Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Recent US sanctions that Trump unwillingly signed included those aimed at North Korea: https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2017/08/02/trump-effectively-admits-to-being-putins-boy-plus-appears-to-regret-that-the-us-isnt-a-dictatorship-in-statement-re-sanctions-bill.

Neither the recent US sanctions nor the recent UN sanctions against North Korea have had time to take effect. But, the corruption investigations are further tightening around Trump and his longtime friend Netanyahu, making saber-rattling or even military attack a possibly welcomed diversion: https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2017/08/11/patronage-nepotism-diversion-and-trumps-missile-strikes-against-syria-when-rats-are-cornered-they-jump-2/. An attack involving the destruction of nuclear facilities or use of nuclear weapons would also allow a useful cover for Japan dumping more radioactive water from Fukushima to the Pacific – water which is being incompletely filtered by Energy Solutions, owned by Trump large donor Doug Kimmelman. Trump’s apparent threats against Venezuela lend credence to the idea that this is a dangerous diversion.

Sanctions have rarely been given a good chance, as there are usually too many loopholes: too many sanctions violators; too little enforcement. Nazi Germany couldn’t have lasted for long if it weren’t for countries such as Switzerland and Spain abusing of their so-called neutral or non-belligerent status to aid the Third Reich in multiple ways throughout the war. https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2017/01/03/nazi-gold-laundered-through-turkey-banking-trade-intermediary-roles-of-switzerland-spain-portugal-and-others/

US Fleet Admiral William Leahy remarked that the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki “was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender because of the effective sea blockade and the successful bombing with conventional weapons….” Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy “I Was There” New York: Whittlesey House, 1950 p. 441 [1]

Republican US Senator Colllins points out that new economic sanctions were recently passed at the UN against North Korea: “The unanimous passage of these strict sanctions, the economic pressure they will exert on North Korea, and the fact that the Chinese government voted for the sanctions are significant developments that I hope will lead Kim Jong Un to curtail his extremely dangerous and destabilizing pursuit of nuclear weapons.” (See entire statement further below.)

Independent US. Senator Bernie Sanders “issued the following statement Wednesday after President Donald Trump warned he could unleash “fire and fury” on North Korea: “President Trump’s bombastic rhetoric is not appropriate when we are dealing with the possibility of a nuclear war that could kill millions of people. North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and missile capability is an enormously serious issue and we need serious people at the State Department dealing with it. Our job now is to work with China and our allies in the region and around the world on a comprehensive diplomatic strategy to address this problem.” (Read statement further below).

Democratic US Senator Warner says: “President Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric undermines our global credibility and is unlikely to de-escalate the situation. We need fewer fiery words and bombastic tweets from the President and his cable TV surrogates, and more effort to work with our international partners to expand missile defense and deterrence and put forward a strategy to roll back North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

“On Saturday, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to impose new sanctions on North Korea, for the eighth time since its first nuclear test in 2006. While it’s a productive step, we need to focus on enforcement, and ensure that China in particular adheres to the terms of the sanctions.” (Read entire statement further below).

Democratic US “Senator Markey Calls for Even Tougher Sanctions on North Korea, China in Light of Report of Pyongyang’s Missile-Ready Nuclear Warheads Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Reiterates calls for direct negotiations with North Korea along with increased economic pressure and regional military deterrence
 
Washington (August 8, 2017) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the East Asia Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after the Washington Post reported today that North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that could be put inside an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the United States. Senator Markey has been a leading voice in the Congress for a comprehensive strategy of direct negotiations with North Korea coupled with increased economic sanctions on Pyongyang and its enablers in order address the issue of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
 
“A miniature nuclear warhead in North Korea is a massive and unacceptable threat to the United States,” said Senator Markey. “Instead of bluster and saber rattling, we need a coherent and comprehensive strategy from the Trump administration that focuses on immediate direct diplomacy and increased economic pressure, along with military deterrence with regional allies to confront this grave national security threat. 

Last weekend, the United Nations Security Council imposed sweeping new sanctions to slash North Korea’s exports by upwards of $1 billion. The U.N. took an important step, but the Trump administration should not pat itself on the back and assume that it has done its job and that U.N. sanctions alone are sufficient.  Instead, for these sanctions to be effective, the Trump administration must immediately work to ensure all countries quickly and fully implement them and must go even farther to pressure China, Russia, and North Korea’s other enablers.  President Trump must work to start direct and immediate talks with North Korea.  We cannot afford to wait any longer. The consequences of inaction are too great.”
 
