North Korea

[chenGOD]

have you read those books yet? no? get to it man.

 

also maybe pick up a couple of books on international relations and/or political theory. might help you understand why nation states act the way they do.

[goDel]

the NK leadership isnt crazy. they're not gonna start a war cause they know they would be wiped out in a hurry.

and yeah headcount doesn't really matter...especially with the NK troops being underfed. a month is optimistic.

But what are the odds they go for the all or nothing tactic, even though they know it'll be nothing? Isn't that the concern? Aren't we coming closer to the point where there needs to be only one freak accident at the Korean border which could infuse total mayhem?

 

The point that was made here in the local media, btw, was that the NK government needs an anti- us sentiment, or at least a common fear for some gigantic enemy in order to survive. It might be the only thing giving them the legitimacy to remain in power.

 

To say the NK leadership isn't crazy is a bit silly if you take into account how they treat its citizens. So they're plenty crazy, but understand the consequences of a decision to start a war would be a better description?

[syd syside]

have you read those books yet? no? get to it man.

 

also maybe pick up a couple of books on international relations and/or political theory. might help you understand why nation states act the way they do.

 

All I know is there is something absurd going on if people start saying I'm crazy for being pro-US or a serial killer is crazy, but a totalitarian regime like NK aren't crazy. You are ass backwards on this imo

Edited April 12, 2013 by compson

[syd syside]

 

the NK leadership isnt crazy. they're not gonna start a war cause they know they would be wiped out in a hurry.

and yeah headcount doesn't really matter...especially with the NK troops being underfed. a month is optimistic.

So they're plenty crazy, but understand the consequences of a decision to start a war would be a better description?

 

 

It would be, but someone who lacks empathy on that scale probably eventually will lack empathy for themselves. Self-destructive

 

In the early stages of the Iraq War, George Galloway -- a British Member of Parliament and an inveterate America-hater -- gave voice to the mindset underlying the socialist left's alliance with radical Islam. Galloway was asked: "You often call for uniting Muslim and progressive forces globally. How far is it possible under current situation?" He replied:

 

"Not only do I think it's possible but I think it is vitally necessary and I think it is happening already. It is possible because

the progressive movement around the world and the Muslims have the same enemies.

Their enemies are the Zionist occupation, American occupation, British occupation of poor countries mainly Muslim countries. They have the same interest in opposing savage capitalist globalization which is intent upon homogenizing the entire world turning us basically into factory chickens which can be forced fed the American diet of everything from food to Coca-Cola to movies and TV culture. And whose only role in life is to consume the things produced endlessly by the multinational corporations. And the progressive organizations & movements agree on that with the Muslims.... So on the very grave big issues of the day-issues of war, occupation, justice, opposition to globalization-the Muslims and the progressives are on the same side."

 

 

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=291

 

 

This speaks volumes about the current state of the new left/progressives

Edited April 12, 2013 by compson

[chenGOD]

right...self destructive. which is why of course three generations of Kims have destroyed themselves.

If they're crazy, how did they go about developing a cult of personality and maintaining it for 60 years?

 

goDel: by your measure then the US government must be crazy too, considering thy have the highest number of prisoners both on total and per capita? and they put people in jail for possessing a plant that grows everywhere!! or did you mean the starvation issue? well yes the impact of the drought could have been lessened. no denying that. and no denying that some of the NK government's economic prescriptions have been puzzling. however the sanctions imposed by the US certainly didn't help that situation either.

 

anyways it's a complex issue with no simple solution. but one thing i am certain of: economic and humanitarian engagement is infinitely more valuable than bombing the crap out fo them.

[awepittance]

re: Compson's above post: lol what? I understand you have a bug up your ass about this invented concept of the 'new left' but what in god's name does this have to do with North Korea? Is that some sort of stealth response to Chengod saying the NK leadership isn't crazy?

Edited April 12, 2013 by John Ehrlichman

[syd syside]

right...self destructive. which is why of course three generations of Kims have destroyed themselves.

If they're crazy, how did they go about developing a cult of personality and maintaining it for 60 years?

 

 

Easy... if Hitler would have won WW2....

 

Which is why intervening is potentially the only real solution.

Edited April 12, 2013 by compson

[awepittance]

I think Compson's got me on ignore now, I just wish he'd stop fucking up my threads and ignore those as well!

[syd syside]

I just wish he'd stop fucking up my threads and ignore those as well!

 

Islamic Fascism.

 

This is a free/public space. Sorry bra, take it up with the mods if you think I am off topic.

Edited April 12, 2013 by compson

[syd syside]

goDel: by your measure then the US government must be crazy too, considering thy have the highest number of prisoners both on total and per capita? and they put people in jail for possessing a plant that grows everywhere!! or did you mean the starvation issue? well yes the impact of the drought could have been lessened. no denying that. and no denying that some of the NK government's economic prescriptions have been puzzling. however the sanctions imposed by the US certainly didn't help that situation either.

