop nukes or starve, I guess they have more reason to want to go nuclear than not. Isolation, embargo and sanctions have created more psychopathic tyrants than any other tool in the diplomatic arsenal. The world created that monster.
I don't see a problem here. Let them build their missiles and starve. In a decade or so, we will have a semi-developed country that we can walk in and take over.
All this posturing is stupid. Either deal with it or leave them to their vises. China should take the opportunity to expand their boarders like they did with Tibet.
It amazes me how polarizing Obama is. He reminds me of Kyle Bush, Nascar fans either love him or hate him. The man could $#$% a gold brick and somebody would say it wasn't shiny enough. Its his fault that you don't have a job, its his fault the North Koreans have had idiotic leadership for years and still do, its his fault that congress has done absolutely nothing and in the same breath you say he can't take responsibility for killing OBL, that he gets no credit for ending the war in Iraq, for the slowly recovering economy in the midst of a international money crunch that has seen the once strong European union brought to its knees, for not going to war with Libya, Syria, or Iran and for trying to end the war in Afghanistan as soon as possible. Most of the "troops" I speak with, respect the man because he respects the fact that they have given up their freedom and safety so that the rest of Americans can have theirs. They know he would not send them to fight and die unless there was no other way, and even old generals respect that, weather he served or not.
It's insecurity and racist hate, pure and simple. They see themselves quickly becoming the minority and having less and less control and influence. They hate the fact we actually are 'the great melting pot' and they can't handle it. For some idiotic reason they thought 'give us your tiered, your poor, your huddled masses' only applied to white people. Obama symbolizes all this to them and he's black to boot and THEY CAN'T HANDLE IT.
MMC(SS) Nicely put. I agree with your comment Sir.
We definitely have "your tired and poor huddled masses", haven't you ever been to Detroit?
It infuriates me that people cannot see past color and political affiliations for the better good of even themselves. The US is the only industrialized nation that does not offer health care. Instead, a plan to make insurance companies richer was forced down our throat. The Supreme Court will take care of the individual mandate, but that still doesn't change the fact that individual greed has trumped the greater good of our population. IDIOTS!!
Raven, taking in the rest of the worlds was not good enough. We decided we had to make a bunch of our own!
Uh, Brian, Psst. He's half white! But in your defense he sucks on both halfs!
Yeah, but the problem for the people who hate him is it's that's not the half that shows! BTW, I don't think it's all love and hate. Those are just the people who tend to be the most vocal so it's tends to sound that way. I've talked to plenty on both sides who are pretty ambivalent about him. But I definitely think my point holds for those that do hate him. It sure doesn't take a lot of reading between the lines with those.
Obama was handed a country that was DESTROYED by Reagan and both bushes. If Amurdica is even save-able, its gonna take twenty years of good leadership like we have now, Its been screwed since 1980, Its gonna take more than one term to patch up what they left him with.
This is about global safety, and you racist hicks keep bringing up Obama as if he put us here. He just got here ! And half the things he tries to do gets so chopped up and mangled by all the petty little politicians that we all end up suffering.
Most of these countries probably hate us because of our blatant greed in the 80s (reagan) and the just unbelievable corruption and stupidity of the bush years that we will never recover from.
i do agree with you on many points but two. your right on bush, one and two. they was both more war hungry than country leaders. i disagree on reagan. he was one of our best presidents, here and abroad. the other thought, you said racist hicks. if your not racist, what would you call a group 'hicks' or anyone a hick. not being racist, but then pointing out people by a slang term, gives the reader the 'dah' thought. just saying.
your other thought. half the things get chopped up and mangled by the politicians. your are very right on that. one side will chop the others just to progress their own agenda and visa versa. resulting in all the gridlock we now have.
Reagan was nothing but a puppet.
He was an actor remember?
He helped to put policies in motion that have ruined our country, and people say he's the best president?
I guess some people didn't see the bread lines and free government handouts during his watch.
His trickle down disaster is still trickling on the working class of our once great country.
Very well said TM2(SS) USS Sculpin SSN590
good post mmcss-so true so true.too bad there are some brainwashed,fox educated,racist dumbasses out there.
few months back obama makes deal with north koreans that involved no more missle launches for food and its really paying off now i mean no point in appeaseing north korea it failed many times in past. high sanctions and complete isolation is only way. Appeasement doesnt work with them and north korea always their nuke and missle tech to any nation that wants it. Syria 2007 north korea building nuke site there and this was after deal was made and world didnt want to believe it cause they didnt want go back and deal with them again. North korea will continue to violate international laws and im pissed that obama deal to give them food for what so they can use rest of their own money for military means. Obama that was epic fail
It was Theodore Roosevelt who said "Speak softly and carry a big stick" Stop trying to negotiate with the likes of North Korea and Iran. Who are we to say that these countries can't do whatever they want within their own borders. Who died and made U.S. god. At the same time, if any of them use those weapons in an offensive manner (fire one at somebody), blow them off the face of the planet. A relentless barrage of armament (no boots on the ground needed) would fix that problem. With 12 aircraft carriers, a vastly superior air force and nuclear submarines North Korea and Iran would be hapless. Negotiating allows them to continue their bad behavior.
