The other side of midnight

"It is time to fix this problem from the other side of midnight. Once we do that, we can fix another tough problem in the Middle East (Iran). As was said in the Godfather - 'time to take care of family business.'" 

Years ago, Sidney Sheldon wrote a somewhat steamy and salacious novel called The Other Side of Midnight. I might have read it (if was published in the early 70's), but if I did, I don't remember it. In any event, this article is not about that book. It is about the true other side of midnight - living on the other side of the International Date Line. 

I have lived a portion of my life on the other side of midnight. Many men my age also have. Why? Viet Nam. Young men were either stationed there or close by. In World War II we had thousands of young men also stationed on the other side of midnight. The same is true for the Korean conflict.

But World War II is over. The Korean conflict (we thought) is over. And Viet Nam is over. But our sights are still set on that area of the world. Why? The coming North Korean showdown.

As I write this, it is not even 4 pm on Tuesday. Yet in Seoul, South Korea, it is approaching dawn on Wednesday. Today (Wednesday) is the day something could happen on the Korean Peninsula. This war of words by the North Korean madman could transition to a hot war. And if it did happen on Wednesday (their time), most of us would probably be asleep (our time).

If Kim Jong-il does not back down from his truculent and provocative threats, bad things might be in the forecast. He has been warned numerous times. If he conducts a nuke test on Wednesday, or test fires a rocket, I am afraid (for him) the ship is going to hit the sand.

Like what? On Wednesday night (over there) maybe a visit from a group of F-117 stealth aircraft. Or B-2 stealth bombers. Or Tomahawk missiles from nearby destroyers, all aimed at the artillery and missiles primed and ready to take out Seoul. Why? We will not let Seoul fall. And we will degrade North Korea's forces enought to ensure that does not happen. 

What do I think? I think right now, Kim Jong-il is drinking his own bath water, just like Saddam did before the Gulf War. Even thought we are in a bit of a lull right now with our armed forces (thanks for nothing Obama!), we are still not a paper tiger. We can strike and strike hard. 

Do I want war this week? Absolutely not! I want the North Korean people to come to their senses and effect regime change. Way past time to get rid of these guys. By the same token, if they can not change their government, we need to look out for us (that be the USA) first. So if war comes, it will be quick and ugly. Many will die, mostly on the Korean Peninsula.

This is finally it folks. The show down. No more posturing. No more President By-Stander like with Obama or Bush. This is "no s**t for real". No more being threatened by this pipsqueak on a weekly basis. And no more tormenting, torturing and killing his own people.

It is time to fix this problem from the other side of midnight. Once we do that, we can fix another tough problem in the Middle East (Iran). As was said in the Godfather - "time to take care of family business." If you saw the Godfather trilogy, you know exactly what I mean.