WHAT DID WE TELL YOU?  - AT 7:44 A.M. ET:  Please compare this to our comments at 7:10 regarding the anticipated North Korean rocket launch, and our confused response.  This is from The Politico:

Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak have agreed to a "united" response to any North Korean missile test.

"They agreed on the need for a stern, united response from the international community if North Korea launches a long-range rocket, and to work together in the course of that," the statement from South Korea reads.

The White House issued a similar statement, but did not use the word "stern" to describe a potential response.

"They discussed the issue of North Korea and promised to continue close cooperation in the effort to peacefully and verifiably eliminate North Korea’s nuclear programs, weapons and materiel through Six-Party Talks. In that regard, they urged North Korea to abide by the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and agreed on the need for a unified response by the international community in the event that North Korea launches a long-range missile," the White House statement reads.

COMMENT:  Nice, huh?  Our South Korean allies say "stern, united response," and we undercut them by leaving out "stern."  Great message to send to the North Koreans, who are probably laughing in their soup.  The U.S. cuts loose another friend.

Words have consequences.  In January of 1950, Secretary of State Dean Acheson gave a speech indicating where the American defense line was around the world.  He left out South Korea.  Six month later, the North Koreans attacked across the 38th parallel and almost captured South Korea.  Acheson's speech was pointed to as one of the elements that made the North feel it could get away with the invasion.

History doesn't repeat itself.  The psychology of history repeats itself.  Be alarmed. 

April 2, 2009