Look at all the lives lost in the trade centers, and even recent in Afghan. sitting behind desks murdered in cold blood, what's the difference? where is there family's money. If you want to compare Innocent lives lost i think they should owe us much more. We need to pull out of those countries and deal with our own problems that we have here in the States. We need to reconstruct Our Government and get rid of all the money Hungry Politicians that Know what is best for US. LOL
Good thought but it is not the money hungry politicians that run this country. It is the corporate lobbyists. That put them in office.
Paul - You ought to read these testimonials from military officers. 9/11 was an inside job. http://www.militaryofficersfor911truth.org/
RalphH. Oh boy, here we go again.
Rallph go outside right now, the sky is green.
Yeah what would you do KrazyD . What is your ansewer?
Diplomacy should always be first.
Bringing a country to its knees by isolating and starving innocent brain washed people in the hopes of a revolution is inhumane. It might be better for us in terms of attrition but it enslaves the world in fear as well. Lets brain this out, how is a quick and decisive war worse than making a country suffer slowly to punish its leaders?
It is called China and Russia. This would not be a quick and decisive war
Russia and China are part of the world community too and have just as much to gain from non-proliferation efforts.
Absolutely right once. I don't hear the refrain "all options are on the table" with regard to N Korea. That is a positive sign. Apparently, we are not as worried about N Korea as we are Iran, a nation that our own intelligence agencies say is not working on a nuclear device.
I guess AIPAC doesn't care as much about a threat from N Korea.
60 years of isolation hasn't worked
Not since the Cuban Missle Crisis have we had such a chilling message. President Obama's chilling assessment that the action could isolate North Korea. Let us hope and pray that the President does not let that happen. Nothing could be more dangerous in this world than an isolated North Korea.
Katlan Jones, Good Post and if I remember correctly Russia backed Cuba. If so, President Obama will be
tested like JFK and that will indeed be a time warp. There will be a meeting between the two on Monday
and I hope and pray that it is successful. Quoting from Tom Clancy, One way or another we all fight for the
things we believe in. Doesn't that give us some common gound" Let's hope they do the math and get
the right answer. Last chance, maybe, before Armageddon is at our door, or WW3 depening on one's
worldview
The US is the only country in the world that has ever used a nuclear weapon. The US has killed more people on Earth than any other nation in all it's wars, if anyone we should be isolating America. Put that in your pipe and smoke it you arrogant Americans....
Yeah but look what George Bush did.
Warren, don't really know what country you are from but if you are European, I would think you would be more grateful for this great nation. After all we did save your a$$es less than 70 years ago. If it wasn't for the United States military you would have a swastika shoved up so far up your a$$ you wouldn't be able to speak.
Your welcome!
if you don't like america, get the hell out
What you don't know is Obama didn't really care to do this trip but knows his reelection is in trouble and has to make it seem like he's taking on issues.
I'm glad you know this . Have you talked to the President lately?
theQ54, next time you have a talk with the President please tell him I challange him to a one on one on the basketball court. I hear he's pretty damn good.
oncearepub
"Have you talked to the President lately?"
You have? Whata guy...
I just can't understand why the American public still think an agreement can be reached with North Korea through diplomacy. It's time to dust off the nukes and move ahead with a strike should they test launch. North Korea has nothing and the US could make good use in giving their land to South Korea after it is cleared off.
Sure in another 200 years after the air clears.
Knock it down. Quietly. Why? So they can run around for weeks wondering why their satellite malfunctioned. Waste their time and efforts. If they haven't been starved out yet, we need to force the issue.
Well? Where are the Obama bumper stickers now? The people who elected him into office should be ashamed but they wanted change. Lets elect someone with a U.S. Birth Certificate so we know he will be on our side.
Already got my bumper stciker. Guess you haven't heard. but he has a birth certificate. good old Fox.
I have a coffee mug with his birth certificate on it.
Tropiccafe, you want to nuke North Korea and give the radioactive contaminated land to S. Korea, now you bring up the U.S. Birth Certificate of the President of the United States.
Your I.Q. must be higher than Albert Einstein's. Just a brilliant human being, you are.
Keep up the bad work.
Toasty, would that be a copy of his true Kenyan birth certificate or the faux Hawaii certificate? Take your pick. :)
You know, the funny thing is I actually know the guy who made the fake "Kenyan" one. You have NO idea how hard I laughed when the birther morons tried to get it admitted into the court.
Paper Tiger
Oduby is a wet sack of meringue, and they know it.
Yea I heard he was going to send you over Boby-1851312 to serve America but you chickened out.
qet outa ya mammies basement emwad Ive been there and served that.