Update on North Korea
The North Koreans have decided to expel the remaining UN weapons inspectors. Mohammed ElBaradei, the Director General of the IAEA believes that this is nuclear brinksmanship with the goal of getting the US to the bargaining table.
"I think, unfortunately, this is a situation of nuclear brinkmanship," he said. "I think they are using their nuclear technical capability to achieve a political end which is highly unacceptable."
Okay, yes, it is unacceptable. So what is the UN going to do about that? I don't disagree with Dietz that this situation has a diplomatic solution. The UN has to actually do something, though, to bring that about. It is becoming clear that Russia and China do not have the power over North Korea that we thought they did. I think it requires a multilateral diplomatic solution, that the UN should oversee.
I also think that the US will have to play a part in this, especially since it is increasingly likely that the North Koreans are acting in a way to force our hands. I am not saying we should kowtow to them, but we will have to be involved.