People of North Korea and U.S. on edge as blustery leaders rattle radioactive sabers

North Korea “is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S.” So says, the deputy ambassador to the U.N. from the Asian nation. Of course, the question is Does the U.S.—or more specifically the executive branch—“desire” war. The search for the answer perplexes. The new White House expects approval for its actions after the fact and lets on about little beforehand.

At the very least, the situation ought to bring to mind the military-industrial complex, to which the president’s Office of Management and Budget would like to give another $54 billion for the 2017 fiscal year. One wonders if this might betray a desire for a war for profit. Though we’d like to think presidents don’t do such things, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time. The term “kleptocracy” wasn’t coined yesterday.

You might say I’m getting too political here, but you might be surprised. The entire concept of the military-industrial complex—the term itself and the warnings to citizens to be “knowledgeable” of it and “alert” to it—came from President Eisenhower, a Republican president. Perhaps it’s too easy these days to call foul on account of “politics.” As Eisenhower asserted, the American people are responsible for knowing policy and being vigilant on possible abuses of power.

Meanwhile, North Korea’s government—whose corruption is proven—isn’t helping matters. It seems every few days Kim launches a test missile or orders a nuclear weapon test. The guy clearly likes the attention. His strategy is to keep the U.S. and China focused on him, so he might eventually gain a seat at the negotiating table.

With poor (and declining) poll numbers, however, the American executive doesn’t have much else to hang his hat on at present save for his “strong man” reputation. This all but obligates him (in his own mind) to “stand firm,” issue his own ultimatums, talk tough, etc.

You’ve probably noticed the predominant pattern here: pathological selfishness or, psychopathic narcissism, if you prefer. Here we have two populations (at least)—hundreds of millions of people—subjected to the will and whims of two men. And I don’t use the words “pathological” or “psychopathic” lightly. In fact, if there’s one thing that’s clear it’s that no man in possession of a functioning conscience could do the things these two do to other human beings. Their missing consciences, if one considers it for a moment, explains everything about them!

So, in one case, you have a despot who inherited his position from his father (and grandfather). In the other, you have an opportunist who said what prospective voters wanted to hear. In both case, it’s the regular folks who suffer.

My upcoming novel, ULTIMATE ERROR, is about the few men who put the entirety of humankind on the brink of extinction. Far from blocking them from attaining significant power, we actually hand it over to them willingly. The deception of the people by their kings is the greatest treason and the most grievous ERROR of all.