THE LARGER WORLD – AT 8:55 A.M. ET:  There's a world outside American politics, although American politics will always affect it.  The South Koreans have made a definitive statement regarding the recent sinking of their warship.  From The Washington Post:

SEOUL -- South Korea's foreign minister said Wednesday the sinking of one of its warships in March was the result of a North Korean attack, adding that his country now has enough evidence to seek action by the U.N. Security Council against the North.

Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan's remarks were the first by a South Korean official to pin definitive blame on North Korea for an attack that killed 46 sailors and sharply escalated tension on the Korean Peninsula.

Yu spoke out a day before South Korea planned to release the results of an investigation that U.S. and East Asian officials say has uncovered strong evidence showing that North Korea launched a torpedo that sank the 1,200-ton Cheonan near a disputed sea border between the two nations.

COMMENT:  The evidence presented in the story is compelling, but what will be the result?  China, North Korea's main ally, has veto power in the Security Council.  And if the world hasn't acted strongly against North Korea's nuclear program, which continues, why should we think it will act in response to a ship sinking?

The key nation here, as always, is the United States.  Our wobbly foreign policy will be no source of strength to South Korea.  Action can be taken outside the U.N., but will we approve, or will we, in the name of "outreach," simply let the matter slip?  My guess, and it must be labeled as speculation, is that we will let things slip, maybe calling for more "discussions," or simply make a stern speech at the U.N. and leave it at that.

A record has consequences, and the Obama record of the last 16 months flashes a signal of weakness.  Why would North Korea be afraid?

May 19, 2010