The nuclear issue has been overwhelming the news reports and international diplomacy this week, primarily the way that North Korea and Iran are dealing with their own desires to build and test nuclear weapons. A few thoughts:
1.    No one needs permission for that.
2.    How did the U.S. do it?
3.    What should be their next step?

I’ve been going back and forth in my mind about how the diplomatic sessions must happen- as in, are people pleading with each other or are they arguing or is it just a civil conversation- like, what are people saying? Kim Jong-Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have both walked out on sessions, boycotted meetings, and generally made their dislike for the rest of the world getting in their business well known- it seems that they don’t really want to work with anyone and nobody wants to work with them. But they do want nuclear weapons, which means we all have to work together. Now the back and forth in my mind is all about- what do you say and how do you say it? The fact is, nobody needs permission to build bombs- that’s not how it works. So if we can’t say you aren’t allowed to build bombs, what can we say?

Hey Iran, we really really really don’t want you to build any nuclear refinement plants- is that cool with you? Oh, and North Korea, we really really really want you to stop sending out test missiles to show everyone how powerful you are- does that sound good?

Both countries have secret programs going on that conceal the fact that they are doing whatever nuclear programs they are doing- but how did the U.S. do it? Oh, yeah, secret project called something about Manhattan… now of course the circumstances were different, but before we demonize these guys and their countries for wanting to secretly develop nuclear weapons, let’s remember that this is exactly what we were doing 75 years or so ago- it’s not horrible or diabolical, it’s a natural urge for power, control and self-determination.

The idea that a country who feels threatened and does not fit in with the rest of the world should want to have some weapons that will make other countries think twice about messing with them is not a novel concept, you know? They want some punches to throw back at the bully- or at least something to point to, like, we’re just as bad as you, and you think we’re hard to deal with now? Want me to use those puppies?

So what should we all do next? The diplomatic sessions are obviously not working. What it comes down to is that we want to force these guys into not have a bunch of nuclear weapons, so it is time for massive sanctions. Nothing in nothing out for a year- cut off imports and exports and just see how it works for them to deny the global community the peace of mind that comes from their countries not having nuclear weapons. That would be a truly devastating bomb to drop.