Stephen Lendman

America favors bullying over responsible diplomatic outreach, lying over truth-telling, dominance over mutual cooperation, war over peace.

Addressing Security Council members on Friday, Secretary of State Tillerson turned truth on its head, claiming years of US “well-intentioned diplomatic efforts to halt (North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile) programs have failed.”

“It is only by first dismantling them that there can be peace, stability, and economic prosperity for all of Northeast Asia.”

“With each successive detonation and missile test, North Korea pushes Northeast Asia and the world closer to instability and broader conflict.”

“The threat of a North Korean nuclear attack on Seoul, or Tokyo, is real. And it is likely only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the US mainland.”

Fact: Washington never negotiated in good faith with North Korea since the Truman era.

Fact: America’s rage for dominance through endless wars and color revolutions threatens all sovereign independent countries.

Fact: North Korea sought nuclear and ballistic missile deterrence capabilities for defense to protect against possible US aggression.

Fact: No preemptive DPRK threat exists against any country - not America or any regional ones. Tillerson lied claiming otherwise.

Tillerson: “(F)or years,” Pyongyang “defie(d) multiple UN Security Council resolutions…(T)here is no reason to think (it) will change its behavior…”

Fact: “For years,” Washington rebuffed North Korea’s diplomatic outreach. Instead of extending recognition and welcoming it into the world community of nations, reckless US hostility persists.

Tillerson: “For too long, the international community has been reactive in addressing North Korea. Those days must come to an end.”

“Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences.”

'We have said this before and it bears repeating: the policy of strategic patience is over. Additional patience will only mean acceptance of a nuclear North Korea.”

Fact: America’s rage for wars and dominance is “the most pressing security issue in the world,” threatening “catastrophic consequences.”

Fact: North Korea wants nukes for defense, not offense.

Tillerson: “(T)he time has come for all of us to put pressure on North Korea to abandon its dangerous path.”

Fact: It’s time for the world community to renounce America’s war on humanity, threatening its survival.

Tillerson urged increased diplomatic and economic pressure on Pyongyang over responsible outreach.

Claiming America’s goal “is not regime change” is a bald-faced lie. So is saying US policy isn’t to “threaten North Korean people or destabilize the Asia Pacific region.

Millions of casualties, vast destruction, chaos and human misery attest to US ruthlessness. Its imperial madness threatens everyone.

As long as it exists, North Korea and other independent nations would be foolhardy to abandon whatever military deterrent they’re able to develop for self-defense. Otherwise they’re vulnerable to rape and destruction.

Tillerson’s solution is polar opposite what’s needed, wanting North Korea punished more than already - including political, economic and financial isolation, tougher sanctions, and other counterproductive measures.

He threatened war, saying “all options for responding to future provocations must remain on the table.”

Bullying won’t get Pyongyang to bend to Washington’s will. As long as it continues, catastrophic US-instigated nuclear war is possible.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at http://www.sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
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