I can think of more possibilities. First, did the N.Koreans actually build the missiles, or at least the guidance systems, or did they buy them? It is entirely possible if they were purchased, that they could be super-controlled by a third party, and allowed to succeed when the third party considers it useful.

There are so many unknowns in this equation, the only thing we can be sure of is the intention was not friendly.

I recall an oriental adage:

To scare the monkey, kill the chicken.

You do not have to hit the target to threaten the target. It is even safer to fall short, but leave doubt.

Man, I am sick of that sick nation

Austin Bay weighs in: Sure, the missiles are big news but they aren’t the strategic shocker. The shocker occurred in August 1998 when Pyongyang tested a long-range ballistic missile. That launch revitalized the United State-Japanese alliance and blew…

Hey Kim, your Dong failed. No wonder you’re so ronery.

This morning the ILL manic has fired another one.Oh, an idea, perhaps we can send Kim Jong Il’s buddy, Clinton’s former Sec of State, Madeleine Albright over there to kiss up to him and then everything should be alright. Albright stated Il watches CN…

I don’t worry much about his ability to hit the US…Hell, this missile has a better Chance of failing and destroying his own country or perhaps even China. Now that would be interesting to watch.

NKor threatened to test missiles
Japan, U.S., China, Russia, U.N.(?) and others told them not to.
They have done this anyway.
Several countries seeking U.N. resolution.

We should be seeing a multilateral military force monitoring the ruins of all thier known launch sites and missile manufacturing plants in the next day or so.

If the MSM was truly for the U.S., they should have front page headlines snickering at Lil Kim’s impotent Dong dysfunction. Maybe Rush can spare him some extra blue pills. More than likely, Lil Kim is just going to have to be content with some warm and fuzzy cuddling with the objects of his desire.

“…can we assume that North Korea is ruled by a mad man that even China cannot or will not control?”

I think we can assume that North Korea occupies a significant amount of attention that would otherwise be focused on China. China is using North Korea as a pawn and “L’l Kim” is too dumb to figure it out, or too insane to care.

Allah’s all over it….

I wonder is ‘Lil Kim shot the scientist in charge of the failed launch.

If they’d spend as much time and effort feeding their people as they do trying to start a war maybe they’d have a population of well fed happy people instead of the starving masses.

Still, what a wonderous 4th of July this is. Imagine the reverse, if the Discovery would have fallen apart on takeoff and the Taepodong-2 would not have been a dud during the test.

Wake up, the other half of North-America – I include Canada here, as it could be hit as well.

doingwhatican, you are very funny. This dwarf needs to be cut to size.

I’m sure we all know people who are afflicted with what is often called “The Napolean Syndrome.” This is a condition where a poor soul’s consciousness is regularly occupied with the suspicion that his height is at the front of the minds of his contemporaries. They are not seeing him for his personality or his talents. They only see his height. He, therefore, compensates by being a jack-ass. The cruel irony in this situation is what I would call an axiom in human discourse – insecurity is a self-fulfilling prophecy.