Pentagon Assesses (NK) Responses, Including a Possible Blockade

[sabra]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/10/world/asia/10military.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Pentagon Assesses Responses, Including a Possible Blockade

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 — Now that North Korea seems to have made good on its threat with what appears to be a nuclear test, United States military commanders and civilian policy makers are refining plans in the event that President Bush orders a blockade of North Korean shipments to prevent the sale of a completed bomb or nuclear components.

Senior officers say Navy and Air Force combat and surveillance equipment are already in the region, and more could be deployed rapidly.

Still, any unilateral effort by the United States to cordon off North Korea by sea and air could founder along the country’s lengthy land border with China.

“This is a tough question,” one senior official with years of experience in military planning said Monday, speaking as did others on the condition of anonymity because he was discussing classified war plans. “The only good options were before North Korea got the bomb. There are no good options now.”

[soothsayer]

1. "The only good options were before North Korea got the bomb.

There are no good options now."

Chilling.

[bemildred]

2. Try negotiation, you morans. nt

[Rose Siding]

3. Of COURSE a costly military maneuver is most appealing to bushbots

TALK to them!

[humbled_opinion]

4. Lets go noocleaar....n/t

[muryan]

5. Sitting down and actually talking with the country might be of some use

but these people never think about that. I dont see why we aren't offereing NK the same kind of economic incentives that we have offered to Iran, god knows NK actually needs the help. Im not saying it would work and i doubt it will, kim is crazy. All things considered a blockade will probably end up resolving this. It will put china in a very very akward position being the only country capable of supplying NK. They probably dont want to risk the economic relationship they have with us to support a dying country with a crazy dictator.

[MaineDem]

6. Like the people in NK need to suffer more

I know Kim is a tyrant but would a blockade really do any good? He doesn't care if his people suffer - more.

[daleo]

7. A blockade is considered an act of war

Just saying.