Yep, I think Stalin.
But also sometimes credited to Napoleon.

"What condition is their military really in, when reporting problems might cause Kim to frown?"

A country where his Grandfather had someone shot for "leftist-rightest tendencies", where his father had someone shot for "placing a statue of the Good Leader in the shade" and a man who, in a couple of years, has had his half-brother murdered abroad and his uncle shot for unspecified crimes

SMILE!!! and keep on SMILING would be my advice.....................

(fot the avoidance of doubt) Happy Happy Heathrow Harry (notebook in hand of course)

Mattis says war could escalate 'very quickly' if N. Korea fires at US

Defense Secretary James Mattis said Monday that the United States will attempt to shoot down any North Korean missile launched at the country or its territories. "We’ll take it out," Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon.

He later said that, should a North Korean missile hit U.S. soil, including the Pacific island of Guam, it would constitute an act of war. “If they shoot at the United State, I’m assuming they hit the United States. If they do that, it’s game on,” Mattis added.

North Korea last week threatened to launch ballistic missiles at waters off the coast of Guam, a U.S. territory that hosts about 6,000 American troops and thousands of civilians. The isolated nation made the statement after President Trump warned North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to stop making threats against the U.S. and allies or it would "be met with fire and fury ... like the world has never seen." North Korea then warned that a plan to attack Guam would be in place by mid-August.

Mattis said the Defense Department would “know within moments” if a North Korean missile has been launched and if it was headed toward Guam. “I think if they fire at the United States it could escalate into war very quickly. Yes, that’s called war, if they shoot at us,” Mattis said.

Mattis also said that should North Korea fire in the direction of Guam but not hit the territory, “that becomes an issue that we take up however the president chooses. War is up to the president, perhaps up to the Congress. The bottom line is we will defend the country from an attack,” he later said. “Yes, that means for a lot of young troops, they’re going to be in a war time situation.”

He added: “You don’t shoot at people in this world. You don’t shoot at people in this world unless you want to bear the consequences.”

Try watching this without tearing up.
If I really wrote what I'm thinking I would be banned for sure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufhKWfPSQOw

I know it's a few years old and if it has been posted before I apologise.

I take these statements from Mattis in such a way that hopefully there are at least two steps before the hot war starts, not one step. I.e., if fat Un really launches missiles towards Guam explicitly warning in advance that the target area is somewhere in neutral waters, then it is not yet a war (though a violation, ignorance, etc. etc). US would (hopefully) intercept whatever NK launches (I assume there would be some light imitators of real warheads as they are unlikely to reach such a technological level so quick) but not necessarily strike massively the NK territory. IMHO such a successful intercept would put the fat one into sh..t up to his ears, and this would be a good thing. Would it stop him from further development, sure not. More sanctions (even from China), very likely yes. But though a threat for Seoul would not become less, it would be a great relief for Tokyo, Hawaii, Guam and continental US.

Umm...I'm not fully versed on American Politics but is there such a blurred line that the Sec Def can say "perhaps"???

Buster.....

War Powers Resolution.

Only Congress has constitutional authority to declare war, but the President, acting as Commander-in-Chief, has an inherent power to use military force; for instance when attacked, or briefly.

In practice, this has become a way for Congress to avoid all responsibility for starting a war; they may support the President's decision to use force, or oppose him, but basically they have ceded the decision to him.

There are two issues here:

On the one hand, only Congress can declare war and put the nation on a war footing. But as commander in Chief, the president has the power to commit military forces essentially anywhere, anytime, for any reason. A protracted military engagement requires funding, and since only Congress has the ability to levy taxes and thus controls all the purse strings, that requires Congress to agree with the president in any protracted engagement. This has happened numerous times in our history.

And on the other hand, even if Congress declared war, it's up to the President to prosecute that war. If he decided not to engage the military even in the face of a Congressional declaration of war, he/she could. This has never happened.

But the bottom line: yes, perhaps.

Thank you for re-posting that - I hadn't seen it.
Utterly despicable that people could be treated in such a way.

EDIT: Hmmm - perhaps this isn't quite what it seems?

I hope the Americans have rapidly re-opened the Neutron bomb production line . . .

Perhaps it is then....:uhoh:

There you go - looks like poor old `straya is suicidal for cosying up to Uncle Sam.
Guess Darwin is going to have to prepare to get whacked...

Meh! What with being flattened by cyclones in 1897, 1937 and 1974 and Japanese bombs in 1942, we're probably overdue for a good whacking.

May hold off on the household renovations for a bit, though. Kim might create the scenario where I'll be able to get the taxpayer to stump up the repair costs (again). :E

One of those places where dropping a bomb could do millions of dollars worth of improvements? :p:p

Literally, ORAC. :E

Cyclone Tracy in '74 flattened the old town and the Aussie taxpayer paid for a modern new city.

Well that was money well spent!....

I think they were worried that the inhabitants might stay south...............

Darwin is Australia's first line of defence.

Any invader landing here will take one look at the place, realise that there's nothing here worth the effort, turn around and go home (or to NZ).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pZSsqQVxZA

...where lo we will smite and vanquish them with our T-6 IIs, A-109s and Seasprites...