We ignore Asian events at our peril.
Vietnam has ordered 6 "Kilo" class submarines from Russia.They are oceangoing conventionally powered attack subs and are suitable for offensive long range operations as opposed to defensive coastal subs.
Why is this of concern?because the Spratly Islands,rich in oil reserves, are contested by Vietnam and China(PRC).
China and Vietnam are hisrorical enemies.Few people recall that China invaded Vietnam right after the US withdrawal and lost about 40,000 troops.In plain English,they got their asses kicked severely by the Vietnamese Army,who had decades of combat experience.
Russia has been a patron of Vietnam since the end of the French occupation,when they threw their support to Ho Chi Minh.When we were in Vietnam the "man behind the curtain'was the USSR,not China.
A new conflict between China and Vietnam with Russia involved offstage cannot help but affect US relations in the Pacific.In what particular way is uncertain,but you can bet we won't be able to stand around and watch without getting sucked into it in some manner.
US foreign relations are like that guy in the circus trying to keep the plates spinning on the poles,so it behooves the US to keep on top of events that on the surface don't "involve"us.

"supercilious and jejune"

Is he describing a new wine from California or the next nuclear state??

Cripes. Our Defense Secretary is a frustrated New York Times lifestyle reviewer.

Gates is ok-one of Obama's better moves was to keep him and bring on Gen.Jones.
Gates,unlike Biden isn't stupid enough to blurt out his every waking thought to the media.

I stand corrected about Secretary Gates, Joe.

Other than the major risk to national security, Joe Biden's motor mouth is one of the few bright spots in the Obama admin.

On the bright side, global war, nuclear attacks, and even political domination might make it more plausible to develop a universal healthcare system that will last the duration of the nation.

Does North Korea's nuclear tests represent a threat to the U.S.? After reading that last flippant line I don't know if those on the right are really that concerned after all. Whatever or whomever helps block Obama's domestic agenda is fine with them.

We ignore Asian events at our peril.

Joe

Do you think that the war in Iraq contibuted to distracting the US from other global issuses?

Absolutely,Phil.I never supported invading Iraq with the Afghan campaign ongoing.It allowed AL Qaida to get strongly established in Waziristan where it is physically/politically more difficult to degrade their capabilities.
I thought the no fly zones and other measures were containing Iraq somewhat effectively,the oil for food scandal notwithstanding.
What I DID support was the Surge,since we were already in it up to our ears,and needed an effective strategy to reach some level of control of the war zone.
I don't know where you ever got the idea I thought invading Iraq was a good move.

I didn't Joe. Obviously you can in this case seperate policy from politics. Others do not. Obama did not create the conditions that he must deal with as President. There may come the time that he engages in a policy that distracts his administration from more important issuses and then I think the right wing criticism may be closer to the mark. ( Although it is usually shrill and over the top)Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. (non- military time clock that is)

Maybe(and I'm not certain)Washington is the only president who could not have said he inherited problems upon taking office.I guess presidents who got re-elected couldn't bitch about that after their first terms either.
Point being,that I recognize Obama inherited a lot of baggage,not just from the Bush administration,but going back quite a while.
The immigration dilemma dates to about 1977 when Carter took office.
The Iraq involvement from 1990.
The Wall Street/banking crisis from the 90's.
The North Korea crisis from 1950!!
I could go on,but I think you get hwere I'm coming from.
Every president is faced with this;it's how they handle it that marks their administration.
I know it's a small thing by today's standards,but the jaunt to NYC that Obama and his wife made sent the wrong signal when he's spouting cap and trade rhetoric that will drive up the utility bills of people like us.
Obama has to understand this(one of his pet phrases):when you get to wear the big hat,the yuppie/foodie lifestyle has to be moderated sharply.
"Do as I say,not as I do"has lost its currency in these times.

"Does North Korea's nuclear tests represent a threat to the U.S.?"

No question, yes.