Guam stays calm; dismisses N Korean threat

Great. We have a chess game being played between 2 unstable, unpredictable people. What could possibly go wrong?

NK will only attack us bases. so safe.

"B-b-b-b-b-b-but if Hilary wins it'll be WWIII!"

Remember the fear-mongering from the Right about war over a no-fly zone? Those very same crazed people now support Trump's literal push for war.

Smith, totally agree... and those of us who claimed Trump would be a danger to the world were shouted down by the rednecks as they fired their AR15s into the air.

Two loonies with the power to destroy all life on Earth. Any single attack by either side would push the world into an all-out nuclear war.

These two need rubber rooms!

Goodlucktoyou - NK will only attack us bases. so safe.

So, you trust DPRK's guidance systems to actually hit their targets? How close do you live to Yokosuka?

If little Kim does do something as stupid as to attack Guam, the retaliation will be swift and immense (fire and fury). It will be the shortest war ever recorded. My guess would be 48 hours.

It will be the shortest war ever recorded. My guess would be 48 hours.

... And it will engulf all of us :(

Would a sane government please stand up.

Alistair Carnell - ... And it will engulf all of us :(

Nah, that will come later when China steps up to the plate for the US wiping the DPRK off the face of the Earth - in 48 hours.

Trump is getting trolled by NK globally and in real time. After Trump warns of war if another threat is made, NK makes the most direct threat they've made so far literally hours later. It's almost like watching a child getting bullied and slowly curling up into a ball while crying. I assume Russia and China will probably start now too.

America has truly, truly become a joke, but TBH they deserve it for electing for such tragic comedy

NK are not so stupid to attack first. Trump would though.

Both are technically still at War, so there'll be no first shots. However whoever does resume first will be creating the biggest catastrophe that Human-kind has ever known. All prior Civilian Nuclear Fallouts (Chernobyl + Fukushima) will simply pale in comparison to what would result following any Nuclear attack, and we will all lose.

We have a chess game being played between 2 unstable, unpredictable people.

More like two lard-arsed drunks having a slanging match in a bar.

Remember the fear-mongering from the Right about war over a no-fly zone? Those very same crazed people now support Trump's literal push for war.

And thank God she didn't., what a relief! So Trump should let this guy talk trash and threaten us, that was Obama. Trump's not a pacisfist.

that was Obama. Trump's not a pacisfist.

Hold on now. Being pacifist doesn't equate to weakness. This is not Iraq. It would not be a mission completed photo op. It's a delicate situation that should be treated as such. There's loved ones involved here. Don't go posting for war if you're not willing to stand on the front line!!

So far, it is a tweet war among two idiots who take tweets seriously and believe their own rhetoric.

Trump's not a pacifist. No hes just a recalcitrant egotistical maniac with his hand on the football, much more dangerous

Hold on now. Being pacifist doesn't equate to weakness.

Yes, I know the left sees it like that, but that's not at all how our adversaries see it.

This is not Iraq. It would not be a mission completed photo op.

No, you are right it's not. It's an idiot that believes he can threaten and push the US in order to get concessions or to provoke it because he's having a bad day.

It's a delicate situation that should be treated as such. There's loved ones involved here. Don't go posting for war if you're not willing to stand on the front line!!

I agree, it is a delicate situation and I equally don't want the left to take pacifism lightly. Especially when lives are at stake. Also, spare the liberal talking point about wanting to stand in the front lines, it's not like you can pick or choose, it's not Netflix.

but that's not at all how our adversaries see it.

The us army is the most powerful entity in our solar system. Sabre rattling just serves to fill the military industrial complex coffers. No one can stand up to it's might. This is fact. So enough with portraying the army as an underdog. There are no adversaries. Only opportunities to make even more Money.

I agree, it is a delicate situation and I equally don't want the left to take pacifism lightly. 

I'm not a lefty.

 Also, spare the liberal talking point about wanting to stand in the front lines, it's not like you can pick or choose, it's not Netflix.

Oh but you can. If you possess strong conviction,you can do absolutely anything. Care to do so?

I agree, it is a delicate situation and I equally don't want the left to take pacifism lightly.

we are hardly a pacifist nation that sits by while others or the nation itself is put in jeopardy. It is hardly a lefty pasifist position to not want to start a voluntary and avoidable war that will threaten millions and the economic stability of the world just because Trump needs a ratings boost by looking tough.

bass4funk: "So Trump should let this guy talk trash and threaten us, that was Obama. Trump's not a pacifist."

