The Korean Conundrum

How Should The U.S. And The U.N. Handle North Korea's Nukes?

(CBS)  The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney.

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I served in the United States Army for four years during World War II, so I never feel I have to worry about sounding unpatriotic when I’m critical of something my country does.

Right now, I don't understand why we think it is OK for us to have nuclear weapons but it isn't all right for some other countries to have any. I don't think any country should have a nuclear weapon. And that includes ours.

Seven countries admit having them. They are The United States, Great Britain, Russia, France, China, India and Pakistan. Israel may have them, but hasn't said so.

North Korea has recently set off a nuclear bomb of some kind, and the leaders of the countries with the bomb - that includes us -are in a tizzy about that.

We're a little late getting exercised about this. North Korea has always been more of a threat to world peace than Iraq ever was and if we were going to attack someone three years ago to make the world safer, we should have attacked North Korea, not Iraq.

We're not so much afraid that North Korea will use the bomb against us as we are that they'll sell their nuclear technology to some little country or group of individuals who will use it on us. It could happen.

It's not hard to understand why North Korea wants the bomb. If we Americans lived in North Korea instead of here, do you think we'd be in favor of our little country having it? You’re darn right we would.

President Bush did the right thing when he presented the United Nations with our complaint against North Korea instead of declaring war on them. I'm not a big fan of the U.N. It's been an ineffectual organization but we've got to give it more power and the way to give it more power is to give it more responsibility. The U.N. should take the bomb away from North Korea; we should not.

I've said it, and I'm glad.

[raceland5]

Andy Rooney's October 15, 2006 CBS 60 Minutes Commentary regarding the world community and nuclear weapons moved me in such a way that I can only describe by saying, "Mr. Rooney you spoke my heart", I thank you, and I feel better for hearing it spoken.

I pray that our world leaders had the ears to hear you,the mind to understand and the heart to embrace.

Thank you,
Raceland

[keithk01]

yes it's right.


" Keith Knutsson "

[effallah]

Andy, I'm glad to help you out in your befuddlement. North Korea signed a treaty in which they agreed not to pursue nuclear arms development. They lied about their goals and broke the treaty. The world is now trying to figure out what to do about it.

Don't hesitate to contact me should you have any other questions.

[tgar0812]

Dr. Mr. Rooney....Saying you don't understand something just to attack the war effort. If you really can't figure out why we don't want Iran or N. Korea to have nuclear arms yor an idiot

[kevin67a-2009]

I take comfort in the illiteracy of the opposition (MauiDave). They completely disregard reason, and only come to the defense of a "soldier" when he/she disagrees with the current President. Or is that "discussing" as well?

Semper Fi

[alanrobisch]

I've never been to war (4F). My father was yet the fact that he was drafted and served in the army in WWII didn't either make him a patriot. It's hard to define patriotism and I could say that a person works to help the country get better and supports the country in doing this would be a patriot. Where this gets dicey is that what constitutes doing good for the country. If you are a pacifist or against a certain war that doesn't mean you don't want the best for your country yet opposition to war as a knee jerk reaction imho other than pacifists is the contrary or patriotism and any attempt to support the enemy during a war directly whether you are against the war or not is imho treason. Jane fonda did precisely this. she may not have been a traitor but imho she certainly not a patriot.

What gets even more complicated is in situations such as Iraq demonstrations and attempts to undercut the war effort helps to embolden the enemy who figure that if they hold out long enough they will gain the goal they want so anti war demonstrations here encourage those abroad to persist. Does this make anti war activists unpatriotic I don't think so but I do think that any person resisting wars should understand and realize the danger of helping bring on our defeat and helps to encourage further bloodshed because the people who choose to wage war see this as a way to further discourage us and end the war or at least our involvement in the war.

[mauidave]

How disgusting, another Republichicken hawk, disparaging a war vetran. From the sound of his comments, one might suspect that he's in an "undisclosed location" with Duck Chaney. I sure hope you never have to go fight in a useless war for some one like Bush.

[mauidave]

It discusses me to hear Republichicken hawks, who've never been to war, disparage the patriotism of a war vetran. Makes me wonder if kevin67 is in a "undisclosed location",hiding out with Duck Chaney.

[gmcnally2]

You mention the UN is ineffectual and they should take the bomb away from N. Korea all in the same breath. It can't. So how about a proposal that is achievable?