Note: The guy on the left in the second photo has his eyes firmly shut while he fires. Mark of an amateur.

Every one of those images reminds me of Hollywood. Phony.

The Norks would most likely loose, badly, if they struck. But don't misunderestimate what damage the original assault might render. There would be several intense days of heavy fighting and significant Nork incursion into the South before things "stabilized" and the U.S. and S. Korea turn the tide. Low supplies and hunger and demoralization would do the rest. Or so we think. And DO keep in mind who our "leaders" are at this time, and remember their capacity for throwing away what should be complete victories.

Underestimating the enemy. After ten pointless years in Afghanistan.

Er, no.

"The Norks are a joke." Hmm. Now, that sentiment has a certain nostalgic ring to it. Where could I have heard something similar before?

Oh yes. Now I remember. 30 April 1975. I lived at Fort Bragg at the time. It was not a nice day to be an Army brat.

"But we could've won in Vietnam (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.) if we'd gone all out." True. We could have. But we didn't go all out. Instead, we sacrificed planeload after planeload of young men in a protracted quasi-war in each case. And in each case, the men we sacrificed were sacrificed for nothing. Vietnam (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.) is as bad or worse than it was before we "fought for their freedom".

We didn't go all out in Vietnam (Iraq,Afghanistan, etc.) We won't in Korea, either -- and for the same reason: because "going all out" in Korea means World War III, or IV, or whatever goddamned war comes next in the series.

The NoKos are not the Krauts -- basically civilized Westerners in thrall of a kooky ideology. Nor are they the Viet Cong, basically civilized Easterners who just wanted to be left alone to enslave one another. The Norks are a whole different breed of cat -- a sort of combination of the Japanese Army on Okinawa and the Westboro Baptist Church. Like Westboro, there's no reasoning with them. And like the Japs on Okinawa, they are not going down without a -- if you'll pardon the term -- final banzai.

Think about what we had to do to win on Okinawa. Now multiply it times ten. That's what we would very likely have to do to decisively win a war with the Norks. To beat them once and for all we would end up having to nuke Pyongyang, Wonsan, and a bunch of other places, most of them full of starving civilians, and then occupy the whole peninsula up to the banks of the Yalu River.

Now, do any of you honestly think that the bastards in Beijing are going to let us nuke another couple of cities full of yellow people, and then march 25,000 troops up to their back door without completely voiding their bowels?

Well, I don't.

I want to see the detestable North Korean cult regime gone just as much as anybody, but I'm not going to sit here like Pollyanna and pretend that getting rid of Kim & Sons is going to be a cakewalk.

And neither should you. as long as they're ranting, they're not shooting. Let them rant. As Churchill said, "Jaw, jaw is better than war, war".

We'll fight them if we have to, but I sincerely hope we do not have to. The last time we did it was a disaster for all concerned. Every one of you should get down on your knobby knees tonight and beg a merciful God to spare us another war in Korea.

My sentiments are similar to those expressed by Mr. Lewis.

All those goofy looking characters will go where they are told, when they are told.

I just deleted four paragraphs on the subject of what to expect from our leadership. But then I just gave up.

The enemy isn't across any line. They are in the CP.

@Bill Jones: Too true!

@B Lewis: Indeed they could rain mortars and artillery on Seoul before we could muster a response. Enough to kill many, many people. I don't know if they have nukes but I'd wager dollars to donuts they have germs and gas and wouldn't hesitate to use either. I knew The New Dr. Evil would have to show a strong hand but this is more bellicose than they've been in a long time. I wonder what's driving it.

I get a kick out these. I particularly like the 8 manpower outboard on that assault boat. Look! No oars!

Possibly when the Glorious Imperial Legions go into action, they will be led by the up-and-coming crop of female Marine Corps infantry officers.