Little Red Blog

Looking the other way is a dangerous move when standing before an enemy. The U.S. has several enemies who require our attention today, and our government seems significantly challenged to keep them all in view. North Korea remains staunchly defiant while toying with nuclear weapons, Iran appears prepared to trash the EU-3 negotiations in favor of a return to uranium enrichment activities, Russia and the EU are moving closer to an agreement which will provide further basis for the former Soviet Union to become a WTO member, and China sits with disdain for Japan, an independent Taiwan and a world unwilling to do without cheap goods built on the back of Chinese laborers.

A friend once said to me that the trouble with the news is there is never anything really happening. After deciding that I might have to rethink whom my friends are, it occurred to me that, at least in the case of this one individual, for some the only news is when the worst has actually occurs. I’m loath to wait for war, the launch of a missile, or the ratification of agreements that are certain to aid the destruction of freedom and liberty before becoming engaged in the debate.

For many, it is enough to pass their time without concern for the larger issues at play, and then to respond with vitriol and misunderstanding when things go in a direction contrary to their benefit. Blogging provides those who choose a different course to have a voice ahead of the event.

All that being said... what’s going on:

In Iran - just a little over a month before their presidential elections, they've officially announced that they’ve converted uranium ore concentrate into uranium tetraflouride gas (UF-4), a step closer to the target uranium hexafloride (UF-6), a key step in the production of highly enriched uranium (HEU) which could be used to develop nuclear weapons. Given how the U.S., among others, have believed that Iran had done so for quite sometime, it is not news, the news is the admission, which is typical of the Iranian practice of admitting critical steps or progress only after significant corollary events have occurred. In this case, one might ask, how much UF-6 or HEU does Iran have if they are now admitting UF-4 production?

Additionally, Iran has once again suggested that their temporary cessation of enrichment activities is likely to end within the next few days. This, of course, would violate the terms of their negotiations with the EU-3, and place the onus on the U.S. and EU to take the issue before the UN Security Council, a step long ago overdue.

With regard to the DPRK – both the U.S. and Japan have responded to the shutdown of the DPRK’s Yongbyon nuclear power plant, and subsequent missile testing with concern. There has been speculation that the DPRK plans to test a nuclear weapon, and as recently as today, the Chosun Ilbo has editorialized that the North may do so as early as June. This while China sits idly by, allowing our interest to focus on North Korea or Iran, and they portray themselves as aghast at Japan’s history books and interested in Taiwan’s opposition parties desire for a united China.

The EU, in their typical fashion, appears to believe that Russia under Putin is ready for WTO membership and is encouraging the Russian’s to sign an agreement with the EU to solidify their credentials for inclusion early next year. The U.S. is apparently not opposed to Russian membership, and why would we be, we supported China’s membership.

Speaking of China, and not of their faux anger over Japan’s history books or their panda bear offering to Taiwan, today China and Pakistan announced they’d co-develop a new fighter jet to replace Pakistan’s aging fleet. Never mind the U.S. offer to sell fighters to Pakistan.

Rant over...