N.Korea test poses new challenge for Bush

[cal04]

(snip)
The test could mark a significant escalation in Pyongyang's nuclear advance and presents President Bush with a major foreign policy challenge less than one month before midterm elections.

The U.S. Geological Survey said it detected a 4.2 magnitude tremor in North Korea at 10:35 a.m. local time (0135 GMT), 240 miles northeast of the capital, Pyongyang at a depth of 0 miles.

Reports of the test came as the United States has been preoccupied with trying to prevent a civil war from breaking out in Iraq and to stop Iran from pursuing a nuclear program that Washington believes is aimed toward a nuclear weapon.


David Albright, a former U.N. weapons inspector, told CNN:
(snip)
Albright said his own analysis was that Pyongyang "felt increasingly backed into a corner.... If they felt insecure ... or they felt insulted by the West ... (then) they're responding with the nuclear test in response to the pressure they feel from the United States."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/09/AR2006100900022_2.html

[cynatnite]

1. Is there anything bush hasn't fucked up? n/t

[Erika]

2. A simple No is the answer

Clinton left him with a contained world and peace iniatives.

The world backed him in going after the Taliban in Afghanistan. That was the only thing W iniated that was good and he fucked that up.

[and-justice-for-all]

3. Blues Clues is a challenge for ShrubCo. nt