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A View From the Deck: Un, Put Away Your Toys NOW!

In this installment of 'A View From the Deck', local author J. Wiley Dumas addresses concerns over North Korea's leadership and nuclear capability.

No matter if you’re a Democrat or Republican, Conservative or Liberal, one thing you have to agree on is this:

The ‘Beloved’ leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, needs to be put over our collective knee and have the living tar whipped out of him.

This suggestion comes after that cute, rotund little bundle of inbred intellect said on Tuesday that North Korea was going to end the cease fire that ended the Korean War. The government in Pyongyang threatened ‘surgical strikes’ in order to ‘unify’ the Korean peninsula.

Responding to the threat, US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said that the UN would “tighten sanctions on the regime, with the goal of reining in Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.” Sanctions that North Korea has, thus far, chosen to ignore.

Sanctions, shmanctions. First of all, does anyone really believe that this immature, impetuous, mentally-challenged little pipsqueak is actually in charge of a men’s room urinal, let alone North Korea? This is a guy who was voted ‘sexiest man alive' (by the Onion, and the populace believed it), and has, according to government sources, even walked on the moon. Just a few days ago, North Korea, a highly-closed society, announced the birth of Un’s first child. How does one go from celebrating the birth of a child to threatening a nuclear holocaust? Perhaps he’s experiencing post-partum depression? Maybe Dennis Rodman’s recent visit and Un’s envy over the former NBA star’s various piercings and tattoos made him want to be more secure in his manhood?

Maybe he’s just nuts?

Regardless, nuclear weapons in the hands of an unstable, unpredictable government like that of North Korea is nothing to take lightly. And when that government threatens the balance of peace, with statements containing the words ‘surgical strikes,’ it’s past time to do a bit more than threaten additional sanctions, especially when they are coming from an organization like the UN, whose track record in enforcing said sanctions has been far less than stellar.

But just to humor the UN, let’s take a look at the proposed sanctions.

Ambassador Rice states that the sanctions “will significantly impede North Korea's ability to develop further its illicit nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The draft resolution targets for thefirst time the illicit activities of North Korean diplomats, the country's illicit banking relationships, and its illegal transfers of bulk, and adds new travel restrictions.”

Wow, yeah, that’ll teach ‘em. Travel restrictions. Bet that makes them shake in their hobnailed boots…uh…cardboard sandals. And ‘illicit activities of diplomats, and banking relationships?’ Isn’t that business as usual for almost any nation?

I guess the point that I’m trying to make is that North Korea is not losing sleep over having further sanctions leveled on it by an organization with the oxymoronic name like that of the ‘United Nations.’ We would be better off taking Un’s nuclear toys away from him, spanking his behind red, sending him to his room without any supper, and restricting the number of trips he can take to the moon in a given time period. If we're really lucky, he'll stay there.

I can dream, can’t I?

But in the real world, the UN will impose additional sanctions, North Korea will ignore them and continue its nuclear testing, Kim Jong Un will host ‘Saturday Night Live,’ and every single one of us will eventually wish that the UN had done more. The international community has got to take a stronger stance with this lunatic fringe regime, including, but not limited to, shutting off ALL aid and instituting blockades. And if they dare give the slightest hint of using those nuclear weapons...

Well, let my motto speak for itself.

