Perhaps you were unaware, but North Korea conducted its second nuclear test by exploding a device just this past May 25th. The first underground test occurred May 2nd.
Because of this and other violations, the UN Security Council issued a resolution which asks for all 192 U.N. member states to inspect vessels on the high seas “if they have information that provides reasonable grounds to believe that the cargo” contains banned weapons or material to make them, and if approval is given by the country whose flag the ship sails under.
Yes, you read that correct. The country whose flag is flown on the target ship must be asked for permission to board said ship.
Oh well, that pretty much solves things.
With one caveat: if the country refuses to give approval, it must direct the vessel “to an appropriate and convenient port for the required inspection by the local authorities.” However, “the new UN Security Council resolution calls for ports to withhold fuel and supplies from ships thought to be carrying prohibited items, unless those ships allow themselves to be searched.”
So now, our guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) is following the North Korean cargo ship Kang Nam as it heads towards Myanmar (formerly Burma), the Kang Nam suspected of carrying illegal weapons proscribed by the UN sanction. Mr Obama, I’m certain, counts himself “present” in terms of “monitoring” the situation.
You know the Kang Nam’s captain will refuse to allow her to be boarded for any reason at any location. With that in mind, here’s the beauty of the UN resolution: it does not authorize use of force to carry out its provisions.
No. I am not kidding.
BZ
North Korea is even more emboldened these days because BHO gives the appearance of weakness with his kumbaya foreign policy.
A policy the likes of which allowed Mr KimFunkyHair to attempt this little stunt in the first place.
BZ
I tried to leave a comment then my computer went down. spent some time on it.. Oh well.
Needless to say, Obama is throwing responsibility for foreign policy onto the U.N. we have no responsibility any more. The U.N. essentially will handle it for us pretty much.
Apparently though Juan Williams on Fox said that we shouldn’t be surprised if Obama lobs a bomb on their nuke facility.. Gee, I wonder if he will manage to miss the aspirin factories.. Who knows what he will do if anything.
You would expect the wussies at the UN to authorize thing thing called *force*??
What is this thing of which you speak? Force?? That is a strange word to those of the UN…
But, the UN DOES make sure N Korea can’t use force, too, RIGHT? (heh heh)
This is NUTS.
We also have taken away something like 19 anti-missile bases or something from Alaska, was it?
JUST IN TIME, huh? Oh (#@*$)*(#$&*(
The UN and any resolution it makes is as toothless as a stuffed toy. And like a previous commenter stated, Obama is just about as useless!
As America weakens, the world becomes a scarier place by the minute.
VW
Does ANYONE else find it interesting that the one vessel that is there to intercept The North Korean Ship is named after John McCain?
Sometimes I think the entire universe run on Irony…..
Ironical indeed.
When, perhaps, that selfsame ship finds itself constricted by actual laws. And obeys them.
BZ
UN sanctions are just like the UN itself. Armed thugs and unarmed good guys.