Once again you've missed the point, and fail to recognise your very own flip-flops and hypocrisy. And anyway, trash talk is just talk; it is not bravery or intelligence to threaten world war over someone's insults, bass. You mistake utter stupidity, an extreme insecurity, and childishness in Trump with doing the right thing, not to mention equating DOING the right thing with "weakness".

"I'm not a lefty."

I love it! Next you'll be telling us you're non-partisan again.

You guys and your he is doing this because he needs an ego or popularity boost again.

Cant just ONE time you guys admit he is doing something for the good of the USA and the world because no one else will or did? Nah that's probably too much to ask here. Just go back to your speculation about motives and name calling while he saves us all.

Oh and don't forget to thank the man once this is all resolved by immediately going back to Russia crying and name calling while acting like this never even happened.

Wasn't such a big deal, he didn't really do anything to stop it. I can hear it already.

Cant just ONE time you guys admit he is doing something for the good of the USA 

He's making threats on Twitter for the good of the world? Okay. Lol

Not out of the woods on this one yet, kinda early to be thanking anyone.

So Trump should let this guy talk trash and threaten us, that was Obama. Trump's not a pacisfist.

Yes, he should. Talk doesn't wipe out millions at the push of a button. Stop being so bloody gangsta!

Not American and he can do for USA, as an outsider get zero choice my views hurt.

I love it! Next you'll be telling us you're non-partisan again

BINGO!! Rose above that tribal way of thinking ages ago!!

Yes for the good of the world. Imagine that.

Yes for the good of the world. Imagine that.

Yeah, I can't imagine threatening 'fury and fire' doing much good. Rather stupid actually, he really painted himself into a corner.

That's gonna hurt...Guam tourism industry (for now).

The U.S. has very little time. Either they avoid war and negotiate with a nuclear NK or they take out the ball of fat with a large scale conventional weapons strike. The latter would be the worst option as it would provoke a large scale response from NK who would have nothing to lose and draw in the providers of NK's missiles and technology and funding, namely China and Russia into a protracted military conflict. With the dim-witted Trump and cronies being constantly outwitted by the PR machine of China, Russia and NK, and Trump's collapsing "popularity", I wouldn't rule out the US taking out the ball of fat in the near future. I maintain hope that there are enough people on all sides who are not thick enough to go to war.

Yes, I know the left sees it like that, but that's not at all how our adversaries see it.

The DPRK is not my adversary. Neither is the US, Guam or Narnia.

The real enemies are Kim and Trump, making their threats and taking the world to the brink. Their belicose bickering remind me of a dog who sees it's reflection in a mirror and bares it's teeth, barking and barking.

If the US would stop conducting ariel drills up and down the North Korean border then maybe there would be some semblance of calm. However, the Americans continue to provoke the North Koreans by these games. The B1 bombers that are running sorties are located in Guam. What are the North Koreans meant to do ignore these planes?

Q. Is the Press also partly to blame for raising tensions ?

Q. Is the Press also partly to blame for raising tensions ?

Given that Kim's every hare-brained utterance or visit to the convenience story is give precedence uber alles in his home country and that is relayed globally; yes.

Given that Trump's every hare-brained utterance or visit to the convenience story is give precedence uber alles in his home country and that is relayed globally; yes.

But the news must be reported; even if it is two baby men trolling each other.

Next Question: If the Press reporting is partly to blame for raising tensions, is it because they are drawing their own conclusions out of the need for drawing readership out of sensationalism rather than simply reporting what real information they have to hand ?

Next Question: If the Press reporting is partly to blame for raising tensions, is it because they are drawing their own conclusions out of the need for drawing readership out of sensationalism rather than simply reporting what real information they have to hand ?

Punditry. Rolling news. Hysteria sells. Informed discourse. Ill-informed discourse. Agendas. Speculation. Experience. Historical context. Financial implications. Humanitarian implications.

All of the above. And more. More or less.

