Bush to attack North Korea?

Reading between the lines of this NY Times story, I have to wonder, is the Bush administration planning a military strike against North Korea?

I found highly unusual the news that the State Department is suspending the search for remains of Americans killed in the Korean War, blaming North Korea for creating an "uncertain environment" by refusing to participate in six-party talks on its nuclear program, and withdrawing from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

"It is a force-protection issue," said one military spokesman.

Here's why I wonder about a military strike: How does North Korea's nuclear program become a "force-protection issue?" I could understand if there were a concern about a troop mobilization to an area where Americans were present, or if there were intimidation of another kind against Americans. But nobody said any of these things was occurring - at least, not in the NY Times story.

Rather, it may be that the Bush administration is quietly moving Americans out of North Korea in anticipation of an attack.

Given the appalling results of the Iraq occupation, maybe Bush is thinking that a quick little tactical strike on some North Korean nuclear facilities will make him the beloved war president again, instead of the hated liar on the verge of impeachment.

Well, that might just be wishful thinking. Reports I've read recently suggest that the optimal time to take out North Korea's nuclear facilities has long passed. While Bush was thumbing his nose at North Korea, it opened up more nuclear facilities in hidden locations. There may be considerable uncertainty about where, precisely, those facilities are located now.