ANTIOPTIMISM: Pakistan and North Korea

From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@aeiveos.com)
Date: Sun Nov 24 2002 - 10:14:34 MST


In spite of the optimism that I commonly see springing
up from the Extro List, I am forced to present:

In North Korea and Pakistan, Deep Roots of Nuclear Barter
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/24/international/asia/24KORE.html?pagewanted=print

My recently received copy of "From the Desks of Eric Drexler and
Christine Peterson" (for those of you who are Foresight/IMM Senior
Associates) contained some interesting comments about where
idea futures are going. [Including the fact that DARPA seems
to be funding Robin Hanson in directing an idea futures project
related to future international risks.]

It seems (to me) to be worth considering that the current U.S.
administration has its attention focused on the wrong problem
(Iraq vs. N. Korea). And that doesn't include any discussion
on what it would take for Pakistan to fall into the radical
Muslim hands. Recent events in Nigeria seem to be only the
tip of the iceberg in terms of what might develop.

And so I am forced to ask -- *where* is Europe in all of this?
How bad would it have to get before Europe would bring itself
to the table as a really active participant? [It seems like
all the recent NATO activity has been simply having pleasant
conferences and more form rather than substance.]

Here is an interesting point -- It seems a generation after WWII
are Japan and Germany still permanently sidelined -- i.e.
they will not seriously participate in any military action.
Will that ever change?

Critique away -- I'm mostly offering this as food for thought.

Robert



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