BOOM! There, I said it...

in reverse order -

George Bush is a lying, fucking, hypocrite whore!!!

Phew! I finally got THAT off my chest...

- U.S. calls for sanctions against N. Korea:

"WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States has vowed to press for tough international sanctions against North Korea over its claimed nuclear test, while scientists have raised questions about whether the test was a success.

U.N. Security Council members will resume closed-door discussions Tuesday of the U.S. proposals, which include cargo inspections and an embargo on goods that could be used in Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programs.

America's lead negotiator on North Korean issues urged sanctions that are tough enough to show North Korea's reclusive leader, Kim Jong Il, that he made a "very, very costly" mistake if a test was indeed carried out.

"He is going to really rue the day that he made this decision," said Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill Monday in an interview with CNN.

North Korea's announcement triggered widespread international condemnation and set off alarm bells in neighboring capitals.

Earlier Monday, after speaking with the leaders of China, South Korea, Russia and Japan, U.S. President George W. Bush condemned what he termed a "provocative act" -- and bluntly warned North Korea against trying to export its nuclear know-how.

The president said he assured the leaders of Japan and South Korea, both close U.S. allies, that the United States "will meet the full range of our deterrent and security commitments" to them. However, Bush insisted the United States "remains committed to diplomacy" to settle the dispute.

Analysis shows small explosion

Meanwhile, scientific analysis of an explosion, which North Korea said was a successful nuclear test, raised questions about the claim.

The apparent nuclear test was conducted at 10:36 a.m. Monday in Hwaderi near Kilju city, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing defense officials.

U.S., French and South Korean experts estimated that the power of the explosion, about 240 miles northeast of Pyongyang, was equivalent to about 500 metric tons of TNT, which a senior U.S. intelligence community official said was unusually small for a nuclear blast.

By comparison, nuclear tests in 1998 by India and Pakistan were about 24 to 50 times as powerful, according to the Federation of American Scientists.

Also, the small size of Monday's explosion may make it difficult for geological sensors to pick up radioactive emissions that would effectively confirm a nuclear test -- raising the possibility that the international community may never know for sure whether North Korea actually has a working nuclear bomb.

Despite the ambiguity, Hill said U.S. officials "have to work under the assumption that North Korea did what it said it was doing" and push for a tough sanctions resolution at the U.N. Security Council.

"We're just not going to accept that North Korea, with its starving population, is going to be able to join the nuclear club," Hill said. "We're going to work very hard to make sure North Korea understands the cost of this."

North Korea recently has test-fired seven missiles, including a long-range ballistic missile in July, but it's unknown whether Pyongyang possesses the high-technology expertise to construct a nuclear device small enough for a missile delivery system.

U.S. Security Council debate sanctions

The Security Council Monday unanimously condemned North Korea's announcement, and diplomats began hashing out the details of a sanctions resolution.

A draft proposed by the United States calls for an international embargo on any goods or materials that could be used in North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, as well as inspections of cargo going into and out of the country.

It would also prohibit financial transactions that might support missile activities, freeze assets related to North Korea's weapons program, impose a ban on luxury goods and take steps to prevent counterfeiting by the Pyongyang regime.

The sanctions would be approved under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which would make them binding on all U.N. members.

In addition, Japan has proposed denying North Korean ships and planes permission to travel outside the country, banning imports of North Korean products and a prohibiting international travel by high-level North Korean officials.

While senior U.S. officials said there appeared to be "substantial" support for "strong sanctions," it remains unclear whether Russia and China -- which hold veto power on the Security Council and have voiced opposition to U.N. sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program -- would go along with a tough punishment for North Korea.

Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said "the North Koreans will be facing a very serious attitude on the part of the Security Council and the entire international community."

Asked whether his country would back sanctions, China's U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya, said that "the door to solve this issue from a diplomatic point of view is still open."

"China is ready to discuss with other council members to see how the Security Council could react firmly, constructively and prudently with regard to this challenge," he said.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, said the early reaction by Russia and China to the strong U.S. approach was "positive."

"I think they were taken by surprise by this test," Bolton said. "I think they realize how unacceptable this is."

