My nuclear button is bigger E-Book

Jamal Qaiser

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Seitenzahl: 159

Beschreibung

Jamal Qaiser describes what is actually behind the conflict between the United States and North Korea. What forces apart from mainstream reporting really exist, how this conflict can be resolved and how we can secure long-term peace in this world. He also describes the role of capitalism in this conflict and why the United States is compelled to wage new wars all the time. If we want to prevent a war in North Korea, we urgently need a single European foreign policy. The DC Commissioner for UN Affairs explains in his latest book why there is no way around it. About the author: The German-Pakistani entrepreneur, writer, Peace Activist and Social Political Advisor Jamal Qaiser, completed his studies for OPM at the Harvard Business School and the Transition to Leadership programme of the University of Oxford Said Business School. Jamal Qaiser advises various companies and political parties, NGOs, humanist organisations and governmental apparatus. Since 2016 he has advised as UN-Commissioner for UN-Affairs for the Diplomatic Council the economic and UN Social Council - one think tank at the United Nations has the highest consultative status, i.e. the Economic and Social Council of the UN. His book published in 2016: "Der fremde Erfolgsfaktor - Why we urgently need immigrants in Germany", attracted a great deal of attention both nationally and internationally. In the same year he won the international getAbstract Book Award with his work from a selection of over 10,000 non-fiction books.

Leseprobe

Book

Jamal Qaiser describes what is actually behind the conflict between the United States and North Korea. What forces apart from mainstream reporting really exist, how this conflict can be resolved and how we can secure long-term peace in this world. He also describes the role of capitalism in this conflict and why the United States is compelled to wage new wars all the time. If we want to prevent a war in North Korea, we urgently need a single European foreign policy. The DC Commissioner for UN Affairs explains in his latest book why there is no way around it.

Author

The German-Pakistani entrepreneur, writer, Peace Activist and Social Political Advisor Jamal Qaiser, completed his studies for OPM at the Harvard Business School and the Transition to Leadership programme of the University of Oxford Said Business School. Jamal Qaiser advises various companies and political parties, NGOs, humanist organisations and governmental apparatus. Since 2016 he has advised as UN-Commissioner for UN-Affairs for the Diplomatic Council the economic and UN Social Council - one think tank at the United Nations has the highest consultative status, i.e. the Economic and Social Council of the UN.

His book published in 2016: "Der fremde Erfolgsfaktor - Why we urgently need immigrants in Germany", attracted a great deal of attention both nationally and internationally. In the same year he won the international getAbstract Book Award with his work from a selection of over 10,000 non-fiction books.

Contents

Preamble

North Korea

The History of North Korea

The Korean War

North Korea today

How dangerous is North Korea really?

The Conflict

Fire and Fury

The spiral of conflict continues

What happened next?

The spiral of conflict continues

A surprising change in climate

The next Cold War

It is high time we put an end to this intolerable dispute

Sanctions are not always positive

Sanctions rarely lead to the desired result

The Treaty of Versailles

Sanctions are often the germ cell for new wars

So what is the alternative to sanctions?

The major role of the media in war propaganda

The Skripal case

What we actually know about the Skripal case

How certain terms are used as war propaganda

"Dictatorship" need not always have negative connotations

We experience functioning dictatorships on a daily basis

What we need now is peace

The inverted roles of victim and perpetrator

The alleged fear of the USA

Critical reading desired

How the media works

War propaganda using the example of the Kosovo war

Russia and the Axis of Evil

We have been indoctrinated from an early age

No black-and-white thinking

We must use the right people to secure peace

Fake news on social media

What needs to happen?

What are we going to do about the USA?

Why does this conflict really exist?

What is this conflict really all about?

Capitalism and communism as causes of the conflict

What can we expect from North Korea?

What is it really about, Mr Trump?

So how great is the threat posed by the nuclear power North Korea?

The Non-proliferation Treaty or NPT

What does this mean for the North Korean conflict?

How to end the conflict

The role Germany should play

What needs to happen?

The European moral code

The Code of Peace

The power of karma

Danksagung

Source Information

Preamble

In early 2017, I gave a speech on the North Korean conflict at a meeting of the ASEAN Conference in Berlin. Then, in September 2017, at the United Nations Peace Conference in Geneva, I made a statement on how we can achieve a peaceful solution to this conflict in the long term. In both cases, ambassadors and diplomats approached me and congratulated me on my speech. They said that in the many talks that had been held on the North Korean conflict with various people so far, the discussion was beset with problems and that my speech presented a solution for the first time.

I am perfectly aware that the chances of preventing a war between the United States and North Korea are very slim. Nevertheless, with this book, I would at least like to try to present a new view of these events to a wider public, in an effort to interrupt this dangerous spiral.

This book also deals with neo-capitalism and US imperialism. Both aspects are inextricably linked to the North Korean conflict and are one of the main reasons for the aggressive foreign policy of the United States.

I am very concerned about both developments, as I believe they are going in the wrong direction. With a handful of countries becoming increasingly powerful through violent means, while other countries are crumbling to the ground. In this book I also go into the current state of capitalism and how the transition to neo-capitalism took place. Only when we understand these connections will it become clear why we are once again on the threshold of another global war after the Second World War, with presumably devastating effects on all humanity.