Sic vis Pacem, Parabellum

Hunter March 7, 2013 at 04:21 pm
I couldn't agree more, and considering that this morning's headlines show the little nutcase threatening to carry out a nuclear strike on us, I also think it's well past time to just impose sanctions. (Can't BELIEVE I'm agreeing with you, TWICE now)
By the way, I know the Latin, and exactly what it means.
Nicole Clarkson March 7, 2013 at 11:08 pm
Just a small note on your Latin: it should be "Si vis pacem, para bellum."
J. Wiley Dumas March 8, 2013 at 01:14 am
You're exactly right, Nicole. Yours is the proper Latin.
Ben Rodriguez March 8, 2013 at 03:45 pm
Nuclear proliferation is and will be the major foreign policy issue for years to come. North Korea is such a despotic regime, there are people in hidden gulags for the "crimes" of their parents. Many starve while their military eats up what few resources they have. That said, I slightly disagree with your assumption that sanctions won't work. With China on board, the sanctions will hit hard, like they have in Iran. Iran's economy is in shambles now due to recent UN sanctions. North Korea depends on imports quite a bit. Their declaring war on the US is proof that they are truly nervous but it also legitimates any military option the US decides to take (if any). Someone says we're going to bomb you, you have to defend yourself. Working through the UN provides international legitimacy for future military options.
Spiff March 8, 2013 at 04:17 pm
Mr. Dumas, I'm laughing very hard right now after reading your article! While I agree with everything you wrote, I find the manner in which you express yourself most humorous! Keep it up; very funny; loved your article!
Bob Fawkes March 8, 2013 at 04:56 pm
Mr Dumas' uninformed article and the equally uninformed comments preceding only go to show the longstanding power of propaganda over the American public.
Mr. Rodriguez, for example, goes so far to affirm the current North Korea agitprop. Despotic regime? You've been there yourself Mr. Rodriguez, and seen these things firsthand? No? Then why do parrot the party line? You are all dogs and the tail is wagging you. Wasn't so long ago that the USA was all for Iran developing Nuclear power under the approved despot Shah. http://www.payvand.com/news/06/oct/Shah-Nuclear-Plants.jpg A popular revolt replaces the US approved puppet and suddenly we have a "problem" with Iran's nuclear energy program. The USA is largely responsible for the global proliferation of nuclear weapons since the late 1940's. Nations around the world saw the USA as a vile threat, willing and able to drop nuclear weapons onto civilian populations. Kim Jong Un's father saw the lesson of Saddam Hussein, that is, a nation without nuclear weapons stood no chance against US hegemony. That is why NK has proceeded to develop Nuclear Weapons. There are two sides to every coin. People, get over the brainwishing and think. Use your frontal lobes at least once in a while. It'll do you good....
Nancy G March 8, 2013 at 05:21 pm
Since you seem to find so much wrong with America why don't you just go live in poor bullied North Korea?
Liz Lukas March 8, 2013 at 05:33 pm
You know its juvenile comments like Nancy G's above that devolve dialogue. Are you the one who was decrying a long list of issues with the US just yesterday? I hardly think that Jacobo is displaying any sense whatsover (he completely ignores the factor of the former Soviet Union and the respective post WWII race for superpower status ) BUT I don't think that telling him to go live somewhere else adds any value to the exchanges. And it only makes NG look equally petty.
Bob Fawkes March 8, 2013 at 05:39 pm
Pavlovian dogs everywhere, it seems.
Bob Fawkes March 8, 2013 at 05:54 pm
Ms. Lukas, To my knowledge, correct me if I'm wrong, the former USSR never matched or exceeded the US totals in any catagory of nuclear weapons. Both nations were out of control in their proliferation; each having the capacity still, to destroy the world several times over.
With regard to North Korea, my point was that maybe Kim Jong Un is thinking "Si vis pacem, para bellum".
Hunter March 8, 2013 at 06:21 pm
He does have a certain 'style' and that's why I read his stuff.
Hunter March 8, 2013 at 06:27 pm
Far be it for me to agree with the hardcore Right wing, but Jacobo where does YOUR knowledge regarding the number of the (former) Soviet Union's nuclear weapons come from? Is it 'firsthand' or 'propoganda'? The last pre-Gorbachev leader of the USSR with any restraint was Nikita Khrushchev. After him there was a period in which one never knew what the Soviet Union was up to.
North Korea under Un and his father is a radical regime and cannot be trusted to show restraint. True maybe it's nothing more than "rattling the sabre," but it's still a cause for concern.
Liz Lukas March 8, 2013 at 06:29 pm
