Once again, failure.

Or,
How North Korea can read the world like a book.
Or
How Obama has shown the world the United States is weak again.
Have you heard? North Korea launched a satellite into space. Okay, they used a missile without the power to launch ANYTHING into orbit, but I swear, they tried rweawy (really) hard.
The international community, of course, issued strong warnings and foretold of chilly relations toward North Korea. They threatened to take "appropriate measures" and "actions" against a launch by the nation.
And so, North Korea, apparently knowing how to read a history book, knew that if they launched a missile nothing bad would happen. They took the calculated risk of testing a very potent piece of military hardware that could give them ultimate bargaining leverage against some very stern words.
Wouldn't you know it, up goes a missile and down comes these "stern rebukes" against this backward nation.
The international community has lost an opportunity to end this game of chicken. We (being any free nation) should have intercepted this missile and destroyed it. The minute they started fueling the rocket, the United States should have stealthily bombed the hell out of the launch pad and said nothing about it. North Korea would have gotten that message loud and clear.
You, North Korea, need to behave, or else no on will want to play with you.
Instead we have, like a parent who wants their child to 'learn it on their own', allowed a brat to take more candy from the table after being told no. Or perhaps the gun out of the gun safe with ammunition to boot.
President Obama has also shown the International Community that we have 'moved on' from the 'Axis of Evil' days. We are a kind and gentle nation. We wish to talk and hug and cry with other nations. We will no longer 'force our will' beyond our borders.
Forget that we, as the richest, most advanced, most benevolent on Earth are the rock that all other nations look to in times of crisis. Forget that we overcame Nazi's, wayard Empires, and Soviet totalitarism. Forget that we are the backbone of NATO or the UN. Forget that American men and woman have died for Britian, France, Germany, Poland, Austrailia, China, Japan, Vietnam, Columbia, Mexico, Panama, Belgium, the list continues, because we said that we would.
President Obama as shown that the world must do it on their own. If this is to be the United States Foreign policy from now on, the world is in for a shock. It is like driving for the first time without an instructor, riding a bike without training wheels, or living on your own for the first time. There will be a learning curve, and it is a steep one.
I hope that this missile launch doe snot embolden others to challenge the international community. I hope that terrorism does not take this as a sign to up the ante.
I hope that we do not fail again.