 

lol and I missed this little nugget...

 

You said NK leadership isn't crazy.

 

Then you go on a rant about how evil the US is.

 

Then you defend NK government. lol..

 

Also, I can be Pro-US and still find aspects of US policy crazy... But unlike NK, we have freedoms and don't get thrown into concentration camps for saying words. Therefore in my opinion its a little offensive to North Koreans to say the NK leadership isn't crazy

Edited April 12, 2013 by compson

[goDel]

right...self destructive. which is why of course three generations of Kims have destroyed themselves.

If they're crazy, how did they go about developing a cult of personality and maintaining it for 60 years?

 

goDel: by your measure then the US government must be crazy too, considering thy have the highest number of prisoners both on total and per capita? and they put people in jail for possessing a plant that grows everywhere!! or did you mean the starvation issue? well yes the impact of the drought could have been lessened. no denying that. and no denying that some of the NK government's economic prescriptions have been puzzling. however the sanctions imposed by the US certainly didn't help that situation either.

 

anyways it's a complex issue with no simple solution. but one thing i am certain of: economic and humanitarian engagement is infinitely more valuable than bombing the crap out fo them.

 

Not sure why saying NK-government is crazy needs to be rebutted with an US-government is crazy as well argument. Those are independent instances, with largely independent problems. The way NK-civilians are living can't be defended by the way other governments deal with their society.

 

And isn't there a bit of irony in the statement that economic and humanitarian engagement is infinitely more valuable? If the US would engage economically, it would be either seen as the Darth Vader of capitalism turning over NK to the dark side, or it would be seen tas the US supporting a dictatorial regime (?) in NK. At least, that's what I would expect would be the interpretation of any involvement of the US internationally at this forum. Please shoot me in the head for exaggerating.

[SR4]

this place has gone insane.

[spratters]

I hope that's the last time anyone ever uses a quote from George Galloway on here. Man's a buffoon.

[zkom]

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2013/04/north-korean-missile-test-delayed-by-windows-8.html?mbid=social_mobile_FBshare

 

A source close to the North Korean regime reported that Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un is furious about the Windows 8 problems and is considering a number of options, including declaring war on Microsoft.

 

[zkom]

[syd syside]

North Korea Says Tokyo Is Target No. 1

 

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2013/04/north-korea-targets-tokyo/64163/

 

Damn wtf can't Japan catch a break? FFS

[triachus]

[syd syside]

Kyodo News English

NEWS ADVISORY: Transport ministry issues advisory for flights near U.S. base in Okinawa

 

 

Their target list:

DC
Colorado Springs
Camp Pendleton in Cali
Hawaii

[pattern recognition]

[Friendly Foil]

Most begins of all time.

[Lane Visitor]

 

goDel: by your measure then the US government must be crazy too, considering thy have the highest number of prisoners both on total and per capita? and they put people in jail for possessing a plant that grows everywhere!! or did you mean the starvation issue? well yes the impact of the drought could have been lessened. no denying that. and no denying that some of the NK government's economic prescriptions have been puzzling. however the sanctions imposed by the US certainly didn't help that situation either.

 

lol and I missed this little nugget...

 

You said NK leadership isn't crazy.

 

Then you go on a rant about how evil the US is.

 

Then you defend NK government. lol..

 

Also, I can be Pro-US and still find aspects of US policy crazy... But unlike NK, we have freedoms and don't get thrown into concentration camps for saying words. Therefore in my opinion its a little offensive to North Koreans to say the NK leadership isn't crazy

 

 

i'm with compson on this. calling a crazy leader like kju and the kims before him crazy because he does crazy fucked up shit to his people is 100% fine by me- don't care how "simplified" or "non-academic" or "inaccurate" it may sound. of course, yes, he may not be classified as "legally insane" to where he'd be likely to have tendencies to kill himself, but i can't help but think of an adam lanza type of persona when it comes to someone so misanthropic/warped. ok yes my use of "misanthropic" is not "accurate" by definition since the nk leadership is nationalistic/racially focused and more fascist than misanthropic, but isnt the nk leaderships warped values and hateful outlook possibly enough of a reason to be skeptical about the inner workings of a mind like that-- that someone so twisted would do something ridiculous like go all out with nukes?

 

i love how the far left once called dubya a nazi and would compare him to bin laden but then many people on the far left tread around the issue of how inhumane a leader like kju is.. "we have to just hear him out and see what it is he wants.. maybe we can come to an agreement", "should we lift sanctions? "will that help?" "the u.s. is instigating and should back off", etc. i'm not for a nuclear war, or people getting killed, of course not, but there's nothing fucking wrong with calling a non-western leader bat shit crazy, fascist, evil, and calling it out for what it is.. when it clearly is what it is.. fucked up, evil, fascist. no shame on putting extreme, cartoonish, generalized black and white labels on something that is to most of the world, so clearly extreme and outright evil. i don't care what civilization, what hemisphere, what religion, what philosophy, what ism they hold.