Otto Warmbier!? what does he have anything to do with Trump being a nuclear armed recalcitrant egotistical maniac!? Just because a fat kid from NK is waving his new big tool to the world, doesnt mean Trump has to do the same. Theres no debating whos going to get annihilated should a war break out but the loss of life will be mostly from the Koreas. Trumps not just playing with American lives hes also playing with millions throughout asia also

Trumps not just playing with American lives hes also playing with millions throughout asia also

A point which some armchair patriots thousands of miles away seem to ignore in their enthusiasm.

The hawks are pushing for conflict. If I was religious I'd be praying for a outburst of common sense rather than the melodramatic tub-thumping from both "sides".

Just go back to your speculation about motives and name calling while he saves us all. tell the fat boy that "fire and fury" is whats coming his way if he doesnt behave, is that going to save us all, or just add fuel to the simmering fire of war!? I feel a few more NK missile test coming soon thatll be the answer to Trumps threats, then whats he going to do to save us all!? The advantage the crazy NK fat boy has is hes happy to sacrifice every NK life to ensure his and his families legacy survives, is Trump prepared to do that with every American!?

Might be time to to extend that summer trip to New Zealand...things getting a bit too scary right now in NE Asia

is Trump prepared to do that with every American!?

Don't worry; the billionaires, 1%ers and other oligarchs will find refuge in the bunker under Trump Tower/Mar a Lago/through the looking glass...

All this can be averted with greater pressure from the international community to push for dialogue.

The baby men should be left in the creche during talks, mind.

Who benefits from North Korea being a "threat". Wake up.

Make no mistake about it; Trump is the one who instigated Kim Jong into directly threatening the people

of Guam. Sure NK shouldn't be firing missiles and building a nuclear arsenal in the first place, but threatening Kim Jong with "fire and fury"??? Surely, any normal person could foresee Kim Jong firing right back with another threat... Trump's reckless comments are going to undermine the UN sanctions.

Make no mistake about it; Trump is the one who instigated Kim Jong into directly threatening the people of Guam.

What a bunch of garbage! Kim has been saber rattling and threatening the US for awhile, even his father looking in hindsight was way more rational than this kid, Trump just responded and good on him for doing it. 

Sure NK shouldn't be firing missiles and building a nuclear arsenal in the first place,

You say it so lightly and causally like it's just another sunny day at the park

but threatening Kim Jong with "fire and fury"??? Surely, any normal person could foresee Kim Jong firing right back with another threat... Trump's reckless comments are going to undermine the UN sanctions.

No, you got that twisted, I think Trump's rhetoric was too soft IMHO, I would have gone further.

Remember that tough talk is porn for the right. Even if it's counterproductive.

What are the North Koreans meant to do ignore these planes?

What?? Military in the region should 't drill because it might tick off the chubby one? I'll ask you then, are the Japanese meant to ignore the missiles falling into the Japan Sea? They've kidnapped Japanese citizens and 'test' missiles in the direction of Japan regularly, and you seem to think that military drills are the problem. Don't think so.

History repeats itself...

July 12, 1993, the New York Times

" Clinton's Warning Irks North Korea

TOKYO, July 12— The North Korean Government accused President Clinton today of provoking it with threats of war after he warned that the United States would retaliate if North Korea developed nuclear arms. 

The statement by the Communist Government of Kim Il Sung came just hours after it handed over what it said were remains of 17 American soldiers killed in the Korean War. 

On his weekend visit to South Korea, President Clinton warned that if North Korea developed and used an atomic weapon, "we would quickly and overwhelmingly retaliate." 

"It would mean the end of their country as they know it," he said.  

The North Korean Government lashed back today through its Korean Central News Agency, monitored in Tokyo. 

"The United States must ponder over the fatal consequences that might arise from its rash act," the statement said. "If anyone dares to provoke us, we will immediately show him in practice what our bold decision is."

They've been doing this for decades. The US counter-threatens and they back down again and again.

Remember that tough talk is porn for the right. Even if it's counterproductive.

The same way pacifism is for the left.

I am convinced it will happen in my lifetime ( so I'll try to live as long as I can for you guys' sake ). It is unsustainable for NK. They don't have the wealth and the oppressive religion like say... Saudi Arabia. Places like Cambodia and Myanmar are finally changing, and rapidly progressing. The NK people should eventually wake up to what they are going to miss out on for another few decades...

The same way pacifism is for the left.

I didn't ask.

It needs to be mentioned.