Crazy Is The New Normal

We have a running theme around here about how crazy the world is. (See). But there are some countries that really typify the insanity. Usually, they are far flung places like:

North Korea: where they plan to launch long range missiles which are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. And, because missiles aren't always labeled accurately (sarcasm), there's no way for the international community to know if the North is trying to launch satellites or to practice sending up nukes... or actually sending up nukes... Part of the confusion might be the fact that North Korea has said they will detonate a third nuclear bomb as part of a "test"... around the time they send up the new long range missiles. So Japan and the U.S. plan on shooting down any big rocket that goes up. North Korea is super angry about that and has planned "merciless retaliation." [Meaning they plan on throwing a hissy-fit and then getting their rears handed to them by Japan, South Korea and the good ol' U.S. of A. if they are dumb enough to actually send artillery into the South.]

Then there's places like Iran. Iran, is very much crazy. So much so, that they skew the "crazy" bell-curve so far right that things like modern day imperialism seem pretty mundane (e.g. the Falkland Island dispute between Argentina and the U.K.).

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Uh-Oh

North Korea's diminutive (and now dead) leader, Kim Jong Il, has left behind a power gap which will likely be filled by his son, Kim Jong Eun. You might think Kim Jong Il's death is good news but, really, it's kind of not.

Here's one quick example of why... Almost immediately after Kim Jong Il's death, the "People's Republic" launched several short range missiles as part of a "test." Those missiles didn't hit anyone, thankfully, and, of course, it wasn't the first time they did something like this but you get my point. The North will threaten war and follow through with an overt act if there is the slightest perception of weakness. The former runt, Jong Il, seemed to make that the basis of his entire foreign policy. A transcript from one such foreign policy meeting read as follows:

"Dear most-high, Supreme Leader who is stronger than superman, Chuck Norris and all ninjas, the South has put up a new mall threatening us and our people with capitalist propaganda. We are told they have color televisions for sale. What should we do?"
...
"Shoot them."
...
"Ahhh, yes sir! Very good wisdom sir. Very wise. We will shoot one of their boats and blame them for a border incursion."
...
"Say what you want, just shoot something."
....
"Yes, very good sir. Will do, sir."

Well, to top things off, we are now hearing that the North's nuclear arsenal is not entirely, how should we say, "stable." The presumed leader to be, Kim Jong Eun, son of diminutive and worthless tyrant, Kim Jong Il, will be the likely predecessor but whether he can keep control of the faltering country is anyone's guess. If he does rise to become supreme overlord, who is most tall and honored and of great height and handsomeness, it's not likely that he'll pursue peace talks given his worldly upbringing by dear old dad. So... in summation... there's an unstable country, in an unstable region, with unstable leaders and a collection of unstable isotopes just waiting to destabilize further. Merry Christmas.