Again, this limited scope of "military strike" and "take out their leadership." We don't have to eliminate the leadership of North Korea to contain them.
Remember under the Bush Administration when the Treasury Department basically went to banks all over the world and told them if they did business with North Korea they could not do business with the USA. That was a major blow to the North Korean regime, and we did not have to use the military, or go to the UN for more sanctions.... we need more thinking outside the box.
As an aside, if I remember right, you said you have a BA in International Relations right? Do you mind if I ask from where?
no my BA is in Pol Sci...I minored in IR...and have a AAS in Marketing...the BA is from UW River Falls ( Wisconsin)
and yes I recall what Bush did...the problem is...he did it...and where has that gotten us today? Unless we can get China, who has shown its not willing I think most can see, to cut off its help of North Korea...the leadership will stand, it will still have a powerful military, it will still have nukes, and it will still be a aggressor looking to to make shows of force to get the worlds attention and force us to bargain....and those actions could grow in size if they don't get what they want...leading to actions we may not have control over.
Sanctions I think can work..in a place like Iran..where the people, while limited have a voice and do have a understanding of whats going on...I am not sure the people of North Korea are going to put the pressure on there leaders to make the changes we need to see happen.
Also just putting as much Econ pressure as we can on them...could force some powers within Korea to move and possibly see a coup...but as for if who took over would be better is hard to say...I don't have much knowledge, nor do I think many in our government...of who such people could be, or how they would react.
so far our "containing" of North Korea has ended up with them getting nukes, sinking Naval ships, Firing on towns with Artillery....Now from a overall standpoint, the ship and Island issue could be lived with ( given the worse options) but how Secure can we feel with North Korea , as a nuclear power, and its current leadership....under and sense of "contained"
Unless the US is willing to lean on China enough, I think our Efforts are going to fall short...and the US does not have the willpower to lean on China as hard as needed I think.
