HUNGRY MAN'S T-SHIRT SAYS: 'NORTH
KOREA'
[Het Parool, The Netherlands]
Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
'Prague Spring …
Pyongyang Frost'
"With his comprehensive
approach, Obama gains much of what his predecessors so spectacularly failed to
achieve: the moral capital with which to pressure those who break the rules. …
The trouble is, however, that the greatest threats to international security
today come from actors who have long since ceased playing by the rules - and
who have done so with complete impunity.
EDITORIAL
Translated By Jonathan Lobsien
April 6, 2009
Germany
- Financial Times Deutschland - Original Article (German)
Barack Obama’s disarmament
initiative presents many opportunities - but North Korea promptly demonstrated
its limits.
Yes, we can! Twice on Sunday,
the world learned what it means to make the impossible possible.
In Prague, Barack Obama
committed himself to a grand vision of a world without nuclear weapons. For an
American President, that's a downright revolutionary tone, even if Obama was
equally clear that this is a project for the century. not a concrete goal for
the next four years.
North Korea, meanwhile, for
the first time launched a long-range missile, which was officially to send a
satellite into space, but could also be conveniently adapted for military
flights to Japan or the west coast of the United States. Yes, we can! - the
bizarre regime in Pyongyang included.
Speeches and rockets - bold
idealism and cold-as-ice power politics clash head-on.
Barack Obama’s initiative is
borne out of a strong moral impulse, but it would be inappropriate to dismiss or
classify it as aloof musing. The U.S. president has made concrete proposals for
new disarmament talks with Russia, as well as better international control of
nuclear material. There are common interests, so progress could be made.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
President
Obama addresses in Hradcany Square in Prague,
Czech
Republic. The president called for more aggressive efforts
to rid
the world of nuclear weapons.
WATCH 
His announcement that the United
States would change its own nuclear weapons policy could lend new authority to
the 1968 Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty. This treaty denies its signatories - like Iran,
for example - their own nuclear bombs; but in return, the recognized nuclear
powers are obligated to nuclear disarmament. Instead, the nuclear powers have
continued to upgrade their nuclear weapons - which has repeatedly diminished their
credibility.
With his comprehensive
approach, Obama gains much of what his predecessors so spectacularly failed to achieve:
the moral capital with which to pressure those who break the rules and the
influence to forge international alliances in the event of rule-breaking. To
this end, Obama left no doubt in Prague: whoever flouts the rules must be
punished.
SEE ALSO ON THIS:
Financial Times Deutschland, Germany:
'Prague Spring … Pyongyang Frost'
Die Welt, Germany:
Obama's 'Erroneous' Comments on Nukes
Gazeta, Russia:
Obama and Medvedev: Good Mood Music that Skirted the Central Issues
Le Figaro, France:
President Obama: 'What a Change for the Alliance!'
Der Spiegel, Germany:
'Yankee Bombs Go Home':
Foreign Minister Wants U.S. Nukes Off German Soil
The trouble is, however, that
the greatest threats to international security today come from actors who have long
since ceased playing by the rules - and who have done so with complete impunity.
The North Koreans have simply ignored the protests and U.N. resolutions against
its new missile game. Just as they always have.
CLICK
HERE FOR GERMAN VERSION
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US April 6, 7:59pm]
