...something like this pops up. I follow the website Columbus Underground on my Twitter page, and this morning they tweeted something that caught my eye...COTA bus changes. I've got a bit of a thing for public transit (even if I don't use it nearly as much as I should/could) so I thought it was worth checking out. Here's the CU article...COTA is adding a Hilliard-OSU express, as well as several other adjustments. You can get the full list there.
There's bigger news from Iowa, because on Friday gay marriage became legal in that great farming state. It blows my mind, because a state that's as rural (and typical conservative as rural states are) as Iowa is able to recognize a basic human right, but California and Ohio aren't. I mean, seriously? 3/50th of the country is moving in the right direction...but we need a few more states to reach critical mass.
The North Korean satellite launch was a monstrous success...! At least, according to the North Korean government. As the BBC will tell us (and I trust the BBC infinitely more than my own government sometimes, never mind the North Korean one) the rocket launch failed, and the satellite with its sing-a-long payload never reached orbit. President Obama took the opportunity to push his arms control agenda, telling us, "This provocation underscores the need for action - not just this afternoon at the UN Security Council, but in our determination to prevent the spread of these weapons."
That's a bit more than I intended to post today...but that's what happens when I'm putting off other work ;-) Have a good rest of the weekend!
Showing posts with label North Korea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North Korea. Show all posts
Monday
North Korean Missile Launch: Merely a Sign of More Trouble to Come
North Korea is launching a missile. One it claims is for putting a satellite into space. Yeah, whatever. Most of us know that a missile powerful enough to put a satellite into orbit is also powerful enough to put a nuke into Kansas City. Or anywhere else on the planet, for that matter.
So we can all agree (for the most part) this rocket launch in just over a week is a not-so-thinly veiled threat.
Are the North Koreans going to drop a nuke on us? I really, really doubt it. So does everyone else who matters. In fact, Defense Secretary Gates made it clear there isn't any military action planned.
(Side note: I'm linking to Fox News against my better judgement. I'll explain below).
While the Fox News program makes it sound as if we're not able to shoot down the missile, we totally could. Admiral Keating said we were prepared to, and I don't doubt for a minute we have the capability to shoot that tin can out of the sky.
Political will to shoot it down? THAT is what's lacking. The Obama Administration isn't prepared to commit an act of war, and I think that's the right stance. North Korea knows no good will come from open violence, so they aren't going to commit any. Why should we shoot first?
We shot first in Iraq, and see where that got us? Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.
As this AP story says, the issue is the breakdown in disarmament talks. Once the missile is launched, North Korea is in violation of UN agreements on balistic activity. Then, the world can either ignore this blatant disregard for international law...or add sanctions against North Korea.
North Korea made it clear that if sanctions happen, they won't continue with the nuclear disarmament talks. THAT is a problem...but not one we can solve easily by starting a war.
Rock and a hard place. This is why all Presidents turn grey and wrinkly after only a few years in office.
So we can all agree (for the most part) this rocket launch in just over a week is a not-so-thinly veiled threat.
Are the North Koreans going to drop a nuke on us? I really, really doubt it. So does everyone else who matters. In fact, Defense Secretary Gates made it clear there isn't any military action planned.
(Side note: I'm linking to Fox News against my better judgement. I'll explain below).
While the Fox News program makes it sound as if we're not able to shoot down the missile, we totally could. Admiral Keating said we were prepared to, and I don't doubt for a minute we have the capability to shoot that tin can out of the sky.
Political will to shoot it down? THAT is what's lacking. The Obama Administration isn't prepared to commit an act of war, and I think that's the right stance. North Korea knows no good will come from open violence, so they aren't going to commit any. Why should we shoot first?
We shot first in Iraq, and see where that got us? Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.
As this AP story says, the issue is the breakdown in disarmament talks. Once the missile is launched, North Korea is in violation of UN agreements on balistic activity. Then, the world can either ignore this blatant disregard for international law...or add sanctions against North Korea.
North Korea made it clear that if sanctions happen, they won't continue with the nuclear disarmament talks. THAT is a problem...but not one we can solve easily by starting a war.
Rock and a hard place. This is why all Presidents turn grey and wrinkly after only a few years in office.
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