Tuesday 7 April 2009

Nukes and the Norks


When Obama, doing his Friendship Tour schtick in Prague on Sunday, told his audience of moonstruck Bohemians about his vision of "a world free of nuclear weapons ", Mr and Mrs Idle, watching the news, expelled small quantities of whisky (he) and sauvignon (she) at the screen.
"What about the bleeding Pakistanis?" blurted idle.
"And those lunatic North Koreans?" said Mrs Idle, with contumely.

What we meant, of course, was that we disapproved of those two sovereign nations having nukes. Almost as much as we disapprove of the the Iranians having them, or the French. We thought it unlikely that they wished to give them up. The reverse seemed to be true.

In principle, we are encouraged to disapprove of nukes in their entirety, but there's no getting away from the fact that, if Iwo Jima was anything to go by, The Bomb in fact saved many more Japanese lives than it took, so keen were the yellow peril on fighting to the last man. Furthermore, mutually assured destruction resulted in the best possible end to the Cold War, with hundreds of millions of soviet citizens achieving freedom due to exhausted communist policies, rather than yet another global dust-up. Pax Americana - pax of any kind - was delivered because of the sanction at its disposal.

I wonder if Obama has given this much thought. Sure, he needed to apply a bit of flannel to all those Europeans who resent having the Americans' nuclear shield technology sitting in their farmland, but it strikes me as an odd response to Kim Junior's firing of a test rocket into the sea, even if it did only just clear the Kosong Beach Club. Others will say that he remained admirably calm, that he did not escalate the situation in the way that Dubya woulda, etc. But I couldn't help but think that, if there is one way of demonstrating that you can't get the nuclear weapon toothpaste back into the tube, it is certifiable fruitcakes like Kim, Leader of the Norks, having the opportunity to thumb his nose at the NATO summit in the way that he did. The timing was surely no coincidence.

Pakistani 'democracy' (that strange arrangement where power is shared, on a revolving basis, between Army Generals and surviving Bhutto clan members) is surely on the Oblivion Express, with a one-way ticket; the tribal areas, a euphemism for stone-age sharia governance, grow larger by the day, whilst Zardari's area of influence scarcely extends beyond the swimming pool and tennis court in the Presidential compound in Islamabad. I expect complete breakdown within a couple of years, which will lead to disengagement from Afghanistan. The result will be a vast area, running from the outskirts of Basra to the Punjab, in which individual freedoms cease to exist. Or at least what we feeble, decadent Westerners understand to be freedoms. You know, like women being able to drive cars, or feel the breeze on their limbs on a warm spring afternoon.

Let's humour Obama for a moment. America will not disarm until ALL the other nuclear states disarm (and we'll have to take it on trust that there isn't a hollowed-out hill in the Hindu Kush, concealing a Bond villain and his shiny rocket with its warheads attached). And what will this take? Gifting American liberal democracy to these states? Evidently they would prefer not, if you don't mind. Loads of money? Well, we are trying that trick, and it isn't working. Plan C - anyone know what that is? Thought not.

The nukes are here to stay; disarmament was only ever possible when it was just NATO v Russkies. Who can blame the the horrible Pakistanis and Iranians for wanting the bomb, when they so clearly despise us? And why would they ever use it as a bargaining chip - what could the West, or anyone, give them which would be worth them giving up their bomb?

The reason that Obama was cool about the Norks was that, being non-Islamic and a satellite of the Chinese, they are of no account. The problem, as we know, is the poisonous version of Islam practiced by Iran and Pakistan and Sudan and x and y and z. They mean to outnumber us, and in due course they will. It's a waiting game for them.

34 comments:

Bishop Brennan said...

Great post - spot-on.

But what could be expected of the Obamessiah, other than vacuous inanities such as this. To borrow (most of) a phrase, 'He's not the Messiah, he's a very stupid boy'.

Electro-Kevin said...

The simple fact is that this little technological genie is out of the bottle. Or to put it another way ...

... you can't put the shit back in the donkey.

idle said...

Thank you, bish.

e-k, I will use your donkey phrase alternately with my toothpaste phrase in future.

William Gruff said...

All attempts at wit having failed I can say no more than: 'Spot on.'

Bill Quango MP said...

Isn't he just reassuring the Russians that the Star Wars laser shield thing is off the agenda?

On the grounds that
1] can't afford it
2]Europeans want to big a price for hosting it
3] George W drew the whole thing up on the back of his copy of the agreement at Kyoto, so it probably won't work.

Nomad said...

But does that Emperor in your pic really have no clothes? Besides which I think I would extend your boundaries rather further to the south than the outskirts of Basra to, say, somewhere nearer the top half of the Congo or Nigeria.

idle said...

I thought about Africa, nomad. On balance, I take a cautiously optimistic view. Gadaffi is cowed, in his tent; the Moroccans are mostly relaxed, are they not?; the Tunisians grow wine and are generally cool with being a Med state rather than a minor Arab League player; the Algerians I know nothing about, except that Gen de Gaulle found them tiresome.

Nomad said...

You may be right about Libya and Morocco, but Algeria has had - and indeed still has, a low level civil war running between the Islamist extremists and the military, in which a lot of people have lost their lives. You will recall that the former won an election a few years ago, but were not permitted to assume power by the generals. If that situation is maintained, then the overt threat may continue to be controlled (although the odd guerilla attacks will probably continue).

Further south, there are constant (but usually not reported unless there is real mayhem going on) flare ups twixt the religions in northern Nigeria and southern Sudan.

