I was having a discussion this past weekend with a couple friends (one who is Jewish and both undoubtedly staunch republicans) and somehow the discussion turned toward how they felt Obama has terrible foreign policy. One went on about the pirate thing and not standing up fully against it until it was over (though he had to authorize the strike) and also, how he felt N. Korea would walk all over him as they have China's backing and nobody has the balls to mess with China.

I kind of had an epiphany at that moment in that if you look at the scenarios, North Korea is very similar to Israel. Both receive aid from a larger, cornerstone nation (Israel from the US, the cornerstone - mostly anyway - of capitalism and N. Korea from China, the cornerstone of Communism) and both seem to feel they have the ability to act as they please much like a child in the schoolyard who knows hi bigger brother has his back. Neither would be nearly as stable on their own merits.

To be honest, the more the discussion went on, the more I saw it. The only real difference I can see is the geography of the enemy. Israel is dead smack in Arab/Muslim territory with Iran a very short missile flight away while N. Korea's greatest threats are thousands of miles away (albeit, still very much within missile range).

In the end, neither has been assaulted in any way for militant actions largely, I believe, due to their sizeable backers.

How about this side:

Israel is a dog that fights for the biggest bully in the yard. N.Korea is a dog that fights against the domination of that bully. In this, I think, they are dissimilar.

But North Korea does not fight the biggest bully just for that reason but out of their own aspirations of greatness. Much like how Israel fights out of their aspirations for expansion of their homeland.

They both fight for their own self-interest.

You're right. I should have said: "sent to fight". They fight for the same, their own.

I am a little unsure about N.Korea though. Theoretically, yes, they must become an aggressor, as they are socialist. In practice? All they are doing is they are trying to hold their own. That is what nuclear weapons are for. Israel, has already received their nuclear gift from a rich daddy, and is busy pushing everyone around.

Btw, is Israel still a socialist country? I have kind of lost track on that.

You say Obama had to authorize the strike. You are wrong, a American live was in danger and the Bainbridge captain should have reacted especially when Ships captain Phillips tried to escape
By raking the life raft with machine gun fire but he, Bainbridge captain, didn’t, why, incompetent or under orders not to shot.

You compare N. Korea to Israel. I must have mist a lot. When did suicide bombers blow up pizza parlors in N. Korea? When did heads of state talk about destroying N. Korea? As I read you, you say what N. Korea threatens is thousands of miles away. No, Seoul is only 26 miles south of the boarder.