China role seen as critical

Hill said the U.S. view is that China -- as North Korea's neighbor and long-time patron -- will be key to getting a meaningful sanctions regime passed, and he expressed optimism that could happen, given the strongly worded rebuke the Chinese government offered after North Korea's announcement.

"China is clearly, clearly upset," Hill said. "The Chinese have indicated they're going to work with us in New York, and we'll see what we get. But I think we can get something that will be far more than just some sort of angry letter. I can assure you of that."

However, Hill stressed that the United States would be working with the international community on a response and would not act unilaterally.

"We can't do it unilaterally. This is not a U.S. problem," Hill said. "We need to deal with our partners (and) allies, and that's what we are doing."

North Korea's U.N. ambassador, Pak Kil-yon, said Monday that the council should "congratulate" his country's scientists and researchers on their achievement, instead of issuing what he called "notorious, useless and reckless resolutions."

Pak said the test was "very, very successful" and will contribute "to the maintenance and guarantee of peace and security in the (Korean) peninsula and the region." (Text of North Korea statement)

Asked if North Korea planned further tests, Pak told reporters, "That will be enough, you don't think so?""

- Bush misled about N. Korean nuclear deal to Libya -


- Here is what was published today on the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace website:

"U.S. Leadership with China, South Korea and Japan Key to Containing Nuclear Chain Reaction

By George Perkovich
Published: October 09, 2006
Without prompt, effective, leadership by the United States in response to the reported nuclear test by North Korea on October 8, two other consequences could follow: regionally, a nuclear chain reaction could take place in the form of an arms race, or, internationally, Iran could take a cue to be more provocative in the nuclear arena.

The most important thing is for the United States to take the lead in involving Japan, South Korea and China in very intensive diplomacy about how all of the major powers in Northeast Asia can avoid the temptation to engage in an arms race which will exacerbate fears of a nuclear confrontation in the region. Given that some people perceive that Japan's new leadership might wish to reconsider Japan's nuclear policy, it is vitally important that the United States lead an intense and sustained effort with Japan, South Korea and China to clarify each other's intentions and policies in ways that avoid any nuclear competition. These countries must take up the difficult task of determining what is the new objective toward North Korea -- is it to dismantle North Korea's nuclear weapons program, to limit the size of its arsenal, to limit its capacity to deliver its weapons on missiles, to prevent further proliferation of nuclear materials or technology to other states or terrorist groups, to isolate them further or to change the existing regime?

If it is concluded that the North Korean test was a technical failure, it is absolutely imperative that the United Nations Security Council take every step conceivable to prevent North Korea from testing again. As with its missile test, failure may make North Korea more determined to recoup its lost face by trying again. North Korea is a country that has chosen to isolate itself throughout most of its history. As a result, when it wants something from the United States and other countries, North Korea becomes incrementally more aggressive. It does the same when it also feels frustrated and threatened. This test is a signal of them wanting something and feeling frustrated.

China is a key actor because it provides the resources on which the North Korean elite depend for their own comfort. Stepped up efforts from the South Koreans and Japanese will be equally important as they will influence China's own calculations. Therefore, China, South Korea and Japan have to decide how hard they are willing to work to prevent North Korea from doing this again. The United States and China will have to work together to identify a common bottom line. With China's tough response and a restrained reaction from the United States, there may be an opportunity to do that as both parties move towards the middle.

As for the Iranian implications of the North Korean test, Iranian hardliners will be watching to see whether there is any effective international reaction against North Korea. It is crucial that Russia and China especially, due to their involvement in the North Korean talks and as veto wielding members of the Security Council, make sure that whatever signal is sent to North Korea is one that inspires caution within Iran.

Having calm, focused diplomacy thinking about the long-term is critical now. Working to build a cooperative front, and being careful to avoid knee-jerk Congressional action here in the United States, is vital to maintaining a constructive and effective course of action. The United States and other nuclear weapon states must pay more attention to steps they could take to prevent a chain reaction of other countries conducting nuclear weapon tests; now is the time for far-sighted, collaborative, and smart policies to prevent the further spread and use of nuclear weapons."