----- Original Message -----
From: "J. van Baardwijk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Brin-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2001 4:39 PM
Subject: Re: Landmines RE: US Foreign Policy Re: *DO* we share a
civilization?
> At 09:35 13-8-01 -0500, Ronn Blankenship wrote:
>
> >>(1) The North Korean leaders are very aware of the superior firepower of
> >>the US and therefore the stupidity of even *attempting* an invasion.
> >
> >
> >It didn't stop them 50 years ago, when they and everyone else in the
world
> >knew the US had the ultimate in "superior firepower" and could have used
> >it to stop the invasion . . .
>
> It also didn't stop Germany from invading its neighbors. From your
> statement it could be concluded that we should deploy vast numbers of
> weapons and troops around Germany, just in case Germany decides to attack
> again...
>
What fraction of its GDP does Germany commit to its armed forces? What
fraction of its GDP does North Korea commit? Germany commits about 1%;
while North Korea commits 25% to 33%. Doesn't that tell you something
about intent? Why spend yourself into the poorhouse on your armed forces
unless you intend to use them?
(The US, btw, spends around 3% of its GDP on its armed forces).
There is an old saying "when you ain't got nothing, you ain't got nothing to
lose." Things are bad enough in N. Korea for the leaders to think that they
have nothing to lose. Goodness, they have starving people and have refused
free food from South Korea. That indicates to me that the leadership of
North Korea operates from a different mindset than you or I would.
Dan M.
Dan M.
