Wonder how much Kim would pay to have me and my crew sign up with him....:ping:.....

Stratfor - a defense analyst bureau - has a somewhat different conclusion. Here is an extract of a recent article:

Kim Jong Il undoubtedly ranks very high among the world’s most idiosyncratic world leaders. But he has deftly transferred and consolidated control over a country that was run by a single individual, his father, for nearly 50 years. By balancing various groups and interests, he has both maintained internal control and loyalty and kept the attention of some of the world’s most powerful countries focused on North Korea for more than 15 years. Indeed, he has overseen the allocation of resources necessary to build both crude intercontinental ballistic missiles and crude nuclear devices while faced with crushing international sanctions. This is the track record of a competent (if annoying) leader, not a crazy one.

If Kim was merely suicidal, he has had the artillery, artillery rockets and short-range ballistic missiles at hand to destroy Seoul and invite a new Korean War since before his father died — a choice that would be far quicker, cheaper and even more complete than the prototype nuclear devices that North Korea has so far demonstrated. Rather, his actions have consistently shown that his foremost goal has been the survival of his regime. Indeed, he has actually curtailed much of the more aggressive activity that occurred during his father’s reign, such as attempting to assassinate South Korea’s president.

While Kim’s actions may seem unstable (and, indeed, they are designed to seem that way in order to induce an element of uncertainty at the negotiating table), Pyongyang regularly uses ballistic missile tests and even its nuclear tests as part of a larger strategy to not only keep itself relevant, but to ensure regime survival.

So, you are obviously living in the wrong times.....:hmmm:.....

I follow you, Paul. And the SH is a very good means to soothe ones frustration of a world that doesn't conform to one's own ideas. That said, and as a compliment to my insert on North Korea, the powers villifying North Korea doesn't necessarily do it because they themselves are so nice. Or have pure motifs. It is all a power play - ensuring one's own interests. Which were also the reason for the two large conflicts of the last century. Just my opinion.

Surface, switch to outside view and put on "J'attendrai" on the record player. You have the perfect screensaver.....:sunny:....

This ends this Sunday (it is Sunday, is it not...?) morning's deep-dive into this forum. Now onto the deck (the garden, that is) The weather is terribly nice here now. Like sunbathing on the deck West of Freetown.....:cool:...

They emigrated because it was too hot. That's why they settled on Greenland.....:03:....