Mattis Warns North Korea Of “Massive Military Response” To Nuclear Threats

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Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, left, accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, right, speaks to members of the media outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017, regarding the escalating crisis in North Korea’s nuclear threats. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

While I never want to find myself agreeing with Trump or any of his gang, this is one time I have to side with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. On Sunday he shot back at North Korea’s latest nuclear provocation with a blunt threat, saying the US will answer any North Korean threat with a “massive military response — a response both effective and overwhelming.”

While he said America does not seek the “total annihilation” of the North, he added somberly, “We have many options to do so.” In a brief statement to reporters outside the White House, Mattis said the international community is unified in demanding the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and said leader Kim Jong Un should know that Washington’s commitment to Japan and South Korea is unshakeable, the AP reports.

Earlier, Trump raised the stakes in the escalating crisis over North Korea’s nuclear threats, suggesting drastic economic measures against China and criticizing ally South Korea.

Mattis said,

“Any threat to the United States or its territories, including Guam, or our allies will be met with a massive military response — a response both effective and overwhelming.”

Those words alone were within the usual bounds of US commentary on answering North Korean aggression. But he seemed to take it a step further with the reference to “total annihilation.”

Mattis, who did not take questions from reporters, said he had attended a “small group” national security meeting with Trump and others and said the president wanted to be briefed on each of what Mattis called “many military options” for action against North Korea.

“We made clear that we have the ability to defend ourselves and our allies, South Korea, and Japan, from any attacks, and our commitments among the allies are ironclad,” he said.

Even a stopped clock is right once a day and in the case of North Korea’s continuing provocations this is one of those times.

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Professor Mike

Professor Mike is a left-leaning, dog loving, political junkie. He has written dozens of articles for Substack, Medium, Simily, and Tribel. Professor Mike has been published at Smerconish.com, among others. He is a strong proponent of the environment, and a passionate protector of animals. In addition he is a fierce anti-Trumper. Take a moment and share his work.

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