The concepts that you're looking for, JA ,are balance of power and mutual assured destruction during the Cold War. One can quibble with the numbers or the effectiveness of accuracy (which can drive some aspects of the numbers, since the Soviets had a greater margin of test failures and therefore made more weapons) but one can't quibble with the basic fact that nukes were developed in respective volumes in response to threats. The BOP was maintained by approximately equal destructive power.
The post WWII developed world was largely up for grabs between the US and its allies and the Soviets and the struggle for influence between the 2 has driven multiple conflicts since WWII. My point is that you can't lump the expansion of nuclear weaponry solely onto the US's shoulders. Take note that other countries, such as France, the UK and China are also nuclear powers, along with India and, I believe, Pakistan. The 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council have that status in part based on their status as having nuclear weapon. Take further note that South Korea is presently one of the 10 member countries with a 2 year membership on the Security Council, no doubt a great irritation to North Korea. All in all, NK hasn't the resources to conduct any meaningful or prolonged war with anyone. As for how the US was viewed, post WWII there were milions and millions of Europeans and Asians (Chinese) thankful that the US did fight and win that War on 2 fronts.
Hunter March 8, 2013 at 06:29 pm
Liz, I wasn't trying to infer that you are the hardcore Right wing. Sorry if it looks that way.
Liz Lukas March 8, 2013 at 06:32 pm
I didn't take it that way Hunter (btw, the word you wanted was "imply")
Liz Lukas March 8, 2013 at 06:34 pm
But I"m not sure why, Hunter, you would said Kruschev showed restraint. It was he who put the world closest to the brink of nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Hunter March 8, 2013 at 06:38 pm
Liz, I suppose I say that because Khrushchev 'backed down' and didn't allow the threat to go any further, then (or so I've read) removed the missiles from Cuban soil. It just seems so to me. Maybe I'm wrong, and if I am, I'll admit it.
Liz Lukas March 8, 2013 at 06:45 pm
May not matter - restraint is probably subjective But in the case of the one who backed down, I'd say it was the other side who restrained (JFK) and gave the opportunity to back down. Perspective thing.
Hunter March 8, 2013 at 06:47 pm
Agreed wholeheartedly, Liz, it's all perspective.
Hunter March 8, 2013 at 06:53 pm
And Jacobo, my appologies to you as well. It is all about perspective.
Ben Rodriguez March 8, 2013 at 08:09 pm
Jacob, North Korea's media is all state run and the gulags harbor entire families. No elections, no free press, no critical thought or checks and balances, all internet is strictly controlled. Look up despot sometime if you like. Their government mind-set is as if we're in the 1950's, while the rest of the world moved on. Your Monday morning quarterbacking of US foreign policy is laughable.Yes, the US manipulated regimes and empowered leaders like Sadaam Hussein, Shah of Iran, etc. Guilty as charged, as every super-power in human history. As for using nuclear weapons on civilian leadership, your forgetting several items: 1) Japan attacked the US first 2) Even when the US destroyed Japan's navy (Midway) Japan wasn't going to surrender and was arming the millions of civilians to protect the homeland to the death. Ironically, President Truman saved lives when he ordered Fatman and Little Boy dropped. If Japan surrendered after losing it's navy the bombs would never have been dropped.
Ed Froem March 8, 2013 at 08:13 pm
The Cuban missile crisis was as much Kennedy's fault as Khrushchev, if we're looking to point fingers. After the abortive bay of pigs invasion, that everyone including the Russians knew Kennedy was behind, Castro appealed to the soviets for more military aid. Castro and the Russians both felt that the threat of a US invasion was real and imminent. It's doubtful the Russians would have taken the risk of placing missiles otherwise, so the crisis was much Kennedy's fault as the Russians.
Hunter March 8, 2013 at 09:46 pm
Do we know if North Korea has the capability to launch a nuclear first strike against the US? No. Remember that anything that comes from there is what they WANT us to see. Edison once said regarding his failures that he learned a hundred ways not to make a light bulb. Each failure brings North Korea that much closer to success. The key word is nuclear proliferation, which Ben mentioned in an earlier post. And if not a nuclear weapon, then something more worrisome, a 'radiological weapon' also called a 'Dirty Bomb'. We just don't know, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned. Paranoia? More like scared out of my pants at the thought of it. I hope I'm wrong.
