Quote Originally Posted by MrSplitshot View Post
I know it's a lot more complicated than that...and I'm not smart enough to figure it all out...but I'd love to understand the ramifications of letting them fend for themselves and whomever wins, wins.
Well first of all we'd be abandoning an ally we've sworn to protect. Just when the chips are down, we'd be telling them, "Sorry folks, you're on your own." Which of course would immediately destroy any credibility we have with any country anywhere. China, who has been quiet with its support of North Korea, and noncommittal when there has been conflict, would probably see no reason not to openly ramp up their support of the North, and maybe even offer military support. North Korea would continue to enrich uranium, and probably have the bomb in a few years, maybe sooner (which may happen anyway). But of course this is all conjecture, as was said in previous posts. Nobody can say for sure. Besides, if you read the statements that come from the North Korean government, some of them sound like the place is run by a bunch of freakin' lunatics. There's just no predicting what they might do.