North Korea launched a missile over the weekend. The Obama administration responded with condemnation and appealed to the United Nations to issue more condemnations. So while North Korea plots to rein down death and destruction, either directly or through nuclear and missile technology it will sell to rogue nations, the policy of the United States is to kill them with rhetoric.

Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton wrote in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal:

“Iran has carefully scrutinized the Obama administration's every action, and Tehran's only conclusion can be: It is past time to torque up the pressure on this new crowd in Washington. Not only is Iran's back now covered by its friends Russia, China and others on the U.N. Security Council, but it sees an American president so ready to bend his knee for public favor in Europe that the mullahs' wish list for U.S. concessions will grow by the minute.”

Peace through strength was Ronald Reagan’s slogan. Peace through concessions and apologies is no peace at all, but invites war. Those who hate America and are ready to fire more than words are about to test the new president in ways the world will not like.

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