MAD

Just listening to President Obama talking in Prague.

Heart may well be in the right place, but on nukes he seems to have neglected the fact that some genies are out of bottles.

Also, he seems not to have heard of the concept of mutually assured destruction.

Admittedly that worked only with leaders in states that wished to survive and thrive, which with some in the Middle East and North Korea might not be the case, but I can't really say I agree that having 'em means using 'em, at least in the terms he tried to suggest.

But he certainly has the kiddies in the square in his pocket. Who knows? Maybe it will work. I just hope they get the right feeds, and messages, in Islamabad and Pyongyang. Mind you, even if 'they' do, I'm not so sure their people, who are often not an electorate, will.

I'm sure Neville Chamberlain meant well, too. And for a while enjoyed basking in the glow of being everyone's favourite pacifist. Especially Hitler.

Ironic that he's making this speech in Prague. Or maybe deliberate? Or just tempting fate.

Telegraph - North Korea claims 'victory' over rocket launch as UN deadlock continues

Telegraph - Barack Obama can't make rogues like North Korea play by his rules - what goes down (like a lead balloon), might go up... sadly

Gaurdian - With a rocket, Obama's hope is shot back down to earth - By way of payback, who reads this far? Balances out. Hold that thought.

I guess some just HOPED others would CHANGE.

Meanwhile, the nuke genie gets uninvented and pops back in the bottle.

Me, I just think the whole thing is MAD:)

Addendum:

Telegraph - Japan 'should develop nuclear weapons' to counter North Korea threat - Oooooo....k.

The appeal of anarchy

Mutual Admiration Society

Speaking of gushing admiration....

Just finished watching the coverage, and discussion of 'the arrival'.

Including, his 'coolness', 'No drama Obama'. Your words.

I was interested about the lack of interest in protocol mentioned. Just breeze in and turn up. Very man of the people. And I can see how that has an appeal. Certainly playing well with some media.

Which rather leads one to suspect that we will soon have the interesting spectacle of spin doctors trying to 'arrange' a 'casual' approach in future.

Reminds me of the poster I saw in Singapore ('Spontaneity seminar: please make sure you book in advance').

Also one feels for the logistical planners for such as the motorcades when the whole sorry lot are in future vying to turn up when the feel like it rather than to schedule.

Casual... or just more chaos?

'Working on it'

Obama's team has only one answer: we're working on it

I have to say I agree it is a bit early to be too critical, and 'we're working on it' does seem to be reasonable and even quite honest in the circumstances.

I just hope that they are, and the work proves of value.

Otherwise it may just go down in history as a US version of another joke phrase uttered a tad too often, and now to great, if bitter hilarity outside of parts of Westminster and BBC studios in the latter half of the last decade: 'I'm just getting on with the job'.

Many tend to think in response: 'Then, on current evidence, I really wish you'd stop'.

I think I'm starting to see the problem.

Scroll down and see the video of Peggy Joseph.

Be a good American: Pay my mortgage

Meanwhile, over the pond back here....

Mightier than the sword

Barack Obama's party in Chicago risks harming his mandate

'A crowd of a million Americans full of the moment is bound to contain some idiots,'

Meanwhile, a crowd of any other nationality will doubtless contain only .... er... choirboys and girls.

Nicely crafted. No excuse, but it rather explains much that has followed.