Wikilosers

Wikileaks may have put lives in danger in China, and for what? The New York Times:

A Chinese intellectual, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared exposure, said the disclosures had left some Chinese who had had contact with United States diplomats “nervous” about the possibility of persecution by the authorities, who had blocked access in China to the WikiLeaks Web site.

Some people have been saying blithely that the era of secrecy in diplomacy is over. Too bad for the billions still living under tyrannical or authoritarian regimes such as those in Iran, North Korea, or China, where dissidents and other sources of vital information will think twice about trusting an American diplomatic or intelligence contact again.

The Exceptionalism Of U.S. Volunteers

U.S. Navy deck crew coordinate with U.S. Naval aviators of the F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter attack aircraft as they prepare to launch off the deck of the USS George Washington, during a joint military exercise off South Korea's West Sea, in South Korea's West Sea on Tuesday. Jets roared off a supercarrier in U.S.-South Korean war games Tuesday, as the U.S. and two crucial Asian allies agreed to talk in Washington about North Korea's attack on a South Korean island and the North's nuclear weapons programs. (Photo and caption: AP/Wally Santana)

We'll Give Up Ours If You Give Up Yours

Charles Krauthammer thinks President Obama's call for the abolition of nuclear weapons would carry more weight if he were more effective at persuading Iran and North Korea to give up theirs.

Willing To Break Some China

Good for the loyal opposition. While the Obama administration has been relatively gentle on the Chinese now that they own $1 trillion worth of us, Sen. McCain says China should pressure North Korea on its nuclear program.

Russians Were Expecting A Space Station Visit

Evidently Moscow lost Secretary Clinton's "reset" button after the North Koreans pressed their "fire" button. New York Times:

Igor N. Shcherbak, the Russian deputy envoy, said that his country did not think it was a violation of the resolutions banning ballistic missiles, but he added that Russia was still studying the matter.

Kwangmyongsong-2 Blues

The North Korean launch was a dud.

Obama Needs Washington AND Nixon

Conrad Black argues that good intentions alone won't be enough to deal with regimes in North Korea and Iran:

Barack Obama, who quotes Washington and Lincoln with the insight of an historian and not just a leader who has good researchers, could profitably borrow a few pages from Richard Nixon’s playbook. The Father of the Nation and the Saviour of the Union, for all their travails and distinction, never had to deal with such unfeasible characters as Ahmedinejad and Kim Jong-Il.