AP PHOTO
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates confirmed today that the administration and Defense Department believe North Korea was to blame for the sinking a South Korean patrol boat in March of this year that took the lives of 46 sailors. There was a great deal of speculation regarding the “incident” but it now appears that the story many had presupposed was the reality all along. So the question looms large. Was this an act of war?
Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the United States supports the finding that North Korea sank a South Korean warship in March. South Korea announced the finding this week.
Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, say the next move is up to South Korea. They would not discuss what options the U.S. might have, even though the U.S. is a close ally of the South and maintains tens of thousands of troops on the North Korean border to defend the South.
With our nation’s military forces spread rather thin, Gates added that any military assistance would likely come in the form of the Navy and/or Air Force.
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs also addressed the delicate issue but stopped short of calling it an act of war saying that the administration was working with South Korea to formulate an “appropriate response.”
“I don’t want to get into a series of hypotheticals,” Gibbs said.
President Obama’s spokesman said U.S. officials have reviewed the South Korean investigation, and agreed that North Korea engaged in an “act of aggression” that led to the death of 46 sailors.
The attack “further sets back” North Korea, and “further isolates them,” Gibbs said.
(October 11, 2008 - Photo by Handout/Getty Images AsiaPac)
But the early response is almost certain to come in the form of public condemnation and economic sanctions rather than military action, observers say. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the United States is focused on supporting its “strong ally” while at the same time considering “stability in that region.”
Another tumultuous twist to the events of 2010. Perhaps the days of appeasement regarding North Korea are finally going to be called into question. How’s that “Axis of Evil” thing looking to this administration, its supporters, and all the Bush-bashers out there right about now? Perhaps old W had this one pegged right all along???
Via Drudge via AP NEWS
“If the (South Korean) enemies try to deal any retaliation or punishment, or if they try sanctions or a strike on us …. we will answer to this with all-out war,” Col. Pak In Ho of North Korea’s navy told broadcaster APTN in an exclusive interview in Pyongyang.
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Interesting stuff. North Korea is constantly causing chaos. I suppose Kim Jung-Il is simply out of his mind. What normal person could believe that anything good could come out of this kind of insecurity?
Perhaps the more pertinent question would be to ask what his intentions are if he is in fact (not a mad man)? I would prefer to assume he is the caricature that he is painted as. I unfortunately am inclined to assume he knows exactly what he is doing and exactly the response he will receive from this administration.
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Hit the deck and drop some lolz
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