February 2, 2007

Here’s a news item that should sour your corn flakes: North Korea and Iran are cooperating in developing long-range missiles, according to the deputy director of the pentagon’s missile defense agency.

The Washington Times’ Bill Gertz reports that army brigadier general Patrick O’reilly said that North Korea test-fired a long-range missile in July and Iran is working on a space launcher that would help develop an intercontinental ballistic missile that could hit the United States.

The left is in a tizzy over remarks by President Bush warning Iran of consequences should it pursue offensive weapons, including a nuclear bomb. But ask yourself whether you would prefer letting all of this happen and to be faced with a credible nuclear threat from two rogue nations who have demonstrated their utter lack of concern for human life, or whether it would be better to stop them before they acquire such weapons and the ability to deliver them to a major American city?

This is the choice this president – and future ones – will make. It is not a pleasant one, but the right choice must be made.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.