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Nuclear North Korea: #HotTakes

Published

1 year ago

September 4, 2017

With North Korea continuing down the same path of nuclear weapons advancements, Americans have mixed feelings about how to proceed. Unlike many issues that have very clear conservative and/or Federalist perspectives for a unified voice, the complexity of the the North Korea situation delivers the most diverse set of foreign policy perspectives we’ve seen from any issue since the Iraq War.

As Facebook used to say, “It’s complicated.”

Here are some of the right-leaning hot takes on the topic int he last 24 hours:

Senator Ben Sasse issues decisive statement on North Korea

Susan Wright, RedState

They may be forced to call him “Dear Leader,” but we can see by the way they’re forced to live that he’s not a leader, but a dictator, and he is rabid.

Keep in prayer over this situation. Pray for our leadership, that God give them wisdom. Pray for our allies to come together in this moment. And pray for peace.

White House warns U.S. will use its ‘nuclear capability’ if North Korea attacks an ally

Kyle Feldscher, Washington Examiner

The White House said North Korea’s test of a nuclear weapon would not drive the allies apart.

“The two leaders condemned North Korea’s continued destabilizing and provocative actions, confirmed the two countries’ ironclad mutual defense commitments, and pledged to continue close cooperation,” the statement read.

Hostile and Dangerous: President Trump responds to North Korean nuclear test

Emily Zanotti, DailyWire

Trump has convened his national security team, as well as tapped his Treasury Secetary, Steve Mnuchin, for ideas. According to sources close to the White House, Mnuchin is tasked with putting together a comprehensive economic sanctions plan that will outline harsher punishments for North Korea. But it’s hard to get much harsher than what North Korea already faces: an almost complete blockade of trade with most Western nations.

Mattis warns U.S. could bring “total annihilation” to North Korea

John T. Bennett, Roll Call

“We made clear that we have the ability to defend ourselves and our allies, South Korea and Japan, from any attack,” Mattis said of the U.S. military. “And our commitment among the allies is ironclad: Any threat to the United States or its territories, including Guam, or our allies will be met with a massive military response, a response both effective and overwhelming.

“Kim Jong Un should take heed of the United Nations Security Council’s unified voice — all members unanimously agreed on the threat North Korea poses and they remain unanimous on their commitment to the de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” he said, then concluding the prepared statement with what sounded like a threat of an armed conflict unless Kim changes his behavior in a major way.

Cruz: U.S. response requires greater missile defense

Kelsey Tamborrino, Politico

“Missile interception technology has increased dramatically, and the next arena where this is going to play out is in space,” Cruz said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”

“We need to do the investment now, so that in years to come we have that intercept capability,” added the Texas Republican, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

North Korea responds to Trump’s “fire and fury” threat with a hydrogen bomb

Bruce Klingner, National Interest

Pyongyang last night conducted its first test of a hydrogen (thermonuclear) bomb. The device was ten times more powerful than any of those detonated in North Korea’s five earlier atomic (fission) nuclear tests, signifying yet another surprise breakthrough in the regime’s nuclear program.

This is the first nuclear test during President Trump’s tenure, and the world will be watching to see how he responds. One thing is certain: this test will further roil the already unsettled dynamics in northeast Asia.

Mattis warns North Korea of ‘massive military response’ if it threatens US, allies

Julia Manchester, The Hill

Mattis’s aggressive, holiday-weekend statement comes hours after North Korean state media announced the country had successfully tested a miniaturized hydrogen bomb capable of fitting on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

The little man with the big gun is an imminent threat. The U.S. and the world must address this situation now. https://t.co/8nkVNGYw1b

— JD Rucker (@JDRucker) September 4, 2017

White House warns U.S. will use its 'nuclear capability' if North Korea attacks an ally https://t.co/9x7KRN25XC

— Nick Short 🇺🇸 (@PoliticalShort) September 4, 2017

.@KellyannePolls: "@POTUS is not going to broadcast to North Korea or anyone else ahead of time what the United States will do next." pic.twitter.com/aEgfHWbP1c

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 4, 2017

The United States is considering, in addition to other options, stopping all trade with any country doing business with North Korea.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2017

South Korea detects that North Korea is preparing for a possible ballistic missile launch https://t.co/nzOBsXImkD pic.twitter.com/yra0f3Knp1

— Bloomberg (@business) September 4, 2017

The only certainty is that the situation is volatile. The entire world is watching how the leader of the most powerful nation on earth will respond to threats from arguably the most dangerous leader on earth.

