That link is not a news article, but is an opinion piece by a very conservative British commentator.

Obama is not a lame duck. He can be elected again, and it would be short-sighted to think a Republican win in 2012 is a slam dunk.

This is all just conjecture on all our parts anyway. None of us are in a position of real authority to change anything.

However, reguarding the US in war, just look at old photo's from the Civil war. The US is perfectly willing to destroy everything in it's path, includeing it's own country, to win. Sacrificeing South Korea to achieve some goal isn't that far fetched. IT may be unlikely, but not impossible. Just ask Japan what the US will do to win a war it think's has to be won "at all costs". T

he real question then is..Does the US think this is an " at all costs" type of situation or not?

again sorta not
 

Komitsuki-
Your'e link too - Telegraph and Nile Gardiner

The article has several mistakes and it's author misreads or ingnores that
even in the wake of G-20 summit - even prior to it, the EU has several economic basket cases including Greece, Iceland,Latvia etc. not including the UK government having to in effect nationalize the UK 's biggest banks .
note The Telegraph article below:
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The Telegraph
Europe on the brink of currency crisis meltdown
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard 25 Oct 2008 / Nov 26 2010
The financial crisis spreading like wildfire across the former Soviet bloc threatens to set off a second and more dangerous banking crisis in Western Europe, tipping the whole Continent into a fully-fledged economic slump.

Currency pegs are being tested to destruction on the fringes of Europe’s monetary union in a traumatic upheaval that recalls the collapse of the Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1992.

“This is the biggest currency crisis the world has ever seen,” said Neil Mellor, a strategist at Bank of New York Mellon.
The latest data from the Bank for International Settlements shows that Western European banks hold almost all the exposure to the emerging market bubble, now busting with spectacular effect.

They account for three-quarters of the total $4.7 trillion £2.96 trillion) in cross-border bank loans to Eastern Europe, Latin America and emerging Asia extended during the global credit boom – a sum that vastly exceeds the scale of both the US sub-prime and Alt-A debacles.
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Lets look at this quote from the Telegraph article:
Niles Gardiner,

" Iran ..,brutal and barbaric Islamist regime inches closer towards becoming a nuclear-armed state, which threatens the security of Israel and the future of the Middle East."
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Why not include Israel in this statement ? Israel has hundreds of nuclear weapons and periodically invades it's neighbors , does not allow inspection of it's nuclear arsenal. Repeatedly ingnores and violates UN resolutions. Why are they not a security threat?

Niles Gardiner ,
"..,flawed new START Treaty with Moscow which actively undermines US interests, increases the strategic power of Russia, and significantly undercuts Washington’s ability to deploy a global missile defence system."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What strategic power of Russia is he talking about?
Russia armed forces are in decline and it's navy and airforce have declined in quality and quanity. It's navy which over half it's ships are mostly left over from the 'Cold War' period is reaching well past their 30yr lifespan will have to be retired soon, further reducing Russia Navy in half.

Present day Russia navy-
Oct 29, 2010: new Bulava SLBM (submarine launched ballistic missile) had a successful test launch. There will be one more test before the end of the year, and if that one is good, the missile will enter service next year. The Bulava has failed half its test launches so far, and recently failed three in a row.
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Russia as opposed to the period during the 'Cold War' has a resurgent NATO with NATO client states on Russias very doorstep and US forces aligned in force along it's southern border Afghanistan etc.
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Afghanistan / Iraq - Niles Gardiner is again mistaken.

Obama's policy and strategy regarding Afghanistan and Iraq is no different from previous US administrations even his commanding CIC in Afgnanistan is left over from the Bush administration. In fact this policy is Gen. Petraeus commanding general of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

Last but not least is this excerpt from same Telegraph Niles Gardiner whopper:

"..,latest aggression emanating from Pyongyang is a stark reminder that America cannot afford to be letting its guard down, and needs to stand up to its enemies rather than appease them."
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Well spoken Niles Gardiner! Who is nowhere near harms way or South Korea. The people in Seoul can take comfort in Niles Gardiner stand against Americas enemies.

Democrats are bad at foreign policies, especially towards East Asia.

again sorta not
 

FDR was a democrat and US president that led the United States during the WW2 against Germany and Japan. ..,and last time I checked the US sort of won this world war. circa World War 2 1939'-1945'.

That must be why they treat Bill Clinton like a rock star when he arrives in Japan.

Isreal isn't considered a threat because it's the only Western style country there. The rest are all muslim dictatorships of various type. Not to mention the fact they attack Isreal through proxy or outright invasion constantly. Isreal has been at war more or less since it was founded in 1948. The muslim world has hated Isreal with a passion right from it's rebirth.

Despite the fact Isreal existed in that same location dureing the time of Rome.The nuke threat is the only thing holding those muslim nations back now. Soon as Iran get's a working one they will launch it at Isreal to start world war 3. They have stated this as their primary goal for a while now.

Hmm, I should've said:
Can you imagine America going back to life without it's cheap Chinese goods?


IMO he is a rock star!! :D
at least he acted like one :P
don't get me wrong, he's one of the best presidents America has had.

again sorta not
 

Ryzorian:
"Isreal isn't considered a threat because it's the only Western style country there."

And 'western style countries' do not invade their neighbors or pose a nuclear threat?

The US 2001' Invasion of Afghanistan ring a bell ?
How about the US 2003' Invasion of Iraq ?

Sources pls. for recent neighboring arab nations that have invaded Israel since the end of the 1973' Yom Kippur War?

Please don't launch such assumptions. This is a racist kind of statement.