North Korea

Alright, so I decided to write my National Security paper on North Korea's Nuclear Program. I'm in the process of finding recent material from all perspectives of this issue. I discovered Korean News provided by the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and I must say, it is some of the most interesting stuff I've heard. I realize that all governments provide to the media that which they wish the citizens to hear and use the media as a tool for propaganda. Upon reading this, I feel like I cannot take some news so seriously now. If you simply look at it from the perspective of that country, you realize how ridiculous it is in the whole scheme of things. Here's a quote from one article regarding the US's annual collaboration with South Korea to do military training: "The U.S. warmongers are staging the said exercises according to the already worked out 'operation plan' for making a preemptive nuclear attack on the DPRK." Within this you realize the entire perspective that the North Korean government has on the United States. You also notice that it is the complete opposite of what the US is saying. According to the US, it is North Korea that is planning a nuclear attack and that they are just in South Korea doing an annual routine. So which side do you believe? Well there really is no nuetral look at the issue, you have to take sides. The US and it's allies believe that North Korea is planning a nuclear attack, while North Korea and well...I'm not so sure who is North Korea's allies, but other countries who have similar political systems and views as North Korea will share the similar view that is the US that wished to launch a nuclear attack. The countries that don't fall into either of those categories do not have reason to care about this issue and even if they did, they would only be hearing these two sides of the story and wouldn't really be able to make a concise judgement as to which side is right. North Korea is the only one that knows what it is planning on doing and the same goes with the United States.

National Security Threats

I'm trying to figure out what should be my topic for my National Security paper where we are required to basically write a US national security policy on whatever topic we choose to discuss. At the present moment I have two ideas, however the topics are due in a mere few hours and I want some other ideas to hand into my professor. So in order to determine what proposed threats I will possibly discuss in my paper I'm going to rant about them here and see if typing out ideas helps me choose some topics to hand in.

1) Iran's nuclear energy project.

Iran has been developing their nuclear program for some time now and at the unease of many countries, especially the United States. A large part of this unease comes from the fact that the program is largely being supported by Russia. The government and those in charge of the program are constantly reassuring the world that it is strictly for the use of nuclear energy and that they are in no way trying to develop a nuclear weapon program. A few weeks ago it was announced that Iran now has enough enriched uranium to produce a nuclear warhead. They continue to deny aligations that they are secretly creating a nuclear weapon. The nuclear plant is now beginning it's testing period which could take up to nine months. In that time, Iran will be able to produce enough enriched uranium to create up to three nuclear warheads. Due to the intent of attack that Iran poses to the United States, due to constant political distrust over the years, the US sees the fact that Iran now might be able to create the capabilities to attack is seen as a huge threat to its national security. Especially if their nuclear program is being helped out by Russia, who already has nuclear capabilties.

2) North Korea

North Korea has set the datesof April 4-8 as being the time period in which it plans to launch it's first satellite. However, the US, South Korea, and Japan all fear that it is planning a second attempt at a launch of their Taepodong 2 missile, a long range nuclear missile that could reach as far as Alaska. An attempt to launch the missle last year failed a mere minute after launch. All three countries in protest of this satellite launch have warned North Korea that they will attempt to shoot it down if it is launched. North Korea has replied that it will go to war if an attempt to shoot down the satellite is made. Their entire military is currently mobilized in response to US and South Korea's annual military excercise.

Cathedrals

I've discovered a song that describes exactly how I felt coming out of Sacre Coeur last January. I walked out of the church, fell on the steps, and began crying. Slowly I looked out over Paris. I realized a lot about life just in that one small moment.


In the shadows of tall buildings
Of fallen angels on the ceilings
Oily feathers in bronze and concrete
Faded colors, pieces left incompleteT
he line moves slowly past the electric fence
Across the borders between continents


In the cathedrals of New York and Rome
There is a feeling that you should just go home
And spend a lifetime finding out just where that is


In the shadows of tall buildings
The architecture is slowly peeling
Marble statues and glass dividers
Someone is watching all of the outsiders
The line moves slowly through the numbered gate
Past the mosaic of the head of state


In the cathedrals of New York and Rome
There is a feeling that you should just go home
And spend a lifetime finding out just where that is


In the shadows of tall buildings
Of open arches endlessly kneeling
Sonic landscapes echoing vistas
Someone is listening from a safe distance
The line moves slowly into a fading light
A final moment in the dead of the night


In the cathedrals of New York and Rome
There is a feeling that you should just go home
And spend a lifetime finding out just where that is

Okay, most people would probably be ask "Why couldn't I realize this someplace other than some european city, like in my own town?" Well, I can't really explain it, it just happened.