North Korean Threat

Did you hear about North Korea’s revolutionary new technology? It allowed then to completely develop a nuclear arms program in less than a year. Of course, the noble regime in the DPRK decided not to use this technology until the US insulted them with the “axis of evil” speech. That is what Amy Horowitz is saying in her Monday column. She says of President Bush, “His words formed a dagger that struck at the pride of a nation and the leaders who pride themselves on helping to run the nation. Now we all have to live with the fear of nuclear warfare.” Now, I’m not going to even deal with the absurdity of proposing that the leaders of North Korea merely help run the nation. It’s obvious to any junior high graduate that Kim Jong Il and his regime completely control North Korea. I do, however, take issue with the idea that the “axis of evil” speech caused North Korea to develop nuclear weapons. With their program so far along, it’s obvious that North Korea has been developing nuclear weapons for the last several years without our knowledge. If anything, President Bush has made us safer. Had Bush not made his speech, the North Koreans would have continued in secrecy, putting us in danger. Instead, North Korea and its leaders felt so disrespected that they found it necesary to tell us about their nuclear weapons program. They showed their hand, and that allows us to plan for a North Korean attack. Just think about one thing when talking about North Korea. After watching the bombing of Baghdad, the “shock and awe” that we rained down on Saddam Hussein, do you really think Kim Jong Il wants to fight us?

-Jeff Hexel CAS ’05 (914) 456-8518