16 October 2006

Who was selling them arms anyway?

OK. So we now have a security council resolution with sanctions, thankfully specifically forbidding the use of force, against North Korea. The world must now stop selling the regimes weapons, nuclear technology and "luxury goods". So who was selling them weapons? Who was selling them single malt scotch? If anyone thinks that this will cut off Kim Jung-Il's supply of Hollywood blockbusters should probably think again. I mean how many years have there been sanctions against Cuba in the US? Do you seriously think that these laws have reduced the supply of Montecristo's available in Washington? You just can't get them where you live (but I can!).

The US is probably pursuing for stronger sanctions that will have the effect, they hope, of starving the North Korean people into somehow rising up against the regime. In lieu of that they will look for a resolution authorising force and if that is not forthcoming ignore the United Nations altogether by acting militarily and unilaterally in violation of international and American law. For those of you who don't feel that violating the UN charter is a violation of US law I refer you to article VI of the US constitution.

Anyone interested in the detail of UN security council resolution 1718 may find it here.

It would seem that the only real hope of resolution is to resuscitate the direct US / North Korea talks that Bush has abandoned. I see little chance of that as long as Bush is in office.

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