Earlier this month, Senators Markey and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) introduced legislation to impose economic sanctions on North Korea and its enablers.
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-gardner-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-impose-economic-embargo-on-north-korea-and-its-enablers

The legislation would impose mandatory sanctions on any entity doing business with North Korea and cut those entities from the United States financial system.  The legislation also imposes U.S. sanctions on all those participating in North Korean labor trafficking abuses and the ten largest, known Chinese importers of North Korean goods.” https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-calls-for-even-tougher-sanctions-on-north-korea-china-in-light-of-report-of-pyongyangs-missile-ready-nuclear-warheads

“Trump says U.S. is ‘locked and loaded’ in North Korea confrontation
Posted:Fri, 11 Aug 2017 22:15:43 -0400
BEDMINSTER, N.J./SEOUL (Reuters) – President Donald Trump issued a new threat to North Korea on Friday, saying the U.S. military was “locked and loaded” as Pyongyang accused him of driving the Korean peninsula to the brink of nuclear war and world powers expressed alarm. ” http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/9us2qTuR-y0/us-northkorea-missiles-china-idUSKBN1AO011

Where is Guam anyway?

Entire statements, quoted in part above, and links:

“Statement of Senator Mark R. Warner on North Korea Aug 09 2017
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on North Korea:

“North Korea’s pursuit and development of nuclear weapons represent a serious threat to the security of the United States and our allies. However, President Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric undermines our global credibility and is unlikely to de-escalate the situation. We need fewer fiery words and bombastic tweets from the President and his cable TV surrogates, and more effort to work with our international partners to expand missile defense and deterrence and put forward a strategy to roll back North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

“On Saturday, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to impose new sanctions on North Korea, for the eighth time since its first nuclear test in 2006. While it’s a productive step, we need to focus on enforcement, and ensure that China in particular adheres to the terms of the sanctions.

“It’s also imperative that the Trump Administration embrace a robust policymaking process to think through all of our options, and be prepared to be realistic about what response the North Korean threat might require. Improvising our way into a shooting war on the Korean peninsula without a plan puts us all at risk. Moreover, this crisis underscores the importance of sending nominations to the Senate for key national security positions, including an Ambassador to South Korea, an Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian Pacific Security Affairs.”
###” https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/8/statement-of-senator-mark-r-warner-on-north-korea

About the dropping of nuclear bombs on Japan in World War II, US Fleet Admiral William Leahy: “It is my opinion that the use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender because of the effective sea blockade and the successful bombing with conventional weapons… I was not taught to make wars in that fashion, and that wars cannot be won by destroying women and children.” Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy “I Was There” New York: Whittlesey House, 1950 p. 441 [1]

“Senator Collins’ Statement on North Korea
In: Press Releases Posted Wed, 08/09/2017 – 12:20
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued this statement on North Korea:
“Given the credible and serious threat North Korea poses to our country, and in particular to U.S. forces and our allies in the region, I welcome the Administration’s success in securing new economic sanctions against North Korea at the UN. The unanimous passage of these strict sanctions, the economic pressure they will exert on North Korea, and the fact that the Chinese government voted for the sanctions are significant developments that I hope will lead Kim Jong Un to curtail his extremely dangerous and destabilizing pursuit of nuclear weapons.”
Related Issues: 
Defense and National Security”
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins’-statement-north-korea

“Sanders Statement on North Korea
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
BURLINGTON, Vt., Aug. 9 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Wednesday after President Donald Trump warned he could unleash “fire and fury” on North Korea:

”President Trump’s bombastic rhetoric is not appropriate when we are dealing with the possibility of a nuclear war that could kill millions of people. North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and missile capability is an enormously serious issue and we need serious people at the State Department dealing with it. Our job now is to work with China and our allies in the region and around the world on a comprehensive diplomatic strategy to address this problem.” https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-north-korea

Note 1:
William D. Leahy “I Was There” New York: Whittlesey House, 1950 p. 441, as quoted in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_D._Leahy While the reference isn’t clear at Wikipedia (it could possibly be another Leahy work), this article seems to confirm the reference as Leahy, William “I Was There“http://library.armstrong.edu/Bill%20Mitchell%20paper%202011.pdf

Regarding Fleet Admiral Leahy: “President Franklin D. Roosevelt, acting in his capacity as Commander in Chief, returned Leahy to active duty and named him his Chief of Staff in July 1942. The Admiral presided over meetings of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the Allied Combined Chiefs of Staff when the United States was host country. As a senior adviser, he accompanied the President to all the historic wartime international meetings. Leahy was promoted to five star fleet admiral rank on December 15, 1944. President Harry S. Truman accepted Fleet Admiral Leahy’s resignation as Chief of Staff on March 2, 1949, but like all five star fleet admirals, he remained on active duty in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of the Navy.” https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/chiefs-of-naval-operations/leahy.html

EMPHASIS OUR OWN THROUGHOUT.