A total failure of foreign policy on all levels. Once again.

The failures and breakdowns on every single level of foreign policy by Bu$hCo and the neocon war criminals are in the spotlight yet again.  On a day where most of `Murka was “celebrating” the birth of our country with flag waving, singing and empty gestures of “patriotism”, North Korea test fires at least 6 missiles, including at least one (possibly two) long range missiles which are potentially capable of striking the US mainland.

Quite a smack in the face to a once-proud country that, not too long ago was an example of freedom, democracy as well as “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”.  Once again, we see just how dangerous and incompetent this administration is when it comes to dealing with crisis, other countries, and threats to America.

Regardless of the reasons, the success, or the ultimate outcome from the latest “fuck you” from North Korea, this will once again show the toothless tiger that Bush, Rumsfeld, Rice, Cheney and the rest of the neocon chickenhawks are when it comes to any kind of foreign policy.

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The failures are truly amazing – not only in magnitude, but also in scope, lies, indifference, diplomacy (or lack thereof), poor decisions and gawd-awfully stupid rhetoric.  The list of countries where this administrations “reverse Midas touch” has directly impacted (or threatened) is vast and long.

Afghanistan, where all hell has broken loose because of the decision to “cut and run” in 2003.  Iran, who not only reached out to the US after 9/11 on 3 separate occasions before 2003, only to be blown off at the behest of Cheney and Rumsfeld.  We all know how bad Iraq has been and how there were no WMD found, no plan after the invasion and now is pretty much in a full blown civil war.  Sudan, where the situation in Darfur and the lack of US interest is appalling.  Venezuela, where a democratically elected leader is receiving death threats from lunatic Bu$hCo enablers like Pat Robertson.  The situation with Israel and Palestine has gotten progressively worse.  Our “new best friend” Pakistan was helping North Korea in its nuclear ambitions.  Hell, even the UK views us as a vulgar, crime-ridden society obsessed with money and led by an incompetent president whose Iraq policy is failing.

The failures on our side aren’t just astounding.  They are extremely dangerous.  And before anyone says that “this was Bush and the neocon’s plan all along”, well that ain’t an excuse.  That is just more confirmation of the treason that is being committed by those who purport to “lead” this country.  Our “elected” leaders swore to uphold, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.  They have told us that they are “here to protect us from evil and from those who want to do harm to us and our way of life”, which of course is nowhere in any oath that is taken.

So what now?  

Noone can find WMD in Iraq, so Rice, Rumsfeld, Cheney and the neocon crew make up evidence and lie about “mushroom clouds” in order to invade Iraq.  Rumsfeld warned North Korea back in 2002 that we can “fight two wars at once”.  I believe the exact quote went something like this:

“I have no reason to believe that … North Korea feels emboldened because of the world’s interest in Iraq,” he told a briefing at the Pentagon.

“If they do, it would be a mistake,” because the U.S. military was perfectly capable of fighting two major regional conflicts while continuing to engage terrorists across the world.

“We are capable of winning decisively in one and swiftly defeating in the case of the other,” he said. “Let there be no doubt about it.”

Just great, Rummy.  How’s that first war going?  Are we “winning decisively” in Iraq?  Or is Iraq the “other one” that we would “swiftly defeat”?  Or maybe those were really Afghanistan, which is going so swimmingly now.  So well that NATO had to send in thousands of troops in order to quell the violence.

And the contrast now, with an emergency UN session convening this morning, what is the US role in this?  A mess that was at least partially directly related to the conscious decisions by Bush, Rice and the rest of the criminals in charge to threaten North Korea, not talk to them directly, declare them as part of the “Axis of Evil” and use the typical “bring em on” incompetence and attitude that has resulted in so many of the horrific situations we are facing around the world.

Even at the UN emergency session, the US has no teeth.

Japan is expected to present a resolution protesting North Korea’s missile tests, according to another UN diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso called for UN action and warned there was a “very high possibility” Tokyo would level economic sanctions against North Korea.

Aso and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice agreed later in a telephone call that their countries would cooperate on addressing the issue through the United Nations, Kyodo News agency reported.

Whether this is the right approach remains to be seen.  Certainly, with the way that the neocons, most republicans and talking meatsticks think and act, this is yet another exposure of their inconsistent and dangerous rhetoric and actions. But, let’s throw their words back at them, “why are we deferring to the UN and not taking serious unilateral action against this rogue country who is an “imminent threat?  How weak do we look to have a country give us the finger on Independence Day?  What makes this less of an “imminent threat” or a “grave and gathering danger” to us than Iraq was?”  

Not that I think this is the right way of thinking, of course, but these are the very words used by those “patriots” who thought that chest thumping our way to world domination was the way to deal with other nations.

Diplomacy with respect to Iraq.  Finishing the job in Afghanistan.  Not blowing off Iran.  Dealing with the genocide in Sudan.  Taking a leadership role with respect to Israel and Palestine.  Recognizing the true threat with North Korea.  Consistency in action, especially in light of Pakistan’s behavior towards the likes of AQ Khan, India and North Korea.  Inflaming our already strained relationship with Venezuela.

This latest action by North Korea may well be a major threat to the national security of this county and many others which are closer in proximity.  It could very well get much uglier.  And through it all, it is just another in a long line of scathing indictments of US foreign policy under the “yee-haw” administration.