KT McFarland » NORTH KOREA

From Bad to Worse In Asia

KT — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:27:24 +0000

America’s Secretaries of State and Treasury are in China, pleading with the Chinese to devalue their currency, so our products can compete with theirs throughout the world. They will also ask for Chinese assistance in defusing the situation on the Korean Peninsula, by pressuring an increasingly belligerent North Korea.

Arriving in Shanghai, Secretary Clinton said, “For trade to work in any economy and for it to produce the benefits we know it can, there must be a level playing field where domestic and international companies can compete freely and openly.” She wants China to rein in Pyongyang, which is completely dependent on Chinese aid to keep their people fed.

Tell me, Mrs. Clinton, do you really expect the Chinese will “level the playing field” so we can compete with them? That they will reverse course in relations with North Korea? Why should they do us any favors? What leverage do we have? Because negotiating without leverage isn’t negotiating, it’s begging.

The leverage is in the opposite direction. We need the Chinese to lend us money so we can continue our spending binge.

Rather than tighten our belts and cut back on government spending now that times are tough, the Obama administration has put it on steroids. The United States is spending money we don’t have, lots of it, and borrowing it from the Chinese. Just how much longer will the Chinese be willing to pay for Obamacare, Wall Street bailouts, and sweetheart labor union deals without expecting something in return?

It’s already started. Recently, a top assistant to Secretary Clinton apologized to the Chinese for Arizona’s immigration law. Last week a Chinese Finance Minister scolded us over our indebtedness saying, “the United States needs to take a hard look at its own fiscal situation in the light of what has happened in Europe.” 

What’s next? President Obama, with his usual eloquence, gave us the answer in his commencement address at West Point last weekend. He acknowledged that “at no time in human history has a nation of diminished economic vitality maintained its military and political primacy.”

To quote columnist Charles Krauthammer, “decline is a choice.” Mr. President, is that where you’re taking us?

Are the Koreas headed for War?

KT — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:04:01 +0000

KT McFarland and Mike Baker host. KT interviews Former US Senator and Actor Fred Thompson. Special Guest, Dr. Gordon Chang, North Korea Expert.

On Iran and Turkey

KT — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:05:13 +0000

Iran’s Nuke Deal – Don’t be Fooled

KT — Mon, 17 May 2010 17:47:56 +0000

Iran announces deal to swap nuclear material with Turkey

[See post to watch QuickTime movie]

Obama’s Nuke Policy – Locking the Front Door but Leaving the Back Door Open

KT — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:00:58 +0000

North Korea and Iran’s nuclear weapons

KT — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:22:54 +0000

KT McFarland on Studio B with Shepard Smith. Why crippling sanctions are the best of the bad options. 12/16/09 (FOX News)

DEFCON 3 Debut – Obama’s Afghan War

KT — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:58:09 +0000

DEFCON 3 Debut. 12/7/09

You can watch DEFCON 3’s Debut Show in December at Foxnews.com by clicking on the image below.

DEFCON 3 Debut - 12/7/09

North Korea’s missile test and Iran’s nuclear program

KT — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:27:49 +0000

Will Obama Reward North Korea For Taking Hostages?

KT — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:28:57 +0000

FOXNews.com - August 05, 2009

Does this open the door to serious negotiations over North Korea’s nuclear program? Or is this merely North Korea’s attempt to buy some goodwill from President Obama?

One of America’s greatest but underutilized assets is former presidents. In the majority of countries in the world the only way leaders exit the stage is through death or a firing squad.

Perhaps their greatest value is on diplomatic missions outside the norm — they have stature so their word is taken seriously, but they have no official standing so they can also be at arms length from the sitting president. If President Clinton had failed to get the journalists returned, it wouldn’t reflect badly on President Obama.

From North Korea’s perspective, they could release the two journalists under the guise of showing humanitarian concern but without appearing to cave into American pressure. But make no mistake — they have sent a conciliatory signal to the Obama administration.

What happens next is the key. Does this open the door to serious negotiations over North Korea’s nuclear program? Or is this merely North Korea’s attempt to buy some goodwill from President Obama while they continue in their inexorable march toward nuclear weapons? Will President Obama respond to the journalists’ release by offering something in return?

Net-net, this is a plus for North Korea. They nabbed two American journalists to serve as bargaining chips. They’ve now played those chips. The next move is up to President Obama. If he rewards them for what is, in effect, taking hostages, it will only encourage North Korea to snatch another batch.

Inside North Korea

KT — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:54:34 +0000

Tim Wilson shares pictures where American journalists were arrested in North Korea