 

*waiting for everyone to start a list of the "evil" things the US admin and the west has done to "even the playing feild"... gotta just love moral relativism.

 

....the fact of the matter is the that the U.S, the west and other open societies are held to a much higher standard when it comes to being judged and criticized for it's mistakes. (ex: ChenGod's reminder of the fact that we can get jailed for growing a plant... hmmm.. i'm for legalization of pot myself, but not sure how that adds up to being tortured in prisons, or not being allowed to express your views of your own country without fear of being punished haha) no way, absolutely no way can the legal system and the processes of the U.S. be compared to that of a place like NKs...

 

I don't have to read books on North Korea or learn the Korean language to know that lol

 

when we place the west/democratic/secular/open societies under a moral microscope side-by-side with totalitarian regimes, we can please at least mention a disclaimer that open, free, evolved societies are being held to a higher stander in said comparison?

[ambermonk]

Genetically Modified Potatoes Attain Sentience, Belligerence.

Experts fear that DPRK government may be involved in R&D of "smart potatoes", and that a counter-attack deployment could be used.

http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/grocery_shopping/crops/23.genetically_modified_potato.html


An American prospector is recently awaken from 120 years of cryogenic stasis, and is interviewed regarding the threats genetically enhanced tubers:

[youtubehd]rsBRfmErTEA[/youtubehd]

[Ivan Ooze]

relax guice

kim is chill, he just invited a prostitute from muricuh and now they have to prove the world he's not gay

[chenGOD]

 

right...self destructive. which is why of course three generations of Kims have destroyed themselves.

If they're crazy, how did they go about developing a cult of personality and maintaining it for 60 years?

 

 

Easy... if Hitler would have won WW2....

 

Which is why intervening is potentially the only real solution.

 

 

But Hitler didn't win WW2, so that's a moot point.

 

 

 

goDel: by your measure then the US government must be crazy too, considering thy have the highest number of prisoners both on total and per capita? and they put people in jail for possessing a plant that grows everywhere!! or did you mean the starvation issue? well yes the impact of the drought could have been lessened. no denying that. and no denying that some of the NK government's economic prescriptions have been puzzling. however the sanctions imposed by the US certainly didn't help that situation either.

 

lol and I missed this little nugget...

 

You said NK leadership isn't crazy.

 

Then you go on a rant about how evil the US is.

 

Then you defend NK government. lol..

 

Also, I can be Pro-US and still find aspects of US policy crazy... But unlike NK, we have freedoms and don't get thrown into concentration camps for saying words. Therefore in my opinion its a little offensive to North Koreans to say the NK leadership isn't crazy

 

I didn't go on any rant about how evil the US government is - I was using a comparison to indicate the futility of calling an organization crazy. Please show me where I defended the NK government on human rights issues?

 

 

right...self destructive. which is why of course three generations of Kims have destroyed themselves.

If they're crazy, how did they go about developing a cult of personality and maintaining it for 60 years?

 

goDel: by your measure then the US government must be crazy too, considering thy have the highest number of prisoners both on total and per capita? and they put people in jail for possessing a plant that grows everywhere!! or did you mean the starvation issue? well yes the impact of the drought could have been lessened. no denying that. and no denying that some of the NK government's economic prescriptions have been puzzling. however the sanctions imposed by the US certainly didn't help that situation either.

 

anyways it's a complex issue with no simple solution. but one thing i am certain of: economic and humanitarian engagement is infinitely more valuable than bombing the crap out fo them.

 

Not sure why saying NK-government is crazy needs to be rebutted with an US-government is crazy as well argument. Those are independent instances, with largely independent problems. The way NK-civilians are living can't be defended by the way other governments deal with their society.

 

And isn't there a bit of irony in the statement that economic and humanitarian engagement is infinitely more valuable? If the US would engage economically, it would be either seen as the Darth Vader of capitalism turning over NK to the dark side, or it would be seen tas the US supporting a dictatorial regime (?) in NK. At least, that's what I would expect would be the interpretation of any involvement of the US internationally at this forum. Please shoot me in the head for exaggerating.

 

It's an attempt to illustrate the futility of calling an organization as vast as a state bureaucracy "crazy".

 

Why would the US be seen as the Darth Vader of capitalism? For fuck's sake, this is not some childish SF flick. We should all want NK to develop economically (and before this gets out of hand, I am not saying that capitalism is without flaws, certainly not the rampant greed-based capitalism of the last 20 years), as this has proven the best way to promote internal pushes for human rights. One needs look only at the development of South Korea's economy throughout its own period of dictatorial rule for a clear example.

 

Don't worry though goDel, many US policymakers also fall under the belief that "talking" with the NK government would be a form of rewarding NK's bad behaviour.

 

Here's a good article from former US ambassador to South Korea Donald Gregg:

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2013/04/116_133776.html

[Friendly Foil]

Edit: image is down :<

Edited April 13, 2013 by Friendly Foil