Taking bets

[davidpt40]

I bet the U.S. will bomb the North Korean reactor before summer.  I say it will be a low level B1b strike, possibly even tactical nuclear (to destroy underground network in area).  Bush is under lots of stress, and this North Korea threat is looming BIG.

Predictions?

[MrLars]

I'm hoping it will be the Japanese that takes action, IMO, after hearing Dubya last evening, I think it will be a regional response with our help.

[Tarmac]

Think they'd use B-1's?  Israelis did it to Iraq back in the day with fighter-bombers (F-16s?), and seemed to do a fine job.  Then again, that may be the reason that NK would beef up the reactor's protection, making something heavier than a bunch of F-18s necessary.  What about B-2s or F-117s?  

But I agree that the US will probably bomb the reactor.  That would accomplish the non-proliferation task, hopefully without starting a full-scale war.

[GtoRA2]

That the Morons that fly them will get lost and bomb China?

[Toad]

Pick a no later than date ("summer" is not real specific) and name the amount of your wager. I might want some of that action.

[Hortlund]

Before I make that bet I'd like to hear an educated guess on the eventual Chinese response to such a raid.

[midnight Target]

Me too, don't see that happening.

[hawk220]

I don't think the Chinese would dig a nuke going off in their backyard.. but I agree that the US will go after the reactor.

[Habu]

Once a reactor is fueled bombing it is no longer a viable action.

[krazyhorse]

i think not, i reckon it will be the Japanese or the Russians

[Hangtime]

Once a reactor is fueled bombing it is no longer a viable action.

depends on who bombs it. that ones pretty high on the terrorist handbook list of "things you'd like to make go 'boom'".

[Gyro/T69]

I've got a different take on it. The north will move across the DMZ within a week of the outbreak of war in Iraq. Why? They'll never get a better chance and most of the Army will be engaged in Iraq. There won't be much we can do about it for sometime, if ever.

    You don't pour all your resources into a military machine without wanting to pull the trigger at some point. He can't use it east or west, nothing but fish. North is out of the question.

    My guess, try to outright destroy or enclose US forces into a Dunkirk style position. Take the remaining parts of country. Threaten to nuke any sea bound reinforcement or invasion force. Same for any force build up in Japan. They'd be a easy kill for the type of weapon.  At this point, as a good will gesture, allow remaining trapped US force to be withdrawal. IF and only IF, we agree too a non-aggression type treaty. Game over. The only thing we could do at this point would be nuke'em and I don't think China would put up with that.

    No I'm not going to bet. It depends on how nuts he is.

[Raubvogel]

Ok...

1) Why would we destroy a fueled nuclear reactor? Can you say Chernobyl?

2) If we were that stupid, why would we risk human life when a few Tomahawks could do the job just fine?

3) If North Korea decided to cross the DMZ during a war with Iraq, we still have more than enough forces to deal with the threat.


geez.....

[Hangtime]

i disagree gyro.. they might attempt nuclear blackmail. if we acceed, fold and hand over SK under that threat no other nation on earth will ever trust the US's word again, and china gets the green light to threaten nuclear force in a grab on taiwan..

nope. if NK invades SK and threatens nukes, NK will become an uninhabitable glow in the dark no-mans-land between SK and china.

[Frogm4n]

last i checked its against the constitution of japan to attack in a offenceive matter, and im certain they would never do a first response attack again because of pearl harbor. The chinese do not trust the North Koreans so i see them going in and takeing action before we do if the koreans do start mass producing nukes(like isreal).