North Korea successfully tested a nuclear weapon Sunday night, to near-universal condemnation from the global community. The picture on the front page of the NYT is of Bush standing behind a lectern looking like he's yelling at someone. The key thing to note is, it's all words. He can meet with Japanese, Chinese, and Korean leaders all he wants, but the US has no troops to commit to overthrowing North Korea, which has been pursuing a nuclear weapon for at least five or six years, and has always presented a greater threat than Iraq. I resent the fact that when an actual threat to global stability is presented, the US cannot be there to fight it. We're reduced to a cheerleading, money-spending role. There's also the matter of which response is appropriate. I am against economic sanctions; in truth, I'd rather more money/food be sent to misbehaving countries. I want McDonald's, Burger King, Macy's, and a Wal-Mart in Pyongyang - I think that's a far more effective Western victory than any army could deliver. In seriousness, the answer to Kim Jong Il misbehaving is not to further starve the people of North Korea. We'll see how this one develops.

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