My conscience demands that I present my point of view, first and foremost as DC Commissioner for UN Affairs, in the attempt to portray this complex situation as a neutral observer.

I have represented the Diplomatic Council as UN-Commissioner for UN-Affairs since 2016. The Diplomatic Council is a global think tank that sees itself as a bridge between diplomacy, on the one hand, and business and society on the other. It is a UN-accredited organisation with special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.1

As DC Commissioner for UN Affairs, I act as an advisor to the UN for civil society.

The reactions to my speeches in Berlin and Geneva led to this book, and I have written it for those readers who seek a peaceful solution to the North Korean conflict, who crave world peace, who have the foresight not to be influenced by war propaganda in politics and the media.

I see myself as a fervent supporter of the European idea and I believe that only the European Community, with its 27 Member States, can put an end to the conflict between the USA and North Korea, and thus secure world peace. If we do not succeed, there is no doubt that there will be a global war that will be just as horrific, if not worse than the Second World War. I am also convinced of this.

I would like to go even further as to say the present global problems can only be solved with the help of the European Community, and that if the European Community does not fulfil its foreign policy responsibilities, we will all be faced with a daunting problem. The reason for Europe's special role is also discussed in detail in this book.

In this book, you will learn not only what this conflict is really about and why Donald Trump needs this war with North Korea, but also why the North Korean leadership must stick to its nuclear weapons programme.

In spite of the difficult situation, I trust that this conflict will be resolved peacefully and that our next generations will also live in peace. For us to succeed, we must all make our contribution. No-one can evade this responsibility.

Yours

Jamal Qaiser

1 – North Korea

Whenever the name "North Korea" appears in the media, horror reports are suspected, not least because the country is simply vilified by most people - at least in the Western world.

Before you can get to grips with North Korea's present, however, you first need to know its history in order to understand the mindset of the people living there. In my view, peace will only be possible if we understand where these people come from and what events from the past have shaped this nation and continue to shape it today.

The History of North Korea

In 1945, US B-29 Superfortress long-range bombers dropped two nuclear bombs over Japan. The two cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were largely destroyed, and, at the same time, around a quarter of a million people died.1

All this happened in the immediate vicinity of North Korea and, of course, other countries such as China. This US attack - or retaliation, depending on which side it is viewed from - showed the whole world the threat that this country posed, and, in my opinion, that was exactly what the United States had intended. The United States showed that it was not only capable of more or less destroying every country on the planet, but that it also had the determination to do so.

Now imagine that a house is suddenly bombed right in your neighbourhood and it doesn't take long for it to become clear that the perpetrator is a big landowner who lives three towns away. Now imagine that neither the police intervene, nor are any other efforts made to bring this maniac to justice. Most of your neighbour's family members - with whom you did not always have a friendly relationship, but knew, - were killed in the attack. How would you feel about this landowner in the future, should you ever have any contact with him? That's right. You would wonder if it would be your turn next time and would try to take steps to protect yourself from this villain.

This is what was most likely going through the minds of the Heads of State of all Asian countries and, of course, the North Korean leadership's minds.

I think it is clear that - perhaps with the exception of Europe - the US in general is viewed rather critically, or at least from a distance. The reason for this is that in most regions of the world the United States of America has either waged war, carried out warlike military action (whether directly or by supporting regional military apparatuses) or exerted strong pressure on populations and governments through sanctions. Europe is the only region in which the USA has appeared as a supporter, namely after the Second World War, perhaps with the exception of the former Yugoslavia.

The atomic bombing is certainly one of the main reasons why many countries quite simply fear this powerful country.

What happened after the two nuclear bombs were dropped on Japan?

These bombings finally put an end to the Second World War and led to Korea breaking away from Japan's control.2 Only from 1897 to 1910 was the small state independent. Prior to this, Korea's history had been closely linked to that of China. Since 17 November 1905 it had already been led as a Japanese protectorate and in 1910 the small state was finally annexed by Japan and led as a Japanese colony with the name Chōsen.3 Only after the surrender of the Japanese Empire on 15 August 1945, was Korea, - once again - considered a free state.

However, this freedom was short-lived, as soon after Soviet soldiers (in the north) and American soldiers (in the south) occupied the country, whereupon the border along the 38th parallel was drawn. This step was agreed within the framework of the official American-British-Chinese conditions for Japan's surrender, as laid down in the "Potsdam Declaration". Point seven of the Potsdam Declaration stated: "Until this new order is reached and the Japanese war machine is eliminated, there would be a targeted occupation of Japan by the Allies.”4

This also affected Korea, although theoretically it no longer belonged to the Japanese Empire. But numerous soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army were still stationed there. As had been agreed, these armies had to surrender to the Soviet and American armies.

