Mad Dog Mattis Threatens North Korea with Mass Destruction

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Aggressive war is the only language spoken in Washington - diplomacy not an option with sovereign independent states.

On Sunday, Defense Secretary Mattis warned US forces could launch a "massive military response" against North Korea following its latest nuclear test, more powerful than previous ones. Here's his full statement:

"We had a small group national security meeting today with the president and the vice president about the latest provocation on the Korean peninsula."

"We have many military options, and the president wanted to be briefed on each one of them."

"We made clear that we have the ability to defend ourselves and our allied - South Korea and Japan - from any attack, and our commitments among our allies are ironclad."

"Any threat to the US or its territories including Guam or our allies will be met with a massive military response, a response both effective and overwhelming." 

"Kim Jong-un should take heed in the United Nations Security Council's unified voice. All members unanimously agreed on the threat North Korea poses and they remain unanimous in their commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula." 

"We are not looking to the total annihilation of a country, namely North Korea, but as I said we have many options to do so."

Fact check:

The threat of US aggression against sovereign independent states is ominously real, North Korea a possible target.

In its entire history, the DPRK never attacked another country. It threatens none now - not America, South Korea, Japan or any others.

Its leadership genuinely fears possible US aggression, believing nuclear and ballistic missile weapons are essential deterrents - for defense, not offense.

For decades, it's wanted rapprochement with Washington and West. US policymakers seek confrontation over diplomacy, risking possible war now or later, creating a dangerously unstable situation.

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping both stress dealing with it diplomatically is the only option. Seoul's University of North Korean Studies Koo Kab-Woo stressed the DPRK "will continue with its nuclear weapons program unless the US proposes talks" - an option Trump rules out.

China's Global Times (GT) said North Korea's "nuclear issue…reached deadlock." On Monday, Security Council members will hold another emergency meeting to consider a response to its latest nuclear test.

China opposes "a full embargo on North Korea," GT explained. So does Russia - because imposition would be hugely destabilizing. It would give the DPRK a greater incentive to accelerate its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

GT explained the "root cause of the North Korean nuclear issue  is that the military pressure of the Washington-Seoul alliance generates a sense of insecurity for Pyongyang who then believes that owning a nuclear strike capability is its sole guarantee for survival of its regime."

War on the Korean peninsula would gravely affect the region. Nuclear war would be catastrophic. Millions could perish. 

Mattis earlier said it "would be probably the worst kind of fighting in most people's lifetimes."  Trump's threat about unleashing "fire and fury like the world has never seen" sounded like the ravings of a madman.

Would he dare attack North Korea preemptively? Will generals running his geopolitical agenda urge it?

Refusal to engage the DPRK diplomatically assures no way of resolving crisis conditions diplomatically. Surgical strikes won't work. Catastrophic full-scale war would follow.

On Sunday, asked if he intends war on North Korea, Trump responded "(w)e'll see."

East Asian nations and their people have nothing to fear from Pyongyang - plenty to fear from America's rage for unchallenged global dominance, aggressive wars its favored strategy.

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