NEOAVATARA

Michael Ramirez is a god...

Barack Obama came to office stating that he wanted more open dialogue and face-to-face negotiations with our enemies.

Well, in a way, he got his wish.

The last few days is a perfect example when there is no punishment for bad behavior.

First, North Korea detonated their second nuclear weapon; this time, a large and successful test.  This was done several weeks after they successfully launched an ICBM, and just  a week after they successfully tested numerous smaller range missiles.  Then this week, North Korea declared that any embargo that would prevent their ships from entering and leaving the country would be considered an act of war…problematic, since the world’s main concern in the red Koreans distribution of nuclear technology.  Furthermore, it no longer considers itself bound by the 1953 truce on the Korean peninsula:  http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/27/nkorea.nuclear/index.html

North Korea’s military says it considers South Korea’s participation in a U.S.-led program to intercept ships suspected of spreading weapons of mass destruction tantamount to a declaration of war against the North.

The communist North’s military said in a statement Wednesday that it will respond with “immediate, strong military measures” if the South actually stops and searches any North Korean ships under the Proliferation Security Initiative.

The statement, carried by the North’s Korean Central News Agency, said North Korea no longer considers itself bound by the armistice that ended the Korean War, as a protest over the South’s participation.

The White House downplayed the threats, saying that it further isolated North Korea. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is warning that North Korea will face consequences because of “provocative and belligerent” actions that include threatened military attacks against U.S. and South Korean warships.   Simple question:  what consequences?  SecDef Gates said a nuclear North Korea is unacceptable…yet, like the Bush Administration, it seems their actions demonstrate acceptability, no?

Furthermore, Obama is cutting the missile defense program in lieu of all this, which is something even Democrats like former Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen disagree with.  The White House loses all credibility with thugs like Kim Jong-Il when there are administration officials stating that North Korea is not a threat to the US.  James Jones, Obama’s National Security Advisor, said just that.  One problem…the US has at least 20,000 troops in South Korea…I guess that is just collateral damage, if North Korea carries out their threats.  That is just plain stupid on multiple levels.

Then Iran has basically told the west that they will not talk at all until after their elections are over.  Seems reasonable enough, until you remember that Iran wants only one thing from the west:  Time.  They want time to enrich their nuclear fuel in order to be able to follow North Korea into the nuclear world.  Iran has clearly stated they believe the negotiations over ‘nuclear issues’ to be over; and why not?  The international community has done nothing, so Iran feels safe.  Furthermore, Ahmadinejad has somewhat called Obama’s bluff for face-to-face negotiations.  This week, he called for a head-to-head debate with Obama with the United Nations.  Now, if Obama was honest about facing his enemies head on, then what is his rationale for saying no to this request?  Furthermore, Obama has basically legitimized the Iranian nuclear program.  So Iran feels no reason to step back.

And this doesn’t even start to talk about Israel, which is not a rogue nation per se, but an ally.  But Israel is following the same roadmap.  Obama dictates a policy to them, they refuse, and Obama sits on his hands:  in this case, building in the West Bank settlements, which Netanyahu approved this week.  Or the Palestinians, who are not even a state, but are ignoring Obama.  Apparently, Abbas received an offer to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert…and refused.  How exactly does Obama feel that Israel is the player that must be forced in this scenario?  Now Obama is considering rebuking the Israelis…which is all fine, except what rebuke has Iran or North Korea received?  No wonder they ignore him.

The pattern is clear.  Obama has said talking is the essential component to achieving understanding between enemies.  And the enemies agree; because once they achieve their goals, there is nothing more to be negotiated.  What happens when you don’t negotiate from a point of strength? Everyone thinks they can challenge you…and that is exactly what is happening.

I am worried that Hillary’s 3 A.M. phone call is coming…soon.