US Politics - A Society in Meltdown

How do you know what NK’s capability is regarding a nuclear ICBM? We have no idea how many nuclear weapons they have produced, are producing, or where they are on developing a nuclear equipped ICBM. The only thing we know is that 20 years of diplomacy, sanctions, or whatever by a succession of US presidents has done nothing to slow their program. The argument for doing nothing is that even if they had the capability they wouldn’t launch, as it would result in their complete destruction.

The SK/US alliance is the only thing keeping this nutter regime in check, as long as it’s intact, and we assume dear leader is not suicidal, he will never attack the south. He might kill a few hundred thousand NKs and Japanese, but in a few days it would be over and he knows that. So, it’s a paradox, and there likely is no solution.

Barring ordering a bit of grub iv never done business with a Chinese person. Interested in the above comment. Do they agree to everything and not follow through?

There’s a lot of sneaky snakes out there alright Gil. There’s a decent book called Mr China which basically details how fellas who wanted to invest in China got fleeced of all their millions. It would be quite common for foreign lads to set up businesses over there and then get shafted by their local partner. Not to mention big manufacturing companies (ego BMW) who pour millions in and build new factories only to have the technology nicked and to find a brand new BMW knock off facility built next door.

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In the bit of training I’ve been given on negotiating with Chinese suppliers and in the meetings I’ve had with them, it became very apparent that they don’t want to engage in any form of face to face conflict. They will pretty much readily agree to anything in a face to face meeting and it becomes very obvious very quickly that you have no hope of getting definitive answers, they will be very polite, smile and nod in agreement with everything.
That changes of course when they’re back home and production is actually happening, they don’t fuck around and if there is a problem, they will let you know quickly and usually with a work around / contingency, which generally comes with some form of additional cost. They will charge for fucking anything, which is fair enough. On the whole though, I’ve found Chinese companies great to deal with, once you’ve done enough due diligence with informed third party accreditors. Once you do some business with them and form a relationship, they will move heaven and earth to produce what you need. But face to face is hard going with them and quite frustrating, I’ve learned to just go through the motions of meet and greet, let them go home and then do the real negotiation on email.
@Juhniallio may have a different perspective having lived there (that right Juhy?).

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That’s actually complete bollocks. I’m not saying do nothing, I’m saying steer well clear of making war like noises. In 1998 / 99 the Clinton administration and William Perry (the NK Policy Secretary under Clinton) along with the Sunshine policy adopted by Kim-Dae Jung, the South Korean President, led to American weapons inspectors going into the DPRK and it’s nuclear weapons program stopping until 2003. Then the Bush administration got all John Wayne and that was the end of that.
The sanctions and billigerence displayed by the west towards the DPRK just re-inforces their sense of isolation and a Davy like obsession with us against the. Trump is a gift for the young Dear Leader, as he can show his people, or least the ones with half their brain left, that the world is against them, is about to attack and the only hope they have is complete sacrifice to the country and total nationalism.
Of course we don’t know exactly what weapons he has or what stage the nuclear program is at because we have no engagement with them. It’s the same as when we had all the sanctions against Iran over their nuclear program. During that time, the sanctions didn’t affect the Iranian program at all. In fact, it accelerated and they enriched increased quantities of uranium.
Doing the John Wayne is risen from the grave thing might work well with dumb Americans, but it’s pretty fucking useless for the rest of the world when all it’s led to is an expanded weapons program in North Korea. What was it Lyndon B.Johnson said about tents?

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Great post mate

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Seems a lot of hassle to go through to sell some staplers

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Chinese staplers are generally acknowledged as being the best in the world mate, they are light years ahead in Stapler technology. You should see what they’re doing with cloud-enabled staples.

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They’re a nation of pilfering cunts mate and well you know it. As long as they keep buying your ore I suppose it’s OK.

If they’re pilfering cunts, why do so many American companies base their manufacturing there? Where was your iPhone made?

My Samsung is made in Vietnam mate.

Samsung is a Korean company.

Manufacturing in Vietnam.
Same reason US went to China, lower cost.

So I suppose as long as they keep the prices of your consumer goods down, it’s OK.

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It’s how the world works mate. I would have thought someone from AUS who supplies all the raw materials would understand that.

So they’re alright now? Make up your mind.

What are you on about now mate? Manufacturers will always go for lowest cost, which isn’t China any longer. China is pricing itself out of the picture rapidly, and will collapse before long. The future is automation and machines don’t care about natonaility.

They could if we wanted them to.

I’ve always found them great to deal with.

do you have difficulty telling them apart at meetings?

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