In the aftermath, the two superpowers spent until 1947 negotiating a united Korea, and when these negotiations failed, the USA brought the "Korean question" before the United Nations. This finally led to the passing of a UN resolution on 14 November 1947 that provided for the withdrawal of all foreign troops, as well as for free elections and the establishment of a UN commission. And so troops from the former Soviet Union and the USA commenced their withdrawal from the country, which was completed by the end of 1948. As early as 10 May 1948, new elections were held in the southern part of Korea which saw Rhee Syng-man officially take over the affairs of state from the US military government. The response from the North was forthcoming and - under Soviet lead ership - the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was founded on 9 September 1948 with Kim Il-sung as President.5

Thus, the chance of a unified Korean state was about as remote as a joint solution between Israel and Palestine, to name one current-day example.

After the two superpowers' troops had been withdrawn, two countries suddenly faced each other, each of which claiming the right to command and control the whole of Korea. Under the influence of the former stationed forces, the USA and the Soviet Union, all peace efforts were in vain, which led to an inevitable escalation on 25 June 1950: North Korea attacked the South.

The Korean War

Soon after the war began, two superpowers joined in - this time, however, the old acquaintance USA and a new actor, namely China - and so American and Chinese tanks and bombs caused an unprecedented human tragedy. In the years from 1950 until the end of the war on 27 July 1953, when the UN and North Korea concluded a ceasefire agreement in Panmunjom, over 4.5 million people had lost their lives in the conflict. One million South Koreans, 2.5 million North Koreans and around one million Chinese were killed during the war. Nearly 37,000 Americans and some 3,000 UN soldiers also lost their lives. From the US side alone, just under half a million tons of bombs were dropped by combat bombers, in North Korea, in a country with a land area of 120,538 square kilometres, just one third the size of Germany with its 357,385 square kilometres. Research has shown that indeed every family in North Korea lost family members in this war.6

For comparison: During the entire Second World War (1938 to 1945), the Allies dropped a total of two million tons of bombs over Germany. The USA thus covered a country approximately the size of Austria and Switzerland (total area: 125,163 square kilometres) with a quantity of bombs that no single state had ever dropped before, nor has done since.

North Korea today

In addition to the total area of over 120,000 square kilometres already mentioned, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea comprises more than 24 million inhabitants, resulting in a population density of 200 people per square kilometre, roughly comparable to that of Germany, which has 231 inhabitants per square kilometre. Since 1960, the population has doubled, with life expectancy of 67.2 years for men and 74.1 years for women lower than in Europe as a whole (75 and 81 years, respectively) and most comparable to life expectancy in Eastern Europe (68 and 78 years, respectively).7

According to official North Korean data, the infant mortality rate was just under two percent in 2008 and the average fertility rate at 2 children per woman in 2016. Thus there are two children per family.8

If you want to study in North Korea as a young person, you can attend one of the country's 27 universities or technical colleges.9 Before that, however, they have to complete basic education, which is basically free of charge and lasts a total of 11 years. After that, most men will probably enter the military and just a small percentage attend an upper school in preparation for higher education.10

North Korea is therefore a state of educated people, and not a backward, uneducated peasant state, in which primarily illiterate people live, as the country is often subliminally portrayed in the media.

North Korea's literacy rate - a person who can read and write at the age of 15 - is 99.9 percent, which puts it ahead of nations such as Italy, Hungary, Spain and Croatia.11

The country's economic development is, of course, characterised by extensive sanctions. Since North Korea has few natural resources of its own and is dependent on purchases from abroad, there are repeatedly dangerous bottlenecks in the medical sector, but also in the supply of food for the population, which has led to repeated hunger crises - as in 1996 and in some cases in recent years.12 As a result of all these circumstances, the per capita gross domestic product of around US$ 600,- is only around one fortieth that of South Korea.13

The tourism sector - as a possible additional source of income - is also stagnating at an extremely low level: Approximately 4,000 to 6,000 tourists visit the country every year.14 No wonder when you hear of cases like that of the American student Otto Frederick Warmbier, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison after the theft of a poster in 2016 and who died in 2017, shortly after he was allowed to leave the country - in a coma.

The circumstances that led to the American's death are still shrouded in mystery and the suspicion of torture in North Korea has never been proven.

Especially in a country that is considered the most isolated nation in the world, such events attract far more attention in the global media than comparable cases in such popular holiday destinations as Mexico City, Egypt, Great Britain, Germany or somewhere in the USA, the country with the highest rate of violent crime in the world.15 For example, in Baltimore, the largest city in the US state of Maryland, one person was murdered every day in 2017.16

This comparison is by no means intended to downplay Otto Warmbier's fate. On the contrary! Any form of abuse or violence must be uncompromisingly condemned. I simply wish to show that North Korea is probably as safe a holiday destination as many very attractive destinations in other parts of the world.

With approximately 1.3 million active soldiers and 4.7 million reserves, the North Korean army is one of the largest armed forces in the world, alongside China, India and the USA. In relation to the number of inhabitants, North Korea is by far the most militarised country ever. On the other hand, in terms of weapons and equipment, it is assumed that technologies are generally outdated.

North Korea has been running an ambitious space programme for several years now. The country's leader Kim Jong-un is not only planning a moon landing under the North Korean flag, but even wants his astronauts to explore foreign planets in the future.17 This space programme may sound ambitious, but on 12 December 2012, a rocket successfully launched a satellite into earth orbit.18