Related Topics:Hot Takes North Korea Nuclear

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Democrats

Kyrsten Sinema’s socialist thoughts now exemplify over half of Arizona

Published

45 mins ago

November 12, 2018

Lorie Wimble

Kyrsten Sinema's socialist thoughts now exemplify over half of Arizona

Arizona can no longer be considered a red state. As the Senate election vote counts finish up, Democrat Kyrsten Sinema appears poised to win. It isn’t that a Democrat won that makes me move Arizona from red to purple. It’s that a socialist in moderate clothing was able to pull the wool over the eyes of Arizona voters so easily.

Just an hour of research is enough to break through the Arizona mainstream media’s false narrative that Sinema is a moderate. She is anti-capitalism, in favor of open borders, and had the lowest Liberty Score of anyone in the House representing Arizona.

Then, there’s this:

“A huge dollar bill is the most accurate way to teach children the real motto of the United States: In the Almighty Dollar We Trust… Until the average American realizes that capitalism damages her livelihood while augmenting the livelihoods of the wealthy, the Almighty Dollar will continue to rule. It certainly is not ruling in our favor.”

Arizona chose poorly.

Guns and Crime

Trust in Chicago area police was already low. Then they killed Jemel Roberson.

Published

2 hours ago

November 12, 2018

Scott Boyd

Trust in Chicago area police was already low Then they killed Jemel Roberson

An armed security guard prevented anyone from getting killed when gunmen returned to his bar after getting thrown out. He subdued them without using deadly force and was restraining one of the alleged assailants when police arrived. That’s when a resolved situation turned ugly.

A Midlothian police officer shot and killed Jemel Roberson, 26, while responding to a shooting inside Manny’s Blue Room Bar in Robbins, Illinois, about 4 a.m. Sunday. Roberson was pronounced dead at the scene.

This appears to be a case of a truly decent person doing his job and losing his life as a result.

Security guard killed by police in Robbins bar wanted to be a cop, friends say

Friends said Roberson was an upstanding guy who had plans to become a police officer. He was also a musician, playing keyboard and drums at several Chicago-area churches.

“Every artist he’s ever played for, every musician he’s ever sat beside, we’re all just broken because we have no answers,” the Rev. Patricia Hill from Purposed Church said. “He was getting ready to train and do all that stuff, so the very people he wanted to be family with, took his life.”

“Once again, it’s the continued narrative that we see of shoot first, ask questions later,” the Rev. LeAundre Hill said.

My Take

Chicago area residents have had many reasons to not trust the men and women charged with keeping them safe. Controversial police-involved shootings, rising crime rates, and tone deaf leadership in city, county, and state governments have been pushing people in the area to give up on law enforcement.

This will make matters much worse.

The optics on this couldn’t get much uglier, especially if the unnamed police officer who shot Roberson turns out to be Caucasian. Roberson, an African-American, was able to detain four assailants without anyone getting fatally wounded. The fact that he was then fatally shot by police adds a new dimension to the rift between police and the people.

In most incidents where police are believed to have used deadly force unnecessarily, it’s a matter of them shooting an alleged criminal when other means of subduing them could have been used. Such is the case with Jason Van Dyke who fatally shot Laquan McDonald. Nobody argued that McDonald wasn’t dangerous. He was high on PCP, had a knife, and was walking in the middle of the street despite police warnings for him to drop the weapon and get on the ground.

Roberson’s situation is the opposite. He was doing his duty as a security guard and very likely saved lives in the process. His death is almost certainly going to start another round of racial tensions and anti-police protests that could cause tremendous turmoil throughout the Chicagoland area.

There is usual gray area in police shootings, but this seems pretty black and white to me. Jemel Roberson acted heroically. Instead of a happy ending for the day and a bright future in law enforcement ahead, he’s gone.

Entertainment and Sports

Stan Lee’s 10 greatest comics

Published

3 hours ago

November 12, 2018

Michio Hasai

Stan Lee has died. While modern audiences probably know much more about the Marvel movies and televisions shows that dominate our viewing pleasures, it was his genius in creating so many beloved comic book characters decades ago that fuels Hollywood today.

Looper put out a video with his greatest comics. These subjective lists are usually fodder for debate, but I was so pleasantly surprised by their choices I decided to post it here. It may be the first time I agree with nearly everything in a video top 10 list. Fitting that it surrounds an icon like Lee.

From his quirky cameos in every Marvel movie to his down-to-earth perspectives present in every interview, there’s plenty to love about Stan Lee. But it was his comic book creations that have made a permanent mark on American culture.