THIS WEEK IN PICTURES

PRAGER UNIVERSITY: College Made Me a Conservative

"Give us five-minutes and we’ll give you a semester." - Dennis Prager

This semester of Prager University is presented by:  Jay Stephens

"I was being brainwashed; indoctrinated.  And I was paying for the privilege with borrowed money...[A]nother black hole in the college experience:  Useless majors; the only thing more pervasive than marijuana and irresponsible future leaders." – J.S.

"'A conservative is just a liberal who got mugged'...So, I guess, in a round-about way, I did get something of value out of my expensive liberal arts education after all:  Common sense." – J.S.

The entire Prager University Course List

THIS WEEK IN PICTURES

PRAGER UNIVERSITY: Why Did the Democratic South Become Republican?

"We teach what isn’t taught." - Dennis Prager

This semester of Prager University is presented by:  Carol Swain

"The Democratic Party was the party of slavery and 'Jim Crow.'  And the Republican Party was the party of emancipation and racial integration...The myth of the 'Southern Strategy' is just the Democrat's excuse for losing the South., and yet another way to smear Republicans with the label 'racists.'  Don't buy it." – C.S.

"(The) story of the two parties switching identities is a myth.  In fact, it's three myths wrapped into one false narrative.  Myth #1:  In order to be competitive in the South, Republicans started to pander to white racists in the 1960's...Myth #2:   Southern Democrats, angry with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, switched parties...Myth #3:  Since the implementation of the 'Southern Strategy,' the Republicans have dominated the South." – C.S.

The entire Prager University Course List

Attack the NorKs?

I'm assuming most Americans think the situation in North Korea has resolved itself - after Kim decided not to launch towards Guam a week ago.  If only it were that simple...Reality is nothing has changed in North Korea, and the situation hasn't gotten any better.  In fact, it's pretty predictable that we'll be back to two weeks ago sometime this week - because the U.S./South Korea annual military exercises have begun.  Which are a terrible source of anger for the NorKs.

Mark my words, the situation will be back to full scale craziness in the next few days.

So, I figured I'd get ahead of the curve, and review my take on the matter...It's the same as it's ever been.

"No American president before Trump did anything serious, much less effective, to deter Pyongyang. No president before Trump did anything to convince China to change its fundamental decision that it was better off supporting Kim's regime and its weapons programs than risking some alternative.  The only way to change China's calculus is to convince it the alternatives are worse...The administration is pursuing a dangerous path. Unfortunately, tepid diplomacy without credible military threats was dangerous, too. It ultimately failed, and we paid a price for waiting. The result is a nuclear crisis with no sure outcome, a mushroom-shaped question mark." - Charles Lipson

Winston Churchill famously said "Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma"...North Korea is an entirely different type of riddle, mystery and enigma:  It's a complete cluster fuck - where logic and historically sensible options are the real riddle, mystery and enigmas.

On April 30th I gave my take on this matter.  Nothing has really changed since then, other than more and bigger talk.

I hope you read the post back then, and will revisit it today...I still believe I am right about the situation.  Read the entire post here:  We Should Attack North Korea's Nukes!!!

"[W]e need to be VERY AWARE OF REALITY!...Someone is going to have to pay a big price for attacking North Korea."

Pat Buchanan had it right back in 1999...He is even more correct today.

"Why should Americans be the first to die in any second Korean war?...With twice the population of the North and twenty times its economic power, South Korea...is capable of manning its own defense.  American troops on the DMZ should be replaced by South Koreans." - Pat Buchanan (1999)

"Why not move U.S. forces off the (Korean) peninsula, let South Korean troops replace them, sell Seoul all the modern weapons it needs, and let Seoul build its own nuclear arsenal to deter the North?  Remove any incentive for Kim to attack us, except to invite his own suicide. And tell China: Halt Kim's ICBM program, or we will help South Korea and Japan become nuclear powers like Britain and France.  Given the rising risk of our war guarantees, from the eastern Baltic to the Korean DMZ - and the paltry rewards of the American Imperium - we are being bled from Libya to Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen - a true America First foreign policy is going to become increasingly attractive.  Kim's credible threat to one day be able to nuke a U.S. city is going to concentrate American minds wonderfully." - Pat Buchanan (2017)

Also, since the South Koreans are the ones who will pay the largest part of the 'butcher's bill' - other than North Korea, that is - they should have a say in the matter.

"War must never break out again on the Korean Peninsula. Only the Republic of Korea (South Korea) can make the decision for military action on the Korean Peninsula." – South Korean President Moon Jae-in

That said, no matter what President Trump and his team decide to do, they better get a 'national consensus.'

Trump should be meeting with all the living presidents (both Bush's, Clinton, Obama) at a minimum...He'd be wise to also get all the living Secretary's of State and Defense, the previous heads of the CIA, and leadership in both parties in both houses of Congress on board as well - regardless of what we do.

If he decides not to attack North Korea, and they let a nuke fly there is going to be hell to pay.  If the U.S. doesn't want to go to war (and it doesn't), he's going to need as many people explaining why it's necessary as possible...Especially if our missile defense system isn't as good as everyone hopes.

If Trump decides to attack he better have all his ducks in order.  We've made too many military mistakes since WWII, and the biggest reason for this is because we've entered into military engagements without the American people buying in as a whole...If the choice to attack North Korea is made, Trump should force Congress to make a declaration of war.  This will give the project legitimacy, will ensure the war is paid for properly, and will force both Republicans and Democrats to own the decision - as should be the case in all military interventions.

Some may ask, 'Why should Trump ask for all this buy in?  Especially from Democrats?'

The answer is simple:  The American people are a mess, and whether we do or do not attack North Korea - with all the intended and unintended consequences the choice will involve - Trump is going to need as much help as possible to explain his decision.

THIS (PAST 2) WEEK(S) IN PICTURES

I never do more than 20 pictures on this post, but this past two weeks has been one for the books...So, I'm putting up 30 this one time.
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