So, yeah, I forgot to blog about North Korea’s negotiating its way off our terror-sponsoring list. Too depressing, I guess. Anyway, just so your Monday is no happier than ours (as Redskins fans), here’s John Bolton telling you why it’s a perfect precedent—for future rogue states to acquire nukes.

Sidelining Japan is a manifestation of the State Department’s Sinocentric obsession. The consequences could well be detrimental to both Washington and Beijing, however, if Japanese sentiment for developing its own independent nuclear-weapons capability continues to rise. This could occur as Tokyo sees the North Korean nuclear threat persisting, and as China continues to upgrade and expand its strategic nuclear forces and blue-water navy. Fears that the U.S. nuclear umbrella is no longer reliable will only add to Japan’s concerns. Japan may have been frog-marched into acquiescing, but there will likely be a widening of the split between the U.S. and its closest ally in Asia.

And remember, kids, Japan can go nuke in about fifteen minutes if it wants to. Maybe if Nixon could go to China, Obama could tell the ChiComs where to stuff it. Don’t bet on it, though.

Happy Monday.

UPDATE: This guy sees the glass, well, not half full, but a little full. Worth reading.

Confucius, Œc. Vol.

Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu.