North Korea, Ballistic missles, and us

[whell]

Japanese lawmakers may press for first strike capability:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/north-kor...--finance.html

Hmmm....that sounds familiar....

[nailer]

Originally Posted by whell

Japanese lawmakers may press for first strike capability:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/north-kor...--finance.html

Hmmm....that sounds familiar....

That's okay by me.

[donquixote99]

What started WWI was an aging Empire's determination to punish a smaller nation....

Yes. See what you mean.

[nailer]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

What started WWI was an aging Empire's determination to punish a smaller nation....

Yes. See what you mean.

The Oberste Heeresleitung started WWI. At the last minute the Emperor and his PM changed their minds, but were told it was too late to stop the trains (so to speak). The execution of the Schlieffen Plan was the be all end all at that moment in German history.

[icenine]

Originally Posted by nailer

The Oberste Heeresleitung started WWI. At the last minute the Kaiser and his PM changed their minds, but were told it was too late to stop the trains (so to speak). The execution of the Schlieffen Plan was the be all end all at that moment in German history.

The causes are indeed complex, but the assassination of the Archduke was the fuse that caused the powers to mobilize. Discounting the assassination as the fuse that lit the keg is false revisionism.

[nailer]

Originally Posted by icenine

The causes are indeed complex, but the assassination of the Archduke was the fuse that caused the powers to mobilize. Discounting the assassination as the fuse that lit the keg is false revisionism.

Your buying off on the lie agreed upon. The Germans were the driver. They declared war on two fronts, attacked and violated Belgium's neutrality. Their choice. Not revising a thing.

[icenine]

Originally Posted by nailer

Your buying off on the lie agreed upon. The Germans attacked. Their choice. Not revising a thing.

History.com says you are full of horse hockey and I concur:

"The assassination of Franz-Ferdinand and Sophie set off a rapid chain of events: Austria-Hungary, like many in countries around the world, blamed the Serbian government for the attack and hoped to use the incident as justification for settling the question of Slav nationalism once and for all. As Russia supported Serbia, an Austro-Hungarian declaration of war was delayed until its leaders received assurances from German leader Kaiser Wilhelm that Germany would support their cause in the event of a Russian intervention–which would likely involve Russia’s ally, France, and possibly Britain as well. On July 28, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and the tenuous peace between Europe’s great powers collapsed. Within a week, Russia, Belgium, France, Great Britain and Serbia had lined up against Austria-Hungary and Germany, and World War I had begun."

[merrylander]

So why else do you think that anti missile battery is being put in place in South Korea?

[donquixote99]

The tiny quibble is that the Oberste Heeresleitung was a wartime organization and did not come into existence until after the decision for war was taken, so you can't pin the war on the group of that name. The Großer Generalstab is what existed prewar. Of course, the Großer Generalstab 'staffed' the Oberste Heeresleitung when it was formed, so the distinction is not exactly stark....

The big quibble is that it's not clear to me that the Austrians only attacked Serbia with German permission/instigation.

Nonetheless, I do believe the Germans embraced the war in anticipation of a quick and glorious conquest of France....

[nailer]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

The tiny quibble is that the Oberste Heeresleitung was a wartime organization and did not come into existence until after the decision for war was taken, so you can't pin the war on the group of that name. The Großer Generalstab is what existed prewar. Of course, the Großer Generalstab 'staffed' the Oberste Heeresleitung when it was formed, so the distinction is not exactly stark....

The big quibble is that it's not clear to me that the Austrians only attacked Serbia with German permission/instigation.

Nonetheless, I do believe the Germans embraced the war in anticipation of a quick and glorious conquest of France....

Picked nit acknowledged. Should've used the generic German General Staff.

The Austrians were indeed acting with the Germany's tacit approval and then some. The Germans were surprised at Austria's unreasonable demands of the Serbs which pretty much guaranteed war. The Austrians would've backed off if told to. The Austrians were looking for a little fight, the Germans a big one, the Germans had their weaker brother's back against the Russians, the French had the Russian's back against the Germans, and the British were guarantor of Belgium neutrality and weren't about to let Germany dominate Europe. BOOM!