Quote:
Originally posted by snowman
The only way we can win in the game of nuke standoffs is to have a CREDIBLE response. The enemy must know that we will respond with a total response that will destroy his entire country, otherwise our deterent will fall flat and we will suffer. At some point we will say Screw their innocent people, no more of our innocent people will die. Just like Dresden. We are the same people, we will do it again. We will light their air on fire, we will light their streets on fire, they will cease to exist.
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I think this was true during the Cold War up through the Reagan years. But when Bush I came around and Iraq defied mostly the entire world, I think the world turned a corner with authority, where authority was now being ignored as to what countries like the U.S. has to say about its actions.
NK realizes this. They see us as financially, militarially and morally bankrupt, hence unable to back up our threats.
NK may have blown up a nuclear dud, but they have the U.S. pegged pretty well as currently unable to engage them.