We hear today that there is doubt that North Korea actually tested a nuclear bomb. Let me be the first (I think) to propose a possible explanation for this:
The leaders of the coalition of the willing (US, UK) simply do not know how to react to an actual North Korean test. They threatened, they bolstered, they saber-rattled prior to but if the poor, underdeveloped and underfed nation went ahead and did it anyway what does that say about the real power of US military hegemony? What does it say about the neoconservative worldview and foreign policy? What message would this send to Iran and others?
The basic principle behind this theory is that the neoconservatives are simply stumped. They did not acknowledge the test, they made no overt increase in military readiness and now they are attempting to paint a picture that the North either did not test a device or if they did it failed.
(Of course trying and failing - after being warned not to try - is not nearly as bad as trying and succeeding right? Seems to me either way North Korea intended to explode a device and thumb its nose at the US and allies.)
The theory is just that simple. The US could not threaten North Korea into not testing, so now they will deny it happened and if that does not work they will downplay the size of the weapon of the delivery capability of North Korea delivery systems. They will paint this in any way possible other than a failing of foreign policy or the fact that military strength just might be stretched a bit thin.
Update: Here is a story on a site fond of conspiracy theory (but I declare I wrote my idea first - not saying they stole my thoughts, only that I published first). Let's see how long it takes for this theory to run the mill of extreme conspiracy theorist to more middle of the road CT advocates -or if it happens at all.
Update II: Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer stated on Wednesday that; "We're still in the process of trying to evaluate that, and as soon as we reach a determination on it we're going to share that with the rest of the world," Ambassador Thomas Schieffer told an group of business leaders in Tokyo.
"The truth of the matter is it could be some time before we are able to do that. Because the yield was so small, we may not be able to make a real determination at all," he said.
And then there is neocon mouthpiece Tony Snow reiterating that there is "a remote possibility that we will never know".
When the truth is ugly and you do not know what to do - deny, deny and delay!!
That is just it - saw a funny piece on the Daily Show tonight from the "embedded" reporter in NK. He mentioned that this is such a difficulty for Washington precisely because the nuclear test became a reality and our foreign policy is not really configured to deal effectively with reality – we do much better at swatting phantoms.
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