Nuclear Pressure

Signs that North Korea may be planning to test a nuclear weapon prompted the United Nations atomic watchdog on Friday to ask world leaders to urgently pressure the reclusive state to desist.

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"I hope every leader who has contact with North Korea is on the phone today with North Korean authorities to dissuade (them) from a test," ElBaradei told reporters on the sidelines of a U.N.-sponsored conference on nuclear disarmament.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan, flying with President George Bush to Latvia, declined to discuss the intelligence reports of a possible test but said, "If North Korea did take such a step, that would just be another provocative act that would further isolate it from the international community."

Wow, Bush 'n' Co, that's some brutal stick there you're weilding at North Korea, the threat of "international isolation..." ... or is that your carrot...? It's hard to tell. In fact, the only thing that seems to be evident from Scotty's firm language [sarcasm] is that the Administration still hasn't figured out what it plans to do. Hey, time's wasting, we need to know.

How can we contain these true nuclear threats? Coupled with Iran's insistence on the manifeste destiny of nuclear power, these are frightening times. Not convinced? Ask Mr. McNamara, who has lived through the most intense nuclear times of all.