En passant, in Europe there is also a serious struggle for power going on in Turkey between the Islamists and those who prefer Ataturk's non-religious Constitutional arrangements.

As a footnote I came across an article a few days ago (sorry, can't remember where) about a lady in Saudi who has started a one-woman poster and placard campaign to allow women to drive there. Gutsy lass - like many of her ilk that I have met over the years in that part of the world.

The Refuser said...

Great stuff Idle, but the picture of Kim Jong mentally Ill made me laugh out loud. It seems the Messiah is rapidly being exposed as the vacuous snake oil salesman that many of us predicted he would be.

Anonymous said...

Hello there! I just wish to offer you a big thumbs up for your excellent information you have
got right here on this post. I'll be returning to your website for more soon.

Feel free to surf to my web page More Info

Anonymous said...

It's very straightforward to find out any topic on web as compared to textbooks, as I found this piece of writing at this web page.

Stop by my blog post ... Louis Vuitton Handbags

Anonymous said...

When I originally commented I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments
are added- checkbox and now whenever a comment is added I receive 4 emails with the same
comment. Is there an easy method you are able to remove me from that
service? Thanks!

My web page ... Cheap NFL Jerseys

Anonymous said...

Hi to every , as I am genuinely keen of reading this website's post to be updated on a regular basis. It includes pleasant information.

Here is my homepage :: Wholesale Jerseys

Anonymous said...

Hi to every body, it's my first visit of this web site; this webpage contains amazing and actually good information in favor of visitors.

My web blog - Authentic Mario Lemieux Jersey

Anonymous said...

Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your
website and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts.

Any way I'll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly.

Take a look at my page - chaussureairmaxsolde.com

Anonymous said...

My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find most of your post's to be exactly I'm looking for.
Do you offer guest writers to write content for you?
I wouldn't mind creating a post or elaborating on a few of the subjects you write related to here. Again, awesome weblog!

Feel free to surf to my blog post; Louis Vuitton Outlet

Anonymous said...

Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers?
I'm kinda paranoid about losing everything I've worked hard on.
Any recommendations?

Feel free to surf to my web site - Air Jordan 2013

Anonymous said...

Sweet blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News.

Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo
News? I've been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Appreciate it

Here is my webpage - slc-wireless.com

Anonymous said...

Hi there friends, how is the whole thing, and what you want to say concerning this
article, in my view its genuinely remarkable designed
for me.

Look at my weblog Chaussure De Foot Pas Cher

Anonymous said...

I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website
yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz respond as I'm looking to design my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. cheers

Feel free to surf to my site Gafas Oakley

Anonymous said...

Just wish to say your article is as astounding. The
clarity on your publish is just cool and i could suppose you're knowledgeable on this subject. Fine with your permission let me to seize your feed to stay updated with impending post. Thanks one million and please continue the rewarding work.

Stop by my site :: Authentic Sidney Crosby Jersey

Anonymous said...

Woah! I'm really loving the template/theme of this website. It's simple,
yet effective. A lot of times it's very hard to get that "perfect balance" between usability and appearance. I must say you have done a excellent job with this. Also, the blog loads super quick for me on Internet explorer. Excellent Blog!

Also visit my website Sac A Main Louis Vuitton

Anonymous said...

My brother recommended I might like this blog. He was entirely right.
This post actually made my day. You cann't imagine just how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

Here is my web page - Abercrombie & Fitch

Anonymous said...

This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your feed and look forward to
seeking more of your wonderful post. Also,
I have shared your site in my social networks!

Feel free to surf to my web site :: Oakley Sunglasses

Anonymous said...

I pay a quick visit everyday some websites and information sites to
read posts, but this blog provides quality based content.


Here is my web blog :: Montre Guess

Anonymous said...

Hey very nice website!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .
. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally?
I'm satisfied to seek out a lot of useful information here within the submit, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

Feel free to visit my site ... Michael Kors

Anonymous said...

Yes! Finally someone writes about folks.

Also visit my webpage: Louis Vuitton Bags

Anonymous said...

What i do not realize is in truth how you are not really
a lot more smartly-favored than you might
be right now. You're so intelligent. You already know thus considerably when it comes to this subject, made me for my part imagine it from a lot of varied angles. Its like women and men are not fascinated until it is one thing to accomplish with Woman gaga! Your own stuffs excellent. All the time care for it up!

Also visit my blog post :: Cheap Louis Vuitton Handbags

Anonymous said...

Howdy I am so thrilled I found your site, I really found you by accident, while I was searching on Yahoo
for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would
just like to say kudos for a remarkable post and a
all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don't have time to look over it all at the moment but I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the excellent job.

Here is my blog; Cheap Louis Vuitton Bags

Anonymous said...

I know this web page offers quality depending
posts and other information, is there any other website
which presents these data in quality?

Also visit my webpage: Michael Kors Bags

Anonymous said...

I could not resist commenting. Very well written!


Also visit my blog http://cheapnfljerseys.wsmisports.com

Anonymous said...

fantastic put up, very informative. I wonder
why the other experts of this sector don't understand this. You must proceed your writing. I'm confident, you've a huge readers'
base already!

Feel free to surf to my web page tedxyse.com

Anonymous said...

you are really a excellent webmaster. The site loading speed
is amazing. It kind of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick.

Furthermore, The contents are masterpiece. you have performed a wonderful process in this subject!


Also visit my weblog ... More Help

Anonymous said...

Appreciate this post. Let me try it out.

my website; Louis Vuitton Pas Cher