wyatt March 9, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Jacobo: What a shining example of the " Blame America First " crowd, you are.
Kaptainsteve March 9, 2013 at 12:27 pm
Let's say you've always been the toughest guy on the block until one day, a new guy moves in next door and he's as tough and strong as you are and he's lifting weights to get even bigger. What do you do? Do you blockade his house because he may beat you up? Do you cut off his electricity to show him his place? Do you whack out his athletic trainer? Do you attack his house in the middle of the night to rid yourself of the threat forever?
The answer is that although you may not like it, you neighbor has every right to be a big tough guy too. He has every right to defend his house as he sees fit as long as he doesn't hurt or threaten (a real threat, not imagined) anyone else. Just because we've been the strongest guy on the block doesn't mean we have the moral high ground to push everybody else around and when the rest of the world hates us for doing just that, don't ask yourself why. Finally, everyone needs to ask the question what is it that has made us the toughest guy on the block for about 200 years? No, it hasn't been our military. Crazy talk? No, you can't have a strong military unless you have the greenbacks and technology to finance and create it in the first place. Our best defense is a STRONG FREE MARKET ECONOMY. As an added benefit, the stronger our economy and the more friends we trade with, the less likely we are to engage in conflicts.
J D C March 9, 2013 at 01:59 pm
I agree with your statement about a countries economic strength but to a point. Who do these little mutts in this world ALWAYS turn to when there freedom is being threatened or they are being slaughtered. I remember a little country named Kuwait that is pretty rich but couldnt fight there way out of a wet paper bag. They may STILL owe us 46 billion from the 90s for all the ordinance they were supposed to pay us back for when we saved there azzes. You know if we have to keep order on this planet then why arent we getting paid for our services? We are paying FOUR DOLLARS a gallon for gas but we are the ones doing the dirty work. We could balance our books 5 fold just from all the butts we've saved in the middle east. And the soldiers sacrificing everything shouldnt have to lose their homes when they cant pay their mortgages when they get home! THEY should get hazard pay from these rich slobs, especially the ones that get maimed. Thats the real world deal. You think if these other countries were saving US they wouldn't be asking for say...California?
Hunter March 9, 2013 at 04:59 pm
Kaptainsteve, your key words "as long as he doesn't hurt or threaten" are what I'm talking about here. North Korea HAS threatened, and we can't just all suddenly have a bad case of 'ostrich syndrone' and bury our heads in the sand, hoping it will go away. But you do make a VERY good argument when you state "Our best defense is a STRONG FREE MARKET ECONOMY." I'm sorry to use your words, but they do speak volumes.
Hunter March 9, 2013 at 05:09 pm
That should read 'Ostrich Syndrome'. Sorry. My tail is wagging me.
Daniella Ruiz March 9, 2013 at 05:50 pm
again, mushroom clouds in peoples imaginations will make them do weird things, act impulsively and drive many to react irrationally.
how long has this been winding up? 1 year? 2 years? 5 years? and still we continue to hammer N Korea with economic strategy that apparently only gets them more pissed off and more determined to strike back. and from the propoganda we get in the USA and the propoganda the N Koreans get from their own fearless leaders, its no wonder. yes, i said it, propoganda, THAT word. call me paranoid, fine with me. after the last few debacles we engaged in, i'm treating much of anything spewed from Washington DC as just that. (Stephanopolous included!) Benghazi mess left me wincing, seriously at our capacity to safeguard even our own members of state. Our own citizens no less. so wtf IS going on? some religious nit gets it in their head that when anyone in some foreign country is abused by one of their own, and suddenly WE (the great saviors) have to rush in and 'teach those mean people' a lesson? for gd sakes, look around the USA, theres plenty to do here!

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Spiff June 14, 2013 at 05:27 pm
Penny, glad to see some (albeit few) smart people are working in Hartford for the people and notRead More just for their political careers! Since the large majority don't pay attention, it is important that we continue to educate people on what our representatives are doing in Hartford. Keep up the good work, and thanks for taking the time to write this article.
Bonnie June 13, 2013 at 07:05 am
Where are you? you did not post an address.
Hall Hill Gardens June 13, 2013 at 10:47 am
I'm so sorry we are located at 7 Hall Hill Rd behind the Xtra Mart. Thank You