Stephen Lendman—”America: Imperial Bully Threatening World Peace”
Gen Curtis LeMay, almost a caricature of the Pentagon sociopath, advocated the nuking of China, Vietnam, Korea, and of any other nation standing in the way of US supremacy. This is the very real menace that nations like Noth Korea have been forced to live with for many decades.
America’s rage for unchallenged global dominance represents the greatest threat to world peace, security and humanity’s survival. It’s geopolitically out-of-control, both warrior wings of its duopoly governance hellbent on forcing its will on all other nations. Naked aggression is its favored strategy, punitive sanctions used to soften up targeted nations, imposed unilaterally or by the Security Council, its members bullied and pressured to go along instead of doing the right thing, slapping Washington down by refusing.
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The more often this happens, the harder it gets to resist. North Korea is being punished for developing powerful weapons intended solely for defense, not offense, its legitimate right, its choice which ones to pursue.
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A state of war has persisted with America since the uneasy 1950s armistice. The DPRK genuinely fears possible US aggression. Its only protection is having a formidable deterrent. Without it, there’s no way to defend against an attack on its territory.
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Multiple rounds of Security Council sanctions failed to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Nor will future ones imposed. Diplomacy is the only option, rejected by the Trump administration, preferring to maintain hostile relations, compounded by menacing threats.
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On Tuesday, Trump called new sanctions on Pyongyang no “big deal…nice (with no) impact.” So why impose what’s ineffective and counterproductive - an obvious point the administration fails to address. Russia and China shamed themselves for going along with what they oppose, appeasing Washington, not doing the right thing, no strategic or other benefit gained by punishing a nation wanting only the ability to defend itself against hostile attack.
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Moscow and Beijing have powerful WMD arsenals for self-defense. So do other nations. Is North Korea not entitled to the same right? Washington maintains a military option against the country. The threat it faces is ominously real whether or not war is launched on its territory. How will China respond to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin’s threat to cut off Beijing’s access to America’s financial system if it circumvents sanctions on North Korea?
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“We sent a message that anybody who wanted to trade with North Korea, we would consider them not trading with us,” he blustered, adding:
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“If China doesn’t follow these sanctions, we will put additional sanctions on them and prevent them from accessing the US and international dollar system.” Instituting these measures would harm America as much as China. At most, individual banks and other commercial enterprises doing business with Pyongyang could be sanctioned. Chances for measures harming hugely important Sino/US bilateral economic relations overall are nil. Still, Mnuchin’s threat was unacceptably hostile, certainly not going down well in Beijing.
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North Korea won’t bend to Washington’s will. Development of its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities continues, more tests likely coming. US aggression on the country, if launched, would be devastating - catastrophic if nuclear weapons are used.
Sanction America, Not North Korea
Ideally, sanctions should be abolished, prohibited for any reasons. They’re counterproductive, achieving pain and suffering alone for ordinary people in targeted countries, nothing else. As long as they’re permitted, legally by Security Council members alone, illegal unilaterally, sanction America for its high crimes of war and against humanity, not North Korea, threatening no other countries - even though a US veto would block adoption.
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A symbolic 14 - 1 statement would send a powerful message, especially if enough world community nations no longer are willing to put up with endless US wars on humanity. The leadership of any country threatened by Washington would be foolhardy not to seek powerful weapons and munitions for self-defense. Abandonment of powerful weapons programs by Iraq and Libya led to their rape and destruction by US-led aggression - a lesson well understood in Pyongyang.
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Vladimir Putin explained it, saying sanctions on North Korea are a “road to nowhere. (They’re) useless and ineffective (because) they will eat grass but they will not turn away from the path that will provide for their security...What can establish security? The restoration of international law. We should promote dialogue among all interested parties.”
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Nothing else can defuse tensions on the Korean peninsula. Perhaps Putin will explain why he approved “useless and ineffective” sanctions on Monday instead of ordering Washington’s resolution vetoed - the responsible thing he failed to do.
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Appeasing America is counterproductive, a lesson Russia learned long ago but seems to forget. The problem on the Korean peninsula lies in Washington, not Pyongyang. US recognition of DPRK sovereignty, resolving an uneasy armistice, halting provocative military exercises, removing THAAD missile systems from South Korea (deployed against China and Russia, not the DPRK), and agreeing to six-party talks, no preconditions imposed, would go a long way toward stepping back from the brink.
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Kim Jong-un’s government is eager for diplomatic talks - provided they’re genuine, not agreements on key issues to be violated by Washington like earlier. From bitter experience, Pyongyang is justifiably leery about America’s consistent bad faith, an untrustworthy partner in any talks. In response to newly imposed Security Council sanctions, DPRK ambassador to Russia Kim Yong-jae accused Washington of unacceptable toughness on his country, saying:
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“The US, instead of accepting the reality and making the right choice, is trying to use our justifiable self-defense measures as a means to completely strangle our country.”
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He blasted new Security Council sanctions, saying they “grossly” violate DPRK sovereignty and “openly challenge” its government,” adding:
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“US-drafted sanctions resolution forcibly imposed on the UN Security Council, which turned into an instrument of the United States, is illegal. Therefore, we completely reject and strongly condemn this resolution.”
“We have been living under US sanctions for decades. If the United States expects that we will…change our position, it is a huge illusion.”
Imposing them wasn’t to change DPRK policies. It was to punish its people severely, wanting them to rebel, a futile aim based on past experience.
Nine rounds of Security Council sanctions since 2006 (after Pyongyang’s first nuclear test), hardened its resolve to continue pursuing nuclear and ballistic missile development.
The tougher unilateral US or forced Security Council sanctions become, the more determined North Korea will be to pursue the strongest self-defense measures possible.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
STEPHEN LENDMAN was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967. He remained there until retiring at year end 1999. Writing on major world and national issues began in summer 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network three times weekly. Distinguished guests are featured. Listen live or archived. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011 Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient. His new site is at http://stephenlendman.org
STEPHEN LENDMAN—On Tuesday, Trump called new sanctions on Pyongyang no “big deal…nice (with no) impact.” So why impose what’s ineffective and counterproductive – an obvious point the administration fails to address. Russia and China shamed themselves for going along with what they oppose, appeasing Washington, not doing the right thing, no strategic or other benefit gained by punishing a nation wanting only the ability to defend itself against hostile attack.
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