Force Is Diplomacy

"Weakness is provocative. It entices people into doing things that they otherwise would not do."

Beleaf it or don"t - all Great Satan fans know that might make right in Great Satan"s power for good

At a fundamental level, defense policy is foreign policy. Weakness, real or perceived, invites challenge; strength deters it. Ronald Reagan understood that, which is why he built up American power in the 1980s. Teddy Roosevelt understood it too; his policy was to walk softly while carrying a big stick.

Take NoKo for instance

The North Koreans believe they can provoke conflict with impunity. Perhaps they can in the short term. But a more capable American Navy, exercising an increased presence in the Northwest Pacific, would be a long-term setback for North Korean and Chinese ambitions. That is a consequence neither regime could ignore the next time North Korea contemplates a new provocation.

Here is one step that would be very meaningful. Great Satan should announce she"s substantially increasing her naval shipbuilding program. At the same time, privately inform the Chinese government that if China cannot (or will not) control North Korea, Great Satan will have no choice but to maintain a permanently increased naval presence in the East and South China Seas.

In short, the administration should put real power behind its “Asia pivot.” That’s the last thing North Korea wants. More important, China wants it even less. Sure bet that as soon as Great Satan made such an announcement — and it could be delayed until after the current crisis if the administration thinks it would be escalatory in the current context — the phone lines between Beijing and Pyongyang would heat up.

Pic - "Because North Korea has such a rich history of extreme rhetoric, they must be more and more extreme in each crisis, or no one will pay attention to them."