TURNAROUND? – AT 8:52 A.M. ET:  There are conflicting reports on how the United States will address the crisis brewing in Korea, one of the most volatile places on Earth.  From The New York Times:

WASHINGTON — South Korea’s formal accusation that a North Korean torpedo sank one of its warships, killing 46 sailors, will set off a diplomatic drumbeat to punish North Korea, backed by the United States and other nations, which could end up in the United Nations Security Council.

On Thursday morning in Seoul, the South Korean government presented forensic evidence, including part of a torpedo propeller with what investigators believe is a North Korean serial number.

They said it proved that the underwater explosion that shattered the 1,200-ton corvette, the Cheonan, in March near a disputed sea border with the North was caused by the detonation of a torpedo.

On Monday, South Korea is expected to push for the case to be referred to the United Nations, and the United States plans to back Seoul “strongly and unequivocally,” according to Obama administration officials.

The investigation “points overwhelmingly to the conclusion that North Korea was responsible for this attack,” the White House said in a statement after the report was released in Seoul. “This act of aggression is one more instance of North Korea’s unacceptable behavior and defiance of international law.”

COMMENT:  Hold on, hold on.  That sounds very good.  We will back our ally "strongly and unequivocally." 

But just yesterday, at an off-the-record briefing, a former high official of the U.S. Government told a group of us that the facts are otherwise – that the United States is trying to restrain the South Koreans, and wants them to shove this incident under the rug so we can go back to more talking with the North. 

I'd watch this one with two eyes, to see what the U.S. really does.  Backing our allies hasn't been a priority of this administration, to put it mildly.  And the lefties in the Obama camp have little use for a vibrant, successful country like South Korea.  We're talking a good game, and that kind of talk may be prominent before the midterms, just to assure the American voters that there's a real president in the White House.  It's after the election that I